CHAPTER TWO: The Kiss That Made Headlines

Adele prayed for the ground to open and swallow her whole.

Her shoes pinched at her toes. She clutched her champagne glass tighter and swallowed hard.

Being here felt wrong. Out of place.

Clinking glasses and delicate laughter rose around her.

She didn't belong here. She felt overdressed in her shimmering red dress. The overpowering aura of the rich and wealthy made her feel smaller than normal, and she looked around desperately.

Every muscle in her body screamed to leave, but she was rooted to the spot. She needed this. But with every clink of glass and flicker of a camera, a strange dread tugged at her spine—like someone was watching. Or worse… recording.

This was the time to put her accounting degree to good use. She straightened her shoulders and cleared her throat.

Grabbing another glass of champagne from a passing waiter, she let her eyes skim the crowd.

And then her eyes caught on someone who didn't fit either–tall, striking, and watching her right back.

Her breath hitched. Sharp grey eyes pierced hers. There was something oddly familiar about the strong outline of that jaw, the set of the broad shoulders, and her mind immediately started racing, until it hit her.

The oddly familiar stranger at the other end of the hall was no one other than Julian Hawthorne. Spoiled billionaire son of Julius Hawthorne and CEO of Hawthorne Global Holdings.

Adele's heart skipped several beats and nostalgia filled her. She used to crush hard on him—until the fire. Until she moved out.

He looked more grown up now. And hotter. Sharper around the edges, like someone the press couldn’t stop talking about. A man both adored and scrutinized.

He lifted his eyebrow questioningly and her face flushed at the realisation that she had been staring the entire time.

She needed an escape.

Her eyes caught the buffet table and she stalked over there, pretending to be interested in the seafood display.

Her fork hovered over the shrimps when she heard a voice behind her, very close to her neck.

"Didn’t peg you for the seafood type"

Her belly fluttered and she closed her eyes for a second, pacing her breathing.

She turned around and raised an eyebrow at the drop-dead gorgeous hunk of a man standing before her in a finely tailored suit.

"Pardon my intrusion, but you look very familiar"

Adele looked down at her plate.

"I remember you…and yes, I like seafood now."

Julian blinked. "Oh-"

"Exactly".

She remembered why her heart skipped several beats. She wasn't excited. She hated this man. He and his stupid friends used to put life crabs in her locker and goof off about it. They called her

‘Addy the fatty’ and made pig noises when she was passing by.

"I don't quite remember your name. I'm sorry. I'm Julian. Julian Hawthorne" he extended his hand meekly but Adele just stared at it, clutching her paper plate tighter.

"Adele" She said, letting the weight of her name do the talking.

"Adele Rivers."

His eyes widened with recognition.

"Oh… I am so -"

She waved it off.

"Forget it. I'm over it"

"Right. But I must apologise for my unruly behaviour towards you in the past."

"Too late for that. Now move along, Julian"

"About that. What are you doing here? You're not on the guest list"

Her heart lurched in her chest, but her poker face was unreadable.

"And how do you know that?"

"Oh honey. I own this place. This is my show" he waved his arm across the hall like a pompous peacock.

Adele rolled her eyes.

"So…what? Are you kicking me out?"

"Far from it. I am actually happy to run into you again…however you got here."

Soft classical music played in the background.

"You look beautiful, Adele." he said softly.

Her cheeks felt hot.

Her food sat abandoned.

"Thank you, but I must get going now. I have a lot to accomplish" she made to stand up but he reached out and placed a warm but firm hand over hers.

She flinched but stayed put.

"Don't disappear before the night ends, Adele."

"Why?" She blurted, trying to act nonchalant while her heart danced in her chest.

"Because I'll be privileged to dance with the stunning lady in red."

She blushed again and stuffed her face with the cold shrimps sitting on the paper plate.

Across the room, someone’s phone tilted in their direction, held at just the right angle. She didn’t see the flash, didn’t notice the whisper of a shutter. But someone else did.

*****

"You kissed him??" Ronnie squealed and cupped her palm over her mouth.

"It was just a light kiss. We were drunk" Adele buried her head in her hands. She wasn't thinking. Neither of them were.

She munched hungrily on dry cereal and tried to remember the events of last night.

She had watched Julian give his philanthropic speech. He walked straight towards her immediately after and asked her to dance. One too many champagne glasses influenced her decision and soon enough she was giggling in his arms, weaving her fingers through his hair and professing her long term crush to him.

He had said very little, just chuckling and nodding his head, and when he leaned in for a kiss, she melted against him. It lasted for only a few seconds, but that kiss was burned onto her lips.

Now she sat there, fighting through a hangover and preparing herself for her day shift at a pizza place.

"Did you at least achieve what you went for?" Ronnie asked cautiously.

"I'm on it."

She wasn't. She spent all night with Julian and barely even mentioned her reason for being there.

Ronnie knew.

"I hate to burst your bubble, but isn't this the same guy who used to body shame and scare you with sea creatures?"

"People change, Veronica. I'm not vouching for him, but he seemed…different."

"He's just a grown up asshole with a big bank account, Ads"

Adele sighed.

"He's bad for you and you know it."

"I appreciate your concern, but I'm not even seeing the guy. It was one night, and we were drunk. I wouldn't have done it sober, I swear. We didn't even exchange numbers or anything." But something gnawed at her. A strange tightness in her chest. Like last night had been a little too perfect. A little too exposed.

Ronnie stood arms akimbo and raised an eyebrow.

"Something tells me I'll be seeing much more of him"

"It was one kiss, Ron. Get off my back"

Ronnie laughed and raised her hands in surrender.

Adele popped two aspirins and drank water from the tap.

She was one leg out the door when a figure blocked her way, breathing hard and wide eyed.

"Oh my God! Nathan! You scared me"

Nathan took off his sunglasses and held up his phone.

"Girl! You are everywhere! Look!"

Adele grabbed the phone and sauntered into the house, her eyes glazing over as she read the red glaring headline.

"BILLIONAIRE CEO, JULIAN HAWTHORNE SPOTTED LOCKING LIPS WITH A MYSTERIOUS FEMALE"

"THE HAWTHORNE HURRICANE: CEO OF HAWTHORNE GLOBAL HOLDINGS SPOTTED WITH…GIRLFRIEND?"

Adele’s breath caught. Her image was blurred—but not enough. Not enough to stop people from digging. Her heart pounded as her past whispered from the shadows, threatening to claw its way back into the spotlight.