MasukLiana POV Instead of driving me home, Adrian parked in front of a restaurant.I looked out the window, realizing where we were, and immediately felt a strange tension settle over me.We'd already been in the car for about five minutes without saying a word and neither of us making any attempt to break it but now, realizing he wanted to prolong our time together only made me more tense.I couldn't understand why he hadn't simply taken me home, I remembered how comfortable I used to be with him and there had been a time when being alone with Adrian felt effortless.I could say anything that came to mind without stopping to consider how it sounded. I could tell him exactly what I wanted and I never worried about him making me feel foolish for it.I could even tell him how much I wanted him and back then, there had been no hesitation but all of that was gone now.Whatever ease we'd once shared had been replaced by something heavier and I turned toward him. “It’s been a long day,” I said
Liana POVThis was super weird, I was in the passenger seat of his car as we drove to the jewelry store.It was a different car from the last one he’d had, an updated model with the same blacked-out windows. The paint job looked like the deep recesses of space had been plastered across the surface.Music played through the speakers, drowning out the silence and replacing the conversation we weren’t having.I looked out the window and tried to pretend I was somewhere else and he didn’t try to make small talk either. He’d never had much to say, even when things were good between us, and now he was cold like frostbite...the kind of cold that could make your skin turn black but soon…he would be my husband.Adrian parked at the curb, and we got out of the car before walking into the store.The moment we stepped inside, the door was locked behind us, giving us all the privacy we wanted.I glanced around, taking in the elegant displays and glass cases filled with diamonds that seemed to spar
Liana POV A few hours later, Adrian appeared in the doorway of my office and I was actually happy to see him.After the strange encounter with Rory earlier, seeing a familiar face was more comforting than I wanted to admit but that relief lasted only a few seconds.Then I saw the scowl on his face, whatever mood he'd walked in with, it clearly wasn't a good one.Adrian stepped inside and made his way toward my desk, taking the same chair Rory had occupied earlier that day.The sight of him sitting there briefly brought the earlier encounter back to my mind, but I quickly pushed it away. Adrian placed a stack of folders on my desk and without saying anything, he began moving papers around, sorting through the documents until everything was arranged neatly in front of him.It was obvious he'd come to discuss business, and I watched him prepare everything with the kind of quiet efficiency I'd become accustomed to.He looked irritated which was exactly why I decided not to mention my awk
Liana POV I was sitting at my desk in the office, trying to focus on the work in front of me, when one of the girls stepped inside.“There’s someone here to see you.”I looked up from my desk. If it had been Adrian, she would have simply said his name. She knew I was expecting him often enough that there would have been no reason for her to be vague.“Who?”“His name is Rory Steele.”The name meant absolutely nothing to me and I searched my memory, trying to place it, but nothing came to mind. “Did he say what he wanted?”“Something about a business opportunity.” She paused, seeming to think about how best to describe him. “He’s in a black suit, wears a fancy watch…”I almost smiled at the description. It wasn't exactly helpful, but apparently it was enough for her to recognize him. “Alright. I guess I’ll see him.”My stepfather wasn't there to guide me through his former associates, and business connections. If I was going to take over the parts of the business that had fallen into
Adrian POV Ivan and I rented out the strip club for a private show, watching the girls dance around the stage in skimpy thongs and tops that barely covered their nipples.Articles of clothing slowly fell to the floor, revealing more beautiful skin for us to gawk at.Ivan slipped a big bill into the thong of the woman who’d just given him a lap dance and I drank from my glass of scotch.The music boomed overhead, so Ivan raised his voice to talk to me. “I’m ready for the whorehouse, how about you? Or should we hit a bar and do this the old-fashioned way? You know, alcohol and romance?” He slapped the woman’s ass as she walked away.Liana agreed to marry me. I was a betrothed man, committed to a woman for the rest of my life.When I told her I wouldn’t keep my dick in my pants, it was an empty threat because I just hoped that would change her mind about sleeping with me. “I’m gonna call it a night.”“What? It’s just twelve.”“Yeah…I’m just not feeling it.”Ivan looked at the dozens of
Liana POV My pulse quickened further, and my tongue suddenly felt too big for my mouth. I even dropped my gaze because I was so uncomfortable by what he said but what was I supposed to say to that?He stared me down like he expected me to say something but I tucked my hair behind my ear then brushed my fingertips across my lips.When my arms were close to my body, I could feel my heart thudding against my arm, feel it trying to break through my rib cage. “I’m only having this conversation because my mother forced my hand. She didn’t tell me you were here…just sprung it on me and I’m confused because anytime we’ve ever interacted in the past, it’s been extremely hostile.”“I’m a hostile guy…when you get on my bad side and that’s exactly why you need me.”If he could scare me, he could scare anyone. “Well, is that how it’s going to be every day in our marriage? Hostile?”His eyes shifted back and forth as he looked into mine. “No.”“So…you are overlooking our past?”“No.”“I don’t see







