LOGINAdrianThe moment we stepped inside, it took Emma just five seconds to forget I existed. One moment she was holding onto my arm, and the next her hand had gone loose and she’d drifted a step ahead of me, her eyes climbing the walls of the hall like she’d walked into a church. I could’ve turned around and left and I honestly don’t think she would’ve noticed at all.The room itself wasn’t huge, which always surprised people the first time. There were maybe eighty seats in total, arranged in curved rows around a low stage, with a ceiling painted like a night sky and lamps turned down low. A waiter came by with a tray before we’d even sat down, and I took two glasses of champagne and handed one to Emma. She took it without looking at me.“Emma.”“Hm?”“Your drink.”“Oh, right. Thank you.” She took it without looking back at me and I bit back a laugh.We found our seats near the front, close enough that she’d be able to see the musicians’ hands. She sat down slowly, smoothing her dress u
Emma As I stepped out onto the front porch, Adrian was already there, leaning against his Aston Martin like he had all the time in the world. He wore a black suit that fit him so perfectly it might as well have been stitched onto his body, the top few buttons of his shirt left open with no tie in sight. His hands were tucked into his pockets, and his wheat blonde hair was pushed back, catching the last of the evening light. He looked so fucking good I already knew he was going to have everyone swooning over him and wishing they were me, without a single one of them realizing the whole thing was supposed to be fake. He flashed me a smile as I got closer to him, the kind that made my heart melt and race all at once. “You look breathtaking,” I said to him before I could stop myself. He smirked like I’d just told him exactly what he wanted to hear. As I reached him, he bent his arm and held it out with a flourish that was almost old-fashioned. “Shall we?” I slid my arm through his
Emma I balanced my phone against the dressing mirror and fought with the curling wand, doing my best not to singe my fingers while Olivia talked my ear off. “Finally!” she squealed. “I’m so glad you’re actually giving this thing with Adrian a shot. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for this to happen? It’s about damn time!” I smiled a little, even though she couldn’t see me. If only she knew the truth. There was no way I was about to tell my best friend that everything between me and Adrian was just for show. “But listen,” Olivia went on, “have you seen the comments under that picture Adrian posted? They’re absolutely insane!” “Honestly?” I paused to wrap a few strands around the wand. “I haven’t even looked at them and I don’t even want to have a clue what they are saying.” “You don’t have to put yourself through that, babe. I already went through every single one for you,” she said proudly. “It’s wild. So many people are shocked, and a whole bunch of girls are fu
AdrianCoffee breaks were supposed to be the one time in my day when I got to sit back and actually breathe, but the cup on my desk had already gone cold, barely touched.My attention was buried under contracts, emails, and a stack of files that all needed my signature and I’d been at it for almost an hour, working my way through the pile one page at a time, so focused on getting through it that I didn’t even glance at my phone the first few times it rang. Whoever it was though, clearly had no intention of giving up, because it just kept buzzing against the table, rattling the pen I’d set down. Finally I reached across the desk and turned it over to check the caller ID.Allysia.Her name lighting up my screen made my jaw tighten on its own. I hadn’t spoken a word to her since three days ago. After the stunt she pulled at my party she’d given me more than enough reasons to like her even less than I already did. I set the phone back down and let it ring itself out, but a minute later
EmmaEven though an hour had gone by, I still couldn’t get over what Allysia did downstairs. The way she had stood up there and acted like a victim in front of everyone, and worse than that, I couldn’t get over the way Adrian had defended and protected me. First with Victoria in the hallway and then with Allysia, and he’d done it without any hesitation, like it was the most natural thing in the world for him to do. I hadn’t expected any of it and I was still more than shocked.After the kiss he’d taken me by the hand and led me away from the noise and all those staring faces, up the stairs and away from the party. He said he had something to deal with and left me alone for a while, and now I was curled up on his bed with my back against the headboard when the door finally opened and he walked back in.He crossed the room and joined me on the bed, stretching his hand out toward me. “Hey, you okay?” He paused and shook his head at himself. “You know what, that’s actually a dumb ques
EmmaAllysia’s smile widened as the whole room hung on her words.“So, the first announcement,” she said, drawing it out and letting the silence stretch. Her eyes flicked toward Adrian, soft and shining like she was about to hand him the world. “It’s the best birthday gift my brother could ever ask for.”She paused.“He’s going to be an uncle!”I could see Adrian roll his eyes beside me through my peripheral like he was tired of hearing it. The room went dead quiet and everyone just stared with their glasses frozen halfway to their lips, like they weren’t sure they’d heard right.Allysia laughed, pressing a hand to her flat stomach. “I mean I’m pregnant, silly!”And just like that the whole place exploded into sudden cheers, clapping and people whistling. A few girls rushed toward the DJ booth to throw their arms around her, squealing like it was the happiest news they’d ever heard.I sat there with the drink still in my hand, watching her soak it all up.And it dragged right back to
Emma I was pulled out of a deep, heavy sleep by the sharp, persistent ringing of my phone. I groaned, the sound muffled by the pillow I had pressed over my ears. I wasn't ready to wake up yet. My body felt heavy, and my legs still had that dull ache that reminded me of everything Adrian had done
Adrian’s POVI’d always known Emma as my sister’s best friend, and I was more than surprised when I found out the person Allysia was getting married to was Emma’s boyfriend. To be honest, I’d never liked that scumbag. It was crazy to me, but I hadn’t bothered to go through the trouble of informing
Emma’s POVHe drove fast through the estate gates like he was in some kind of racing competition. It was hard to enjoy the perfectly lit garden view that flashed past the window as we sped toward the main building. It was a massive, modern-style palace standing all by itself.He finally parked in f
Emma’s POVAdrian didn’t say a word as he drove, keeping his eyes focused on the road while his hands stayed steady on the wheel. He shifted gears and pulled out of the parking lot, heading away from the building where my life had just fallen apart. I leaned back and turned my head toward the side







