44

Chapter 44

Darcy’s POV

My mind was full of thoughts. I couldn’t sleep last night. Even at that I woke up early. I'd work at the office, files to sign and other plans Mark had scheduled for today.

Each time I closed my eyes, I saw her—Adrian. Dripping wet, completely naked, water running down her skin in ways that made my hands ache to follow.

I was haunted by this image. It kept replaying in my mind.

After I'd prepared for work, Leo already took Pink to school.

The house was quiet, I needed to get out . To the office, where contracts and meetings could drown out the thoughts I shouldn’t be having.

Then I saw her.

Adrian was at the dining table, setting up the table for breakfast. She was dressed too covered in a high neck gown like she was trying to erase last night by hiding everything I’d seen.

It didn’t work. I still saw her. Every curve. Every line. Every part,I’d memorized.

“Good morning, Mr. Rodrigo,” she said softly.

I replied, “Morning.” My voice came out rougher than I meant.

“Would you like breakfast? I made—”

“No.” The word came out sharp. Too sharp. “I’m not hungry.”

That was a lie. I was starving. But sitting across from her while pretending nothing had happened? Impossible.

She smiled faintly. It didn’t reach her eyes. “Of course. Have a good day, sir.”

I nodded and left, walking closer to the car,but glanced back once. She was cleaning up the untouched meal, her movements careful but tense. It wasn't normal.

As I headed to the car, "Was she trying to seduce me?" The question that I needed answers to.

No. That was ridiculous. Yesterday I saw her body, she was shocked so It was an accident.

Still, that moment hadn’t felt accidental. It had felt like temptation—a cruel test from the universe.

She didn’t rush out from the shower room on purpose, I told myself as I held the steering wheel. She wouldn’t. Adrian wasn’t manipulative. She isn’t that kind of woman.

But it didn’t matter any more. The effect was the same.

The drive to the office should’ve cleared my head. Instead, it gave me time to think about her more.

Last night was hell. Sleep avoided me like a plague. Also I was Horny.

As I closed my eyes, I saw her body. My body wouldn’t just let me forget how much I wanted her. For sex.

At the office, there was a storm inside. I needed work. Numbers. Deadlines. Anything but her.

But I stepped into my office, my father was already there, sitting like he owned the place.

“Dad.” I dropped my briefcase harder than I meant. “Why the surprise early visit?

“Good morning to you too son,” he said smoothly, standing. “We need to talk.”

“If this is about the merger—”

He interrupts,“ Yes Darcy, it’s about the merger and your refusal to do what’s good for the company.” His tone was calm but cold. “You didn’t agree and I walked out of our meeting last week. That was unacceptable. We need to finalise this.”

I moved behind my desk, and sat down. “You were trying to force me into a marriage I don’t want." I said, " Nobody knows Brittany like I do, she'd never make a good wife.”

“This isn’t about what you want, Darcy. It’s about what’s best for Rodrigo Industries. The merger, the Hawthorne alliance—our family’s future.” He leaned forward. “Without the marriage, the deal still goes through, but it won’t have the same impact.”

“Then make a statement, throw a party, whatever you want. But I’m not marrying Brittany Hawthorne.”

“Why not?” His voice snapped, sharp. “She’s beautiful, educated, and comes from our world. What’s the problem?”

Because I don’t love Brittany. We were engaged, last three years and she betrayed me with her bestie. And then the pregnancy she aborted without telling me.

But I didn’t tell him any of that. My father didn’t understand emotions. Only strategy.

“I don’t want to, not Brittany,” I said simply.

He repeated the words, disgusted. “You’re thirty-two Darcy and also the CEO of a billion-dollar company, stop making decisions based on what you want. You sound like a child.”

My jaw tightened. “ Every decision is the right thing for me and for my daughter. Marrying someone who I don’t love isn't right.”

“Then make it temporary.” He said, shifting his cufflinks. “ When you announce an engagement between the both of you, let the merger finalize, then call it off later. Quietly. Respectfully.”

I stared at him. “You want me to fake an engagement? Lie to everyone?”

