Chapter 4

Adrian

Ara.

Out of all the people I could've run into tonight, it had to be her.

She stared at me, her eyes wide with shock, and then narrowed, laced with a mixture of anger and disbelief she was trying to rein in.

I dragged in a breath, watching her contain herself. I was five years away from this city, and the first person I ran into was her. Fate has a twisted sense of humor.

The loud music blurred into the background as we stood there, frozen in place. My eyes unintentionally dropped as I looked her up and, for some reason, lingered longer on the way the jeans she wore hugged her curves.

She hadn't changed. Well, no, that wasn't true. She was still Ara, but... more. There was more confidence in the way she carried herself; the way her eyes were boring into mine, unyielding proved this. She used to be timid back then. I'd thought that wouldn't change but I guess I was wrong.

My eyes returned to her face, which still held the same look of confusion, anger, and hatred that had just appeared. It seemed like she had determined that I was real and standing before her. Her face scrunched in annoyance but she still looked pretty.

Scratch that.

She looked... stunning. She always did, but now it was the kind of stunning that could snatch a man's breath.

And damn it, I was mad at myself for noticing.

"What are you doing here?" Her voice snapped me out of it. I caught the tension in her jaw and the way her fingers tightened around that ridiculous neon bag she was holding.

"It's a club, Ara. People show up." I shrugged, slipping my hands into my pockets like this wasn't tugging at something inside me.

Her brows knitted together, her lips pressing into that thin line I remembered too well. "Of course!"

The sarcasm didn't go unnoticed.

I exhaled, glancing at the guy groaning on the floor. The pathetic bastard still couldn't get his ass up. "Is that how you greet someone who just saved your ass?"

She softened, barely, and glanced at the guy and then at me. "Thank you," She gritted out, averting her gaze from mine.

If she had any choice, she wouldn't have thanked me. Ha, who was I kidding? She still would've. Ara had always been different and I didn’t know whether to hate her for it or to hate myself more because of it.

Before I could respond, she clutched the bag like it was her lifeline and disappeared into the crowd. I remained at the spot, shoulders slumped as I watched her retreat.

That was it? I couldn't help the thought. But what had I expected? That she'd run into my arms like we were old friends?

We were not even close to being friends. I think she'd rather jump into a well than be my acquaintance.

I took a deep breath, but it didn't help the tightening in my chest. Five years and still, she managed to stir something inside of me that shouldn't be happening.

Someone bumped into my shoulder, jolting me out of my thoughts. I blinked, momentarily disoriented, before the loud, pounding music and flashing lights of the club came rushing back into focus.

The man who I had knocked down had also left and I was there alone, looking lost.

A frown crept onto my face. Why was I here again?

Oh, right. Kevin Faye. That asshole.

The moment he learned I was back in the city, he'd called me up, asking for a ride. And of all clubs, he was in this one where Ara happened to be as well. The look she gave me before leaving was burned into my mind, and it had rattled me more than I cared to admit, and I hated that.

I thought I was way past this stage of wallowing in guilt.

Weaving my way through the crowd, I headed to the VIP room where Kevin had said he would be.

Kevin didn't mind living in a club if he could. He enjoyed the buzz of the atmosphere and reveled in it. I often wished his dick was so needy because he was heartbroken but no, he was just a party breed, unfortunately.

Thank God, he was a Faye. The next Faye in line to inherit a chain of estates. That could keep him away from places like this soon.

When I got to the room, I pushed the door open with a scowl, ready to meet a show of strippers, but was surprised when I saw him alone, nursing a drink.

I cracked up, it was unusual seeing him without ladies hovering around him.

"Finally, I thought you got ambushed on the way" He grinned at me as I walked in further. I ignored his comment and headed straight to the bar pouring myself a glass of bourbon. I might as well have a few drinks since I was here.

"How drunk are you?" I asked, sitting on a stool and turning to face him. His face was flushed and his eyes were drooping, obviously very drunk but surprisingly still in control of his thoughts and actions.

Impressive as always!

"Not too drunk," He responded and threw his head backward.

"How do you feel being back here after so long?" He asked, not letting me respond before adding, "Do you think she knows?"

My jaws clenched, I knew who he was referring to. It was Sky, my little sister, and Ara's best friend. They were inseparable, so I could bet that Sky would be aware of my return before sunrise.

Though I had missed her all those years, I didn't attempt to speak with her because she'd made it clear that we made no contact with each other. And as much as I wanted to blame Ara for this, I couldn't. I made the mistake and I'd bear the brunt.

But still...

"She will, soon" I responded, taking a sip of my bourbon as I avoided his eyes. His eyes narrowed but he said nothing concerning that again.

"I heard that you're also interested in the Dupont deal. We spoke about this last time, and you were less thrilled. What changed now?" He asked and I sighed as I placed my glass on the counter

"I need to prove a point to my grandma. If she knows I'm interested in that deal, she might stop threatening to give up the company and lay off me for a while"

My grandmother had been insisting that I got married and when I showed no interest, she started threatening me with the family company that was built by my grandfather and father. If it were just some random company, I wouldn't care because I had built my empire as well, but this was my father's legacy, no matter what, I had to protect it.

But God, she wasn't making it easy for me.

"Do you think that will work?" Kevin smirked and I raised my palm to my face, tired

Of course that won't work. Grandma was out to get me and she wouldn't stop till I folded. "No"

He chuckled. "So what's the second plan?"

I had no plans to get married just yet, but that was the only solution to get me out of this mess. If I were to get married, it had to be the girl of my choice and not my grandma's. This way, I could be in control of what would happen in the course.

I had been thinking about this the whole time I was on the plane.

I had to be a step ahead.

The silence stretched on for a while before I finally broke it.

"The second plan is a wife. Faye, I need a wife." My words may have caught him off guard because he spewed the drink out of his mouth and began coughing.