Chapter Four

Adrian

The ride back from the hotel was unusually quiet. Alexander kept his attention on the road while Adrian stared out the passenger window, replaying the lunch in his head.

All he could think about was her, valentine emma or whatever her real name was.

He still couldn't believe the woman he had spent the most amazing night with was about to become his sister in law.

"You have been unusually quiet Adrian," Alexander said and Adrian looked over.

"Have I?"

"You haven't made a single joke in the last ten minutes, that's a record for you."

"Maybe I am growing up."

Alexander snorted.

"I highly doubt it."

Silence settled between them again before Adrian spoke.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure"

"What do you actually know about Valentine?"

Alexander frowned slightly.

"And you are back." 

"come on brother to brother, just humor me" 

"What do you mean?"

"I mean who is she? What is she like?"

Alexander shrugged.

"She is intelligent, Well educated and graceful. She has an excellent reputation, she is perfect for me."

Adrian waited a few more seconds but when nothing else came, he sighed.

"That's not what I asked."

Alexander briefly glanced at him.

"It isn't?"

"No."

Adrian shifted in his seat.

"What's her favorite food?"

Alexander said nothing.

"What kind of music does she listen to?"

Silence.

"What makes her laugh?"

Another pause.

Adrian leaned back and shook his head.

"You are describing a resume, not a woman."

Alexander's jaw tightened.

"This isn't about compatibility Adrian."

"Then what is it about?"

"Duty."

"Duty to who?" Adrian echoed.

"To our family."

Adrian laughed without humor.

"You are about to marry a complete stranger because of duty to our family?"

Alexander's grip tightened around the steering wheel.

"You think I don't know that?"

"Then don't do it."

Alexander finally looked at him.

"I don't have a choice."

"Everyone has a choice."

"No." His voice was calm but firm. "Not when your decisions affect hundreds of other people."

Adrian frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Alexander exhaled slowly.

"You have been away too much to notice."

"Notice what?"

"The Ashford Group is collapsing."

Adrian turned fully toward him.

"What?"

"Their debts have reached the point where bankruptcy is inevitable."

He frowned.

"I thought they were one of the strongest hospitality groups in the country."

"They were."

"So what happened?"

"A series of bad investments after her father's death, a trusted executive disappeared with company funds. Creditors came knocking. Banks lost confidence."

Adrian listened in silence as Alexander continued.

"Their hotels employ hundreds of people."

"So?"

"So if the company falls, hundreds of families lose their income."

Adrian's expression slowly changed.

"Our grandfather proposed a merger years ago."

Alexander nodded.

"The marriage makes it possible."

"And Valentine agreed to this?"

"I don't think she wanted to."

"But she said yes."

"For her family."

The words landed heavily between them.

Alexander pulled into the underground parking garage.

He switched off the engine before looking at his younger brother.

"Sometimes love is a luxury, a dream."

He opened the driver's door. "Responsibility isn't and you will learn that soon."

The door shut behind him.

Adrian remained frozen in his seat.

For the first time he wasn't thinking about the wedding. He was thinking about the woman behind it.

Later that evening, Adrian stood alone in his apartment overlooking the glittering city skyline as his tie had long been discarded.

His jacket lay across the sofa.

A glass of whiskey rested in one hand.

The folded note rested in the other.

He had lost count of how many times he had read that same line over an diver again. 

Thanks for helping me forget.

Emma

He traced the neat handwriting with his thumb.

He was overthinking everything, what did he help her forget? Was the story about her boyfriend cheating even true? But he remembered the pain in her eyes, she could not fake that, but what was she trying to forget that night? 

He let out a dry laugh before emptying the rest of the whiskey in one swallow.

She wouldn't leave his mind, not the bride he had seen that afternoon, the woman from the bar.

The one who had rolled her eyes at his terrible pickup line.

The one who had laughed when he admitted he had changed it at the last second.

The one whose smile had slowly replaced the sadness in her eyes.

He could still hear her voice.

"I just found my boyfriend of two years in bed with my stepmother."

"Ouch."

He had meant it then.

He meant it even more now.

She hadn't been looking for a lover.

She'd been looking for one night where she didn't have to feel broken.

He unfolded the note once more, staring at the single word she had signed with.

His fingers tightened around the paper.

"Why can't I stop thinking about you, Emma?"