Chapter 6: The Truth He Didn't Know

"Or should I call you Claire?"

Time stopped.

Every horrible possibility I'd imagined over the last two years crashed into my head at once.

He knew.

He had figured it out.

This was it.

I was about to lose both my boyfriend and my job in the same afternoon.

My fingers tightened around my purse strap.

"I..."

"Relax."

Adrian's expression softened.

"You look like you're about to faint."

"I'm not."

"You're gripping your purse like it owes you money."

I looked down.

He was right.

I forced my hand to loosen.

"Sorry."

"So... Claire?"

I cleared my throat.

"It's just easier online."

"Why?"

"Privacy."

"Fair enough."

I blinked.

That was it?

He wasn't suspicious anymore?

I almost laughed from relief.

Apparently, I had escaped by the skin of my teeth.

He sat down again.

"The phone call wasn't important," he said.

"Work?"

"Unfortunately."

"Even on weekends?"

"Being CEO doesn't really come with days off."

"You chose that life."

"I did."

"Do you regret it?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he looked outside the café window where people hurried through the light rain.

"Sometimes."

"Really?"

"Money solves a lot of problems."

"But not all of them."

"Exactly."

His voice sounded strangely tired.

"People think success automatically means happiness."

"Doesn't it?"

He smiled faintly.

"I'm sitting across from someone I've cared about for two years."

"Mm-hmm."

"And I'm still wondering if she's looking for the nearest emergency exit."

I looked away.

Because he wasn't wrong.

He noticed.

"You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Looking toward the door."

"Habit."

"Or escape plan?"

"Maybe both."

He laughed quietly.

"You're honest in very strange ways."

"Only when I'm nervous."

"Are you nervous because of me?"

"A little."

"Good."

"Good?"

"I'm nervous too."

That surprised me.

"You don't look nervous."

"Years of board meetings."

"So you're secretly panicking?"

"Internally."

"Interesting."

"Why?"

"Because you always seem so... in control."

"That's because people expect me to be."

"And when nobody's watching?"

"I'm just another guy hoping the woman in front of him doesn't leave after finishing her coffee."

I stared at him.

No expensive suit.

No cold CEO mask.

Just Adrian.

Somehow, that made this even harder.

"Tell me something," he said.

"Okay."

"What made you reply to my post two years ago?"

I smiled before I could stop myself.

"Honestly?"

"Always."

"I thought you sounded ridiculous."

He laughed.

"I probably did."

"You absolutely did."

"And yet here we are."

"Life has a weird sense of humor."

"It really does."

For a while, the conversation became easier.

We talked about movies.

Books.

Travel.

Embarrassing childhood stories.

It felt almost exactly like our late-night phone calls.

Except now I could actually watch him smile.

It was unfairly attractive.

"Can I ask another question?" he said.

"Depends."

"Have you ever been in love before?"

The question caught me completely off guard.

Technically...

I was in love right now.

With him.

But he couldn't know that.

"No," I answered softly.

"Never?"

"No."

"Then why did you agree to date me?"

"Because..."

I hesitated.

"Because?"

"You made me laugh."

His expression changed.

Something warm flickered across his face.

"Really?"

"Really."

"I spent weeks worrying I was bothering you."

"You were."

"That's not very romantic."

"But somehow it became charming."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"You should."

The server returned with fresh coffee.

As she placed the cups down, she smiled at Adrian.

"You two make a cute couple."

I nearly dropped my spoon.

"We're not..."

"Thank you," Adrian said before I could finish.

The waitress walked away looking pleased with herself.

"She misunderstood," I muttered.

"Did she?"

"Obviously."

"I don't mind."

"I noticed."

"Would it bother you?"

I didn't answer.

Because yes.

Not because I disliked the idea.

Because I liked it far too much.

A comfortable silence settled between us.

Then Adrian suddenly frowned.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He looked past me toward the entrance.

"Nothing."

"You're staring."

"Someone from work just walked in."

Ice flooded my veins.

"What?"

"Relax."

"Who is it?"

"Marketing department."

I slowly turned my head.

Sure enough...

Daniel from marketing had just entered the café.

He hadn't noticed us yet.

"Oh no."

"Do you know him?" Adrian asked.

"No."

"That answer came too fast."

"I mean... maybe I've seen him online."

Brilliant, Emma.

Absolutely brilliant.

Daniel looked around the café.

My heart climbed into my throat.

"We need to move," I whispered.

"Why?"

"Because... because I don't like crowded places."

"There are twelve people in here."

"Exactly."

"That's crowded?"

"For me."

He studied my face.

"You're hiding something."

"Everyone hides something."

"True."

"See?"

"But most people don't panic because someone ordered a cappuccino."

I glanced toward Daniel again.

He was walking closer.

Still looking around.

"Please," I whispered.

"Let's just go."

Adrian followed my gaze.

"Is it him?"

"Who?"

"The man you're afraid of."

"What? No!"

"Then why are you shaking?"

I hadn't even realized my hands were trembling.

He reached across the table.

Very gently...

He covered one of my hands with his.

"Hey."

His voice was softer than I'd ever heard it.

"Whatever it is... you don't have to tell me today."

"Adrian..."

"But you don't have to be scared around me."

I looked into his eyes.

There wasn't any suspicion.

No frustration.

Only concern.

Which somehow made me feel even worse.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"Always."

At that exact moment...

"Mr. Carter?"

Both of us looked up.

Daniel stood beside our table.

"I didn't expect to see you here," he said with a smile.

My entire body froze.

Adrian looked up calmly.

"Daniel."

"Sorry for interrupting."

Then Daniel looked at me.

"Oh... hello."

He frowned slightly.

"Have we met before?"

I lowered my head and forced my voice lower.

"I don't think so."

"Strange... you look really familiar."

"People say that a lot," I replied.

Daniel scratched his head.

"Maybe from the office...?"

"Daniel," Adrian interrupted smoothly.

"This is Claire."

"Claire, this is Daniel from our marketing division."

"Nice to meet you," Daniel said.

"Likewise."

He still looked uncertain.

But after another few seconds, he finally smiled.

"Sorry. Guess I was mistaken."

"It happens," Adrian replied.

Daniel waved and walked toward another table.

I didn't breathe until he sat down.

"You're safe now," Adrian said quietly.

"I wasn't unsafe."

"No?"

"No."

"Then why do you look like you just survived a bank robbery?"

I laughed nervously.

"Bad social anxiety."

"That... I believe."

We stayed another half hour.

When the bill arrived, Adrian paid before I could even reach for my purse.

"Next time," he said.

"Who said there's a next time?"

"I did."

"You're confident."

"Hopeful."

"There's a difference?"

"A big one."

He walked me outside.

The rain had finally stopped.

The streets glistened beneath the afternoon sun.

"Can I ask for one thing?" he said.

"Depends what it is."

"Don't disappear again."

"I won't."

"Promise?"

I looked at him.

This kind, stubborn, unbelievably patient man.

Then I smiled.

"I promise."

He smiled back.

Neither of us noticed the black SUV parked across the street.

Inside it, Nora—Adrian's executive assistant—had just looked up from her tablet.

She stared through the windshield.

Then at me.

Her eyes widened.

"That's..." she whispered.

"Miss Hayes?"