Chapter 22 - Day 4 Bonus Features #3
"Don't."
"What?"
"You checked."
"I didn't."
"You looked directly at my shoes."
"Site conditions."
"Liar."
"Appropriate."
I stared at him.
"Are you rating my footwear now?"
"I'm confirming you listened."
"I regret coming."
"No, you don't."
I looked at him.
He was already walking.
The confidence.
I followed.
"That's an incredibly bold statement for a man who kidnapped me for breakfast."
He glanced back.
"I picked you up."
"Fifty minutes early."
"You let me in."
"Under false pretenses."
"What false pretenses?"
"I thought we were going to work."
"We are at work."
"After breakfast."
"Yes."
"Which you apparently invented this morning."
"Correct."
I shook my head.
Sad man.
Very sad man.
And yet-
I was smiling.
The measurement took thirty-seven minutes.
Thirty-seven.
I knew because I checked.
Twice.
We verified the existing condition, marked the discrepancy, took photographs, and discussed the correction.
Actual work.
Legitimate work.
Completely necessary.
Possibly could have waited until Monday.
Definitely could have waited until Monday.
At 11:48, I closed my notebook.
"Done."
Adrian looked at the wall.
"Yes."
I waited.
He looked at the drawings.
Then the wall again.
I folded my arms.
"Anything else?"
"No."
I checked my watch.
"That was fast."
"Yes."
"So."
He looked at me.
"So?"
"We're done."
"Yes."
I waited.
He didn't move.
Neither did I.
The Saturday sun beat down around us.
Somewhere behind the building, equipment moved.
A worker called something to another worker.
Adrian adjusted the drawings under his arm.
I looked toward the parking area.
Then back at him.
This was the part where he drove me home.
Obviously.
Breakfast had happened because he was hungry.
The site visit had happened because of the discrepancy.
Everything had an explanation.
Everything was work-adjacent.
Everything was safe.
Adrian looked at me.
"What?"
I blinked.
"What?"
"You're thinking."
"I do that sometimes."
"Dangerous."
I stared at him.
"Was that a joke?"
"No."
"That was absolutely a joke."
"It wasn't."
"Adrian Vale just made a joke."
He started walking.
I followed him.
"This is a historic day."
"Angelica."
"First breakfast. Now humor."
"I've made jokes before."
"Name three."
He looked at me.
I stopped.
His mouth twitched.
Oh.
That asshole.
"You stole that from me."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"That is my line."
"Prove it."
I laughed.
Actually laughed.
And he kept walking.
But his mouth was still threatening a smile.
Apparently humor was another Saturday development.
When we reached the car, Adrian put the drawings in the back.
I opened the passenger door.
Then looked at him over the roof.
"Home?"
"Yes."
I got in.
He drove me home.
And somehow, the drive felt different from the one that morning.
Quieter.
Not awkward.
Just-
comfortable.
Which might have been worse.
I watched Miami pass outside the window.
Adrian drove with one hand on the steering wheel, sunglasses still covering his eyes.
No conversation necessary.
No argument to fill the silence.
Just us.
When Adrian pulled up outside my building, I looked at the time.
12:31.
Breakfast.
Solara.
Done.
A perfectly reasonable Saturday morning.
Mostly.
I reached for my bag.
"Thanks for the ride."
"Angelica."
My hand stopped.
I looked at him.
"What?"
"The revised detail needs to be reviewed before Monday."
I stared at him.
"We just reviewed it."
"We reviewed the existing condition."
"And now you're going to revise it."
"Yes."
"When?"
"I'll have it tomorrow."
I paused.
"Tomorrow."
"Yes."
"Sunday."
"I'm aware."
I looked at him.
He looked back at me.
"We can review it Monday."
"It needs to be finalized before Monday."
"Email exists."
"I know."
"And you know how to use it?"
His expression went flat.
"Yes."
"Just checking."
"It'll be easier in person."
I stared at him.
There it was.
Another reason.
Another perfectly reasonable, work-related reason.
"You want to meet tomorrow."
"Yes."
"To review a drawing."
"Yes."
"That you haven't revised yet."
"I will."
"And this absolutely cannot happen over email."
"It would be easier in person."
I narrowed my eyes.
He looked completely serious.
Of course he did.
"Fine. What time?"
"Ten."
I stared at him.
"Are you going to show up at nine-ten again?"
"No."
"That was very fast."
"I won't."
"Should I believe you?"
"Yes."
"Based on what evidence?"
"Angelica."
I smiled.
"There he is."
I opened the door and stepped out.
"Goodbye, Adrian."
"Goodbye, Angelica."
I closed the door.
Then walked toward my building.
At the entrance, I glanced back.
The Corvette was still there.
Adrian was still there.
He didn't pull away until I was inside.
I stood in the lobby for a second.
Then looked through the glass as the black Corvette disappeared down the street.
Day four.
Saturday was over.
And somehow-
I had plans with Adrian Vale on Sunday.