Chapter 5: POWER LOOKS DIFFERENT

Amara's POV----

Adrian chose a restaurant that suited my taste. The ambience was calm and aesthetically pleasing. 

It was hidden on the top floor of a tower overlooking the entire city. The lightening was dim with a touch of golden lights to give it a glow. 

The restaurant was a place only the rich and mighty came to dine it. 

Each table had champagne glasses with a bottle of champagne on it. The waiters were all dressed in jet black suits. 

The menu was so exquisite, and it had any type of dish you could think of. 

I walked out of the elevator in a black shiny dinner dress, gold heels, and a gold statement purse to match. 

My skin glowed like sunlight, and my scent immediately filled the room as I came in. I walked in confidently with my hips strutting up and down. 

I immediately saw Adrian in the VIP section of the restaurant. Dressed in a well-tailored ash suit, Adrian looked confident and Relaxed. 

He looked like he belonged here. A bit dangerous in a way, powerful men often were. 

His face lit up immediately when he saw me. He walked toward me gracefully. 

"Wow," he said, smiling softly as he approached me. "You look gorgeous." He continued. 

"I was starting to think your boss chained you," he said in a soft and playful tone while gently walking me to the VIP section. 

I raised my eyebrow. 

"He tried to stop me," I said with a faint smile.

Adrian laughed softly 

"I like that answer." He said as he gestured toward our table by the window side in the VIP section. 

"Come on. This view alone is worth showing for." I smiled immediately when he said that. The view was indeed so beautiful. 

The city was glowing beneath us like shiny pebbles. 

He then moved to take out my seat and made sure I sat down comfortably. 

"You are such a gentleman," I said with a warm smile. 

"And you are a queen that deserves to be treated like royalty." He said as he took his seat. 

For a moment, neither of us spoke. Adrian stared so deeply into my eyes like a captain who had just seen a chest of gold. 

"You have such beautiful eyes." He said. 

" I will take that as a compliment," I said, trying not to show much emotion. After all, Julian told me more than that, but still left. 

"You know." He said. "Most people in that office are afraid of Julian."

I picked up my glass of champagne that was poured by Adrian, and I sipped it gently. 

"Most people don't know him deeply for who he is," I replied as I dropped my glass of champagne gently on the table. 

Adrian leaned back in his chair slightly. 

"So it's true." He said with a little exclamation 

I looked at him, a little confused.

"What is true?" I asked. 

" The rumours." He replied. 

My expressions remained calm. 

"And what rumours are those?" I asked with a calm look on my face. 

"That you two used to be something," he said. 

I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I turned my gaze towards the beautiful city, admiring its beauty from where we were seated. 

"We used to be everything," I said quietly. " We shared memories that were very hard to erase." 

Adrian didn't look surprised. He looked like he had seen Julian's weakness and a very great avenue to challenge him. 

"In that case," he said carefully, "dinner tonight might be a terrible idea."  I looked back at him. 

"Then why did you invite me?" I said with a sharp and serious look. 

His smile returned, but there was something sharper behind it now. 

"Because terrible ideas are usually the most interesting ones." He said. I didn't understand what he meant, so I decided not to pursue it further. So I kept quiet. 

Our food arrived, but neither of us paid attention to it. 

Our conversation kept flowing. I found myself laughing more than I expected.

Adrian was charming in a way that felt so effortless. We talked about business, investors fighting over tech companies, family, and school. 

That was where I got to find out that he was Julian's classmate back then in school. 

"You are too natural," he said at one point. 

" Why?" I asked, a bit confused, why he said that. 

"Because you are the only person I have met this year who is not trying to impress me." He continued with a warm smile. 

I smiled faintly and said, "That's because I am not trying to impress you." 

He leaned forward slightly and said, “And yet you might be the most impressive one in the room.”

Before I could respond, a shadow fell across our table, and a familiar voice spoke behind me.

“Enjoying your evening?” The voice said.  My entire body stiffened. I didn’t have to turn around; I  already knew who it was. JULIAN. Silence fell on Adrian and me.

Adrian’s expression shifted from amusement to something more alert. I also became a bit scared as to why Julian suddenly appeared at the restaurant.

“Is he stalking me? This situation is getting scary,” I said within myself.  "Well,” Adrian said calmly, as he broke the silence. “Speak of the devil.” I slowly turned in my chair.

