Chapter 14: The Night Everything Changed Again

"...I'll come back in thirty seconds," the hotel manager muttered before closing the door.

Silence.

Complete silence.

I was still lying against Adrian's chest.

His arm was wrapped around my waist.

Neither of us moved.

"Emma..."

"I know."

"You're still hugging me."

"I noticed."

"Should we..."

"Probably."

Neither of us moved.

Then we both laughed.

"This is your fault," I whispered.

"Mine?"

"You caught me."

"You launched yourself across the bed like a frightened cat."

"There was thunder!"

"There was."

"I hate thunderstorms."

"I know."

That simple sentence made my smile fade.

He remembered.

Even after everything...

He still remembered.

Slowly, I sat up.

"Sorry."

"Stop apologizing every five minutes."

"I'm working on it."

"Good."

Another flash of lightning illuminated the room.

Seconds later, thunder echoed across Chicago.

Without thinking, I flinched.

Adrian noticed.

"Still afraid?"

"Always have been."

"Since you were little?"

"Since I was eight."

"You never told me why."

"Because it's embarrassing."

"Try me."

I looked toward the rain-covered windows.

"My parents left me alone one night during a storm."

"Emma..."

"The power went out."

"How old were you?"

"Eight."

"You were alone?"

"For almost four hours."

"That's not embarrassing."

"It feels childish now."

"No."

His voice became softer.

"It explains a lot."

"Like what?"

"Why you always answered my messages during storms."

"You noticed that?"

"I notice everything about you."

Before I could answer, another knock came at the door.

"Mr. Carter?"

The hotel manager spoke from outside.

"The elevators have stopped temporarily because of the power fluctuations. We're asking guests to remain in their rooms until further notice."

"Understood," Adrian replied.

"We'll notify everyone when it's safe."

Footsteps disappeared down the hallway.

Rain continued hammering against the windows.

"Looks like we're trapped," I said.

"For a while."

"Perfect."

"Could be worse."

"How?"

"The honeymoon package could've included matching robes."

I burst out laughing.

"Don't joke about that."

"I'm trying to lighten the mood."

"It's working."

He smiled.

"Good."

The lights flickered once more before the room went completely dark.

"Great," I whispered.

"Emergency generator should start soon."

"You're awfully calm."

"Years of business travel."

"I've watched horror movies."

"Those aren't the same thing."

"They are in my head."

The emergency lights finally came on, casting a soft golden glow across the suite.

It felt strangely peaceful.

Adrian stood and walked toward the kitchen.

"Tea?"

"You make tea?"

"I'm full of surprises."

"I thought CEOs only knew how to order coffee."

"Very funny."

A few minutes later he handed me a steaming mug.

"Chamomile?"

"Your favorite during stressful nights."

"You really remember everything."

"Almost."

We sat together on the sofa overlooking the storm.

For several minutes neither of us spoke.

The silence wasn't uncomfortable anymore.

Just... quiet.

"Can I ask you something?" Adrian finally said.

"Of course."

"When did you fall in love with me?"

I smiled.

"Do you really want the answer?"

"Yes."

"It wasn't romantic."

"Now I'm curious."

"Remember when I had the flu?"

"You refused to see a doctor."

"Exactly."

"You were stubborn."

"You stayed awake all night making sure I drank water every hour."

"I remember."

"Nobody had ever taken care of me like that."

"That's when?"

"That's when."

He looked down at his tea.

"Mine was earlier."

"Earlier?"

"Much earlier."

"When?"

"The night you accidentally sent me a ten-minute voice note complaining about your terrible boss."

I covered my face.

"Please don't remind me."

"You called him an emotionally unavailable spreadsheet."

"I did not."

"Word for word."

"I was tired."

"You also said he probably hugged Excel more than human beings."

"I can't believe you remember that."

"I laughed for twenty minutes."

"And you still fell in love with me?"

"Because you weren't pretending."

"I haven't pretended since then either."

His expression softened.

"I know."

"Except for one thing."

"Yes."

"The biggest thing."

"Yes."

We both looked out toward the rain again.

"Do you know what scared me most?" Adrian asked quietly.

"What?"

"After finding out the truth... I realized I could've walked past the love of my life every day without ever knowing."

My eyes filled with tears.

"But you didn't."

"No."

"You found me."

"Eventually."

"Maybe that's what matters."

"Maybe."

The room fell silent again.

Then Adrian suddenly stood.

"Come with me."

"Where?"

"The balcony."

"It's raining."

"The roof is covered."

"You're serious?"

"Very."

Curious, I followed him outside.

The covered balcony protected us from the rain.

Chicago stretched endlessly beneath the storm.

Lightning flashed across the lake.

"Beautiful," I whispered.

"It is."

"You brought me out here just to see this?"

"Not exactly."

"Then why?"

He turned toward me.

"Because I realized something tonight."

My heart started racing.

"What?"

"I've spent the last few days trying to decide whether I can trust you again."

"And?"

"I still don't have the answer."

Hope faded.

"Okay."

"But I do know something else."

"What?"

"Every time I try to imagine my future without you... it feels wrong."

I couldn't breathe.

"Adrian..."

"I'm still hurt."

"I know."

"I'm still angry sometimes."

"I know."

"But every hour I'm away from you hurts even more."

A tear rolled down my cheek.

"I don't deserve you."

"Probably not."

I laughed through my tears.

"That wasn't very romantic."

"I'm trying honesty instead."

"I like honesty."

"Good."

"Because I'm done hiding."

"Forever?"

"Forever."

He looked into my eyes for a long moment.

Slowly...

Carefully...

He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"No wigs?" he asked.

"Never again."

"Good."

"Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because I finally understand something."

"What's that?"

"The woman I fell in love with never needed a disguise."

My heart melted.

We stood only inches apart.

Neither of us moved.

Neither of us spoke.

His eyes dropped briefly to my lips.

Mine did the same.

Just as he leaned slightly closer...

His phone rang loudly.

Both of us jumped.

Adrian glanced at the screen.

His expression immediately changed.

"It's the board chairman."

"You should answer."

He hesitated.

Then accepted the call.

"Adrian speaking."

He listened for several seconds.

The warmth disappeared from his face.

"What happened?"

Another pause.

"I'm on my way back tomorrow morning."

He ended the call slowly.

"What is it?" I asked.

He looked at me with a serious expression.

"Someone leaked confidential Morrison documents to the press."

"What?"

"And according to the board..."

He took a slow breath.

"...the evidence points to someone on our project team."