Chapter 2 The Man She Didn't Expect

Emily stepped out of the office building, her heels clicking against the polished pavement as the bustling energy of downtown swirled around her. The air was crisp, but it did little to cut through the heaviness in her chest. Mike was the CEO of the company, a brilliant designer who built it to its peak, and Emily was the design department manager. They had been a seamless team in both work and life—or so she thought.

In her hand was a folder containing the wedding ring designs she had painstakingly created for them. Today was supposed to be the day she showed them to Mike, but now, the thought of what she’d just seen in his office made her stomach churn.

Reaching the parking lot, she slid into her car and sat there, gripping the steering wheel tightly as she stared out at the vibrant cityscape. This was the heart of downtown, where high-end restaurants and luxury cars lined the streets. But no matter how lively the surroundings, Emily felt lost, unsure of where to go.

After a few minutes of sitting in silence, she started the engine and drove home. Her apartment wasn’t far, and just down the street was a small, cozy bar she’d passed by a few times but never visited. Tonight, it seemed like the perfect escape.

The bartender greeted her with a polite nod as she settled onto a stool at the counter. Sensing her mood, he gave her space, quietly sliding a drink in front of her before moving away. Emily sipped slowly, the sharpness of the liquor grounding her just enough to keep the tears at bay.

Her phone buzzed on the counter, breaking the silence. She glanced at the screen: Lila, her best friend. Emily hesitated for a moment before picking up.

“Emily, what’s wrong?” Lila’s voice was warm but concerned.

“Nothing,” Emily replied weakly, not convincing anyone—least of all herself.

“Come on, don’t lie to me. I can tell something’s up,” Lila pressed.

After a pause, Emily finally whispered, “Mike’s first love is back.”

There was a beat of silence on the other end before Lila’s tone sharpened. “And? What happened?”

Emily swallowed hard, the memory of Mike and the other woman flooding her mind. “I saw them together,” she admitted, her voice cracking slightly. “They were… close.”

Lila didn’t hesitate. “Where are you? I’ll come to you.”

“It’s fine,” Emily said quickly. “You don’t have to. I’ll be home soon.”

Lila clearly didn’t believe her but sighed. “Alright. But if you change your mind, call me.”

Emily hung up and stared into her drink, her thoughts swirling in a chaotic mess. People came and went around her, but she barely noticed. It wasn’t until she reached for the folder containing the ring designs that she realized it was missing.

Panic gripped her. Where did it go? She stood abruptly, scanning the bar for the folder. Her chest tightened at the thought of losing it—not for what it represented now, but for the time and effort she had poured into it.

Her search brought her gaze to a corner of the bar, where a man sat alone. Tall, broad-shouldered, and unmistakable. His golden hair caught the dim light, highlighting his chiseled features. His sharp blue eyes seemed to pierce through the room, exuding a cold intensity that made her pause.

Adrian Blackwood.

Lila’s older brother. He had always been a striking figure, intimidatingly handsome, with a commanding presence that seemed to fill any room he walked into. Emily had known him since she was young, often seeing him during her visits to Lila’s house. But he had always been distant, too busy with a life she couldn’t begin to understand. She knew he traveled frequently, working on something important, though she never knew what it was.

The past two years, Adrian had vanished entirely, leaving Emily to assume he was abroad. Yet here he was, sitting in a quiet bar, holding the folder she thought she’d lost.

Her heart raced as Adrian looked up, his piercing gaze locking onto her. He stood slowly, his tall frame moving with an unhurried grace, and walked toward her.

“I believe this is yours,” he said, his deep voice resonating with a calm authority that sent a shiver down her spine.

For a moment, Emily could only stare at him, her eyes flicking to the folder in his hand—the wedding ring designs she had spent hours perfecting. She hesitated before reaching out, her fingers brushing against his as she took it.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her voice barely audible.

Adrian’s sharp eyes studied her, his expression unreadable. “For something so important, you were surprisingly careless,” he remarked, his tone neutral but firm.

Emily’s face flushed, heat rising to her cheeks. “It’s not important anymore,” she blurted out, clutching the folder tightly to her chest.

For a moment, his expression didn’t change, but then his lips curved slightly—not quite a smile, but enough to soften the cold edge of his features.

“Is that so?” he murmured, his tone tinged with quiet amusement.

Emily fidgeted under his gaze, feeling uncomfortably exposed. She finally forced herself to look away, the weight of his stare too much to bear. She still couldn’t understand why Adrian, of all people, was here now. And why, in the midst of everything falling apart, his presence unsettled her so deeply.

Emily took the folder from Adrian, clutching it tightly to her chest. Her fingers brushed against the smooth paper, and for a moment, all she could manage was a quiet, “Thank you.”

Adrian’s piercing gaze lingered on her, as if waiting for her to say something more. But Emily couldn’t. Her emotions were a tangled mess, and the weight of the day pressed heavily on her shoulders. She took a step back, ready to leave, to escape this strange tension that had taken hold of the air between them.

As she turned toward the exit, she froze. Through the bar’s glass doors, she saw the rain pouring down in heavy sheets, the kind that soaked you to the bone in seconds. She hadn’t even noticed when it started. And, of course, she hadn’t brought an umbrella.

She hesitated, glancing down at her heels and the thin cardigan she wore. For a moment, she considered making a run for it, but before she could act, Adrian stepped closer, his deep voice cutting through her thoughts.

“I’ll take you home,” he said, his tone calm and resolute.