“I want you to be strategic.” He walked to the door. “One year. Two, maybe. That’s all.”

“I can’t do that for even one minute, Dad.” My voice hardened. “I won’t.”

He paused at the door, his tone cool and final. “You have one week to decide. Agree to the engagement or I’ll make sure everyone knows this merger failed because of your selfishness.”

“That’s not fair—”

“Business isn’t fair.” He opened the door. “One week.”

When he shut the door behind him.

Rage filled me, in the process I hit my hand on the desk, the pain grounding me. I won’t be manipulated. Not again.

I’d built my company with my own mind and effort. I wouldn’t trade my life for my father’s ambitions.

Mark appeared in the doorway. “Sir? Is everything okay? Your father looked upset.”

“Everything’s good,” I said flatly. “Just a disagreement.”

He paused, then nodded. “The files are all ready, and the team’s waiting in Conference Room A.”

“Good. Give me ten minutes.”

“Of course, sir.” Mark began to leave but then paused. “Oh, and your mother sent something to the office. It arrived this morning.”

He placed an envelope on my desk—thick, luxurious paper with my mother’s distinct handwriting on it.

“Thank you, Mark. You can go.”

“Before he left, I remembered to ask, “Mark, did you send that message I requested?”

He glanced back, neutrality masking his expression. “Yes, sir. Just as you specified.”

“And the number you used—it's untraceable?”

“Completely untraceable. Routed through multiple servers and a burner phone that was disposed of immediately. There’s no way to trace it back to you or this company.”

“Good.” I felt grim satisfaction knowing that Martin needed to be aware of the consequences of his actions. His threats against Adrian and approaches to Pink would not go unpunished.

“Sir, should I arrange lunch after the meeting?” Mark asked. “You typically eat around noon.”

“No,just coffee. Strong coffee.”

Another lie. I avoided breakfast because of Adrian. Now the last thing I wanted was food even if I was hungry.

When he left, I picked up the envelope Mark brought. I removed the seal.

An invitation. Elegant script on cream cardstock announced a charity gala hosted by Margaret Rodrigo for the Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Next Saturday. Attendance is strongly encouraged.

I’d forgotten about it. My mother hosted events like these to keep our family name glittering in high society.

I typically attended these events dutifully. They were part of the role I played in sustaining the family’s status. Yet recently, with everything concerning the merger, Brittany, and my parents' pressure, my mother had been distant. She hadn’t checked on me or Pink as she usually would, using silence as a method to express her discontent with my refusal to comply.

Still, not attending would only cause more trouble. I’d have to attend with Pink. Which meant Adrian would come too. Pink wouldn’t go anywhere without her these days.

The thought of Adrian in those events made something tighten in my chest.

And worse, I’d have to spend an entire night guarding her not to get into trouble. I hope I don't stare at her much.

I'd get her a pretty dress for the occasion and pretend I didn’t remember every inch of the skin beneath it

Even thinking her name made something inside me twist.

I’d ruined things with her. Treated that night like a mistake, like she’d been a transaction. She wouldn’t let me close again—not after that.

I needed to stop this. To find someone else. Someone easy, uncomplicated. Someone who wouldn’t make me feel guilty for wanting her.

Other women—that was the answer. A distraction. Proof that my obsession with Adrian was just physical.

But I knew it wasn’t true. I’d tried that before with Sophia and it only made things worse. I ended up feeling empty, and still wanting Adrian more.

I still had to do something—anything before this destroyed me.

Then, I took my phone out, scrolled through my contacts. A distraction.

Every name I saw just reminded me of her. Of how no one else even came close.

I exhaled hard, staring at the screen.

My finger was searching for numbers I hadn’t dialed in months, then I got one, dialed it and listened to it ring, fully aware this was a mistake yet unable to stop myself.

Because if I didn’t find a way to manage this craving, this need, this obsession with a woman who looked at me with hurt in her eyes every time I attempted to maintain distance—I was going to explode.

And when that happened, everyone around me would get burned. Little did I know there was a trap waiting…