Julian stood beside our table in a dark suit and perfect posture. His eyes were locked entirely on me, but there was something different about him tonight.

It was something colder, something more dangerous.

“What are you doing here?” I asked quietly. Julian ignored the question; instead, his gaze moved briefly to Adrian.

“Mr. Cross,” Julian said as he looked at Adrian with a straight face.

“Julian.”

Neither man offered a handshake. The tension between them felt like electricity. Adrian gestured casually to the empty chair at our table.

“Care to join us?” He said, I shot him a look immediately. He only smiled. But Julian didn’t sit.

“I think you’ve had enough of her time,” Julian said with his hands in his pockets. 

 “That sounds like jealousy,” Adrian said as he tilted his head slightly. “It’s observation,” Julian said in a calm voice. 

“Stop,” I said as I stood up. Both men tilted their heads and looked at me.

“This isn’t a territory dispute,” I said sharply. Adrian raised his hands slightly in mock surrender.

“I’m enjoying the show, personally.” He said with a little mock laughter.

Julian’s attention returned to me and he said. “You should come with me.”

My eyes flashed. “Absolutely not.”

“Amara.”

“No.” The firmness in my voice surprised even myself.

The restaurant had grown quieter around us. People were pretending not to watch. But they were watching. Adrian leaned back comfortably in his chair.

“This is fascinating,” he said with a faint smile.

Julian ignored him. “Five minutes,” Julian said to me.

“For what?” I ask without hesitation.

“For a conversation.” He replied in a soft tone, as if he were begging for it.

“You had three years for that,” I said with a little angry look. That landed harder than anything else tonight. Julian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue.

Instead, he did something unexpected.

He leaned down slightly, lowering his voice so only I could hear.

“You’re not safe around him.” I blinked.

“What?”

Julian’s eyes were serious now. His eyes were not jealous, not angry, but serious. “Adrian Cross isn’t who you think he is.” He continued. Behind us, Adrian laughed quietly.

“Careful, Julian,” he said. “You’re starting to sound paranoid.” Julian straightened again. His gaze returned to Adrian.

“You should stay away from her.”

Adrian smiled slowly. “And if I don’t?” The air between them turned sharp and dangerous.

Julian’s voice dropped. “Then you’ll regret it.”

Adrian stood up slowly, as if he were planning an attack in his head. Now both men were face-to-face. Similar height. Similar confidence. But completely different kinds of power.

“You don’t scare me,” Adrian said softly.

Julian’s answer was simple.“I’m not trying to.”

“That’s enough,” I said as I stepped between them. Both men fell silent. I looked at Adrian first.

“I’m leaving,” I said in a sharp tone. Then I turned to Julian. “But not with you.” Julian’s expression hardened.

“Amara....”

“I said no,” I said in a firmer tone as I looked straight into his eyes.

The moment stretched between us. It was very heavy and loaded. Finally, Julian stepped back. But the look he gave Adrian promised something far from finished.

 “I need air,” I said as I grabbed my purse hurriedly.

I walked quickly toward the balcony exit. The night wind hit my face as I stepped outside.

The city lights flickered below. My heart was racing. This entire night had spiraled out of control. Suddenly, I notice footsteps following me. I turn, expecting Julian. But it wasn’t him. It was Adrian. He leaned against the railing beside me.

“Well,” he said lightly, “that escalated quickly.” I crossed my arms. “Did you know he’d show up?” I asked in a concerned way. Adrian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he watched the skyline. Then he said something that made my stomach drop.

“Not exactly.”

My eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”  I asked.

“It means,” Adrian said calmly, “Julian and I have been waiting a long time to meet like this.”

I stared at him in confusion, and I asked: “Why?”

Adrian finally looked at me again. And the playful charm he’d been showing all evening was gone. It was replaced by something colder.

“Because,” he said quietly, “your boss ruined something very important to me three years ago.” My heart skipped. “Three years ago,” I said within myself. The same year, Julian left me.

“What are you talking about?” I asked in confusion.  Adrian’s answer was slow and careful.

“Let’s just say Julian Vale didn’t only break your heart, he broke mine too.”

JULIAN…

Inside the restaurant, Julian watched them through the glass. His fists were clenched. Anger drenched his face. He knew something Amara didn’t. Adrian Cross wasn’t just an investor.

He was revenge, and the worst part? Amara was standing directly in the middle of it.