LOGINCHAPTER SIX: ADELINE’S POVHe kept standing and staring at me without moving like he just saw a ghost and I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable as his gaze was all over me.“It’s really you…” he said again, guilt flashing across his face and I couldn’t help but frown.“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Mr. Hartley,” I replied, trying to keep my voice calm. “Madam Brown asked me to fill in for the nanny position. The doorman directed me here.”“Mr. Hartley?” I called when he didn’t respond and he seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in.“Oh… I’m sorry about that.” He paused, still staring. “Don’t you remember me at all? Eight years ago?”I stiffened.“Look, Mr. Hartley,” I said carefully, “I think you’ve made a mistake. I’ve never met you before. And I don’t understand why you’re looking at me like… like you’ve been searching for me all these years.”His expression faltered.“You really don’t remember, Adeline?” he asked softly, reaching for my hands which I pulled aw
ADELINE'S POVEight years later, I was still disappearing."Table six is taking too much time to be served” Madam Brooke screamed from the kitchen.“It’s almost ready!” I replied from the kitchen.Two minutes later, I came out of the kitchen with the tray of food for that particular table, smiling as I walked there to serve. My hair is in a bun, and the blue apron looks like it was made for me. I caught my reflection in the stainless steel counter, same clear skin, same familiar face. Eight years had passed, but time hadn’t settled on me.“You forgot to add wine,” the woman on the table said.“I’m so sorry ma’am, will be right back” I apologized and rushed back to the cellar to get it.It hasn’t been easy even after becoming a graduate, I still wasn’t able to get myself a good job that pays since then, so I had to settle for what I found here.Tasty restaurant is one of the best around, and they get patronized well, so Madam Brooke pays all the servers well.I got the wine and took it
ADELINE'S POVONE YEAR LATERI stood outside the Grandview Hotel at exactly eight PM, holding my son against my chest.My hands were shaking.Oliver was one year old today. He was healthy and handsome, he had dark hair like his father and grey eyes that looked up at me with complete trust.He had no idea I was about to hand him over to a man who'd called him a problem."I can't do this," I whispered, pressing my face against Oliver's soft hair but I had no choice.I'd spent the last year working every job I could find, barely surviving on one meal a day so Oliver could eat.Last week, my landlord evicted me.I had three days to find housing and forty-seven dollars to my name.Oliver deserved better than sleeping in a motel.Damien Hartley had offered half a million dollars.All I had to do was hand over my baby.I walked through the hotel doors and there he was.Sitting in the same spot, wearing a suit that cost more than I'd make in five years, looking even more devastating than I re
ADELINE'S POVI had to make a decision before it was too late so I grabbed my phone and searched for the hotel.The Grandview Hotel. Fifth Avenue.I had to find him.I took the subway to Manhattan and walked through the revolving doors, my cheap clothes making me stand out."Can I help you?" The concierge looked at me with disgust."I need to find someone. A man who was here a month ago. Tall, dark hair, grey eyes.""We have many guests matching that description.""He was in the bar late at night. Please, I need to find him.""We can't give out guest information.""Please. It's important.""What's going on?" A bartender appeared, the same one from that night. "You were here a month ago.""Yes! Do you remember the man I left with?"Pity crossed his face. "That was his first time here. He paid cash, no name. I've never seen him before or since."My stomach dropped. "He has to come back—""Leave your number. If he shows up, I'll call you."I wrote my number on a receipt with shaking hand
ADELINE'S POVThe hotel room door slammed shut behind us, his mouth was on mine immediately, kissing me like he was drowning and I was air."Wait." I pulled back, breathing hard. "I don't know your name.""You don't need to." His grey eyes burned into mine. "No names. No past. Just tonight.""Just tonight," I repeated.He kissed me again, harder this time. His hands found the zipper of my cheap dress and pulled it down.The dress fell to the floor.I stood there in my discount store underwear, suddenly aware of how different we were."I don't belong here," I whispered."Stop." His hands cupped my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. "You belong exactly where I want you and right now, I want you here."The certainty in his voice made my knees weak.He kissed away my protests, his hands moving over my body like he was memorizing every curve.When he unhooked my bra and his mouth found my breast, I gasped."Sensitive," he murmured against my skin. "Good. I want to know every sound you make
ADELINE'S POVI devoted six years of my life to the only man I had ever loved, my ex-boyfriend, Chris Blackwood.The diamond ring sparkled under the auditorium lights as Chris dropped to one knee in front of over five hundred people.My heart stopped after six years together, he was finally proposing.Then he turned away from me and faced Caroline."Caroline Hayes, will you marry me?"The world shattered.I stood three feet away, my graduation cap still in my hands, watching my boyfriend of six years propose to my best friend."YES!" Caroline screamed, throwing her arms around his neck.The crowd erupted in applause like they were watching a romantic movie instead of my complete destruction.I couldn't move or process what I was seeing."Wait." My voice came out broken. "Chris, what are you—"He stood up with Caroline's hand in his, the ring glittering on her finger, and finally looked at me."Sorry, Adeline. You weren't supposed to see this yet. We were going to tell you after gradua







