bChapter /bb237 /b

    ADRIAN’S POV

    “I’m still surprised you decided to go,” James said, his tone a mix of disbelief and amusement.

    I stood in front of the tall mirror in my bedroom, adjusting the knot of my tie with slow precision. The fabric of my white shirt was crisp, freshly pressed, the sheen catching the light as I moved. I wasn’t dressing up for just any asion today, this was deliberate. Today was Olivia’s opening ceremony bfor /bbher /bnewpany branch, and for reasons I didn’t want to admit even to myself, I had made the decision to attend.

    I could have sent her a short message. But no I’d chosen to wait until I could look her in the eyes and say congrattions in person. Maybe bit /bbwas /bbpride/b, maybe it was… something else.

    James leaned casually against the dresser beside me, watching as I smoothed down my trench coat. It was long, the kind of coat that made a quiet statement – ck, tailored perfectly to my frame, brushing against the tops of my polished shoes. Underneath, my suit was equally sharpb: /bbdeep /bcharcoal with just the right cut to emphasize the shoulders, the white shirt underneath creating a clean contrast.

    “You know,” James continued, “I didn’t think you’d actually go through with it. The way you talked about it before, I figured it was just one of those ‘maybe I will, maybe I won’t‘ things.” James said.

    “Why are you surprised? I was the one who told you that we would attend it” I said, my vision still focused on the mirror

    “I know, have you thought about what you n on saying to her? It’s been… what? Over five years? And thest time byou /bsaw her was before she bliterally /bstared down death and walked away from it.”

    I tightened thest loop of my tie and adjusted it until it sat perfectly centered. “Which is why,” I replied evenly, “I waited for the right moment. And a public event like this… It’s safer. There’s no chance for awkward surprises. Besides…” I hesitated, looking at my reflection, “I have a feeling she might be in a rtionship now. If she is, I’m happy for her. I’ll just say hi, congratte her, and leave it at that.”

    James smirked, his eyes narrowing like he was analyzing every syble. “Yeah, right. Sure. You’re making it sound like this is just business, but something tells me you’re not walking into that building purely out of formal courtesy.”

    I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and slid it into my pocket. “Did you not just hear what I said? She could very well be with someone. This isn’t me barging into her life, this is me being civil. Nothing more.”

    He gave a low chuckle. “It’s not what you’re saying that’s giving you away. It’s your tone. It’s got that little edge to it b– /bba /btwitch of jealousy you’re trying to bury under all this ‘official business‘ talk.”

    I shot him a sideways look as I started down the stairs. “You’re reading way too much into it.”

    “Am I?” he asked, trailing behind me. “Because to me, it sounds like someone’s been thinking about this reunion for a lot longer than they’d like to admit.”

    I ignored him, partly because I didn’t want to admit he might be right, and partly because I was trying to mentally rehearse what I’d say when I actually saw her.

    The convoy was already waiting outside, the dark paint of the vehicles gleaming under thete morning sun. I slid into the back seat, James taking his ce beside me. As the door closed, the familiar hum of the engine filled the air, and the driver pulled us away from the estate gates.

    It was already 10:45 a.m. The ceremony had begun at ten, which was exactly why I’d chosen this timing. bIf /bI arrived btoo /bbearly/bb, /bbshe /bbmight /bbnot /beven be in bthe /bmain hall yet, still caught up in greeting investors or handlingst–minute preparations. By arriving closer bto /bbeleven/bb, /bbI /bbcould be /bsure the bmajority /bbof /bguests were settled, and she’d have to be present.

    James looked out the tinted window before speaking again. “So… what do you think’s gonna happenb? /bbWith /bbeverything /bbthat /bbhas happened /bbbetween /bbyou /btwo do you think she would walk over and say hib? /bOr is she gonna act like she barely bknows /byoub?/b”

    I kept my gaze on the road ahead. “I don’t expect anything. I’m not there for some big emotional reunionb, /bbJames/bb, /bbI’m just /bbgoing /bbto /bbacknowledge /bbher /bbsess/b. That’s it.”

    t you’re even making the effort ane at this

    His grin widened. “You keep saying that, but it’s the just going‘ part that’s telling me otherwise. The facty time…e on, man.”

    let out a low breath, deciding it was pointless to argue. James could be relentless when he smelled even a hint of truth in his assumptions,

    district. Then, through the windshield, I caught sight of the The city streets blurred past, and as we got closer, the traffic thinned around the corporate building in the distance. Even from blocks away, itmanded attention tall, sleek, the ss exterior catching the light in a way that made thepany’s name gleam across the top.

    BLAKE Enterprise.

    The bold letters stood proud against the sky, almost like a taunt.

    ANG

    A small smirk tugged at my lips. Julian ke, that arrogant man had always been a big shot. And now, his newly discovered sister, Olivia ke, was following in those same high–profile footsteps. The name looked good up there, I had to admit… but it didn’t feel right saying it out loud, I’d never get used to calling her that.

    Our driver slowed as we pulled into the designated drop–offne, the rest iof /ithe iconvoy /ieasing to a stop behind us. Guests in formal attire milled about outside the ss entrance, some chatting in small clusters, others checking their invitations. Photographers stood to the side, snapping pictures of arriving attendees.

    I took a slow breath, steadying myself. This wasn’t supposed to mean anything more than a polite gesture and yet, my chest felt heavier than I wanted to admit.

    Just as my hand reached for the door handle, a ck SUV pulled sharply into thene ahead of bus/bb, /bcutting off our view of the main entrance.

    I froze, my fingers curling loosely around the handle as I studied the vehicle. There was something about bit/bb, /bthe make, the tinted windows, the slight rattle of the engine that stirred a flicker of familiarity in the back of my mind.

    James noticed my pause. “You know that car?”

    I didn’t answer right away. My eyes stayed locked on the SUV, watching as the engine idled and no one got out. The sharpness in my gut told me I did recognize it but I just couldn’t ce where from.

    bAD /b