Chapter Four

Dangerous Chemistry

The restaurant Adrian chose overlooked the Thames.

Soft lights reflected on the water outside the wide glass windows, and quiet piano music filled the elegant space. It was the kind of place people came for serious conversations or unforgettable evenings.

Selina sat across from Adrian at the table, pretending to study the menu.

In truth, she was studying him.

Up close, Adrian Carter looked even more intimidating than in the photos she had seen. Tall, broad shoulders, calm posture, and eyes that seemed to analyze everything.

Jason used to complain about him sometimes.

“My brother thinks too much,” he once said.

Now Selina understood what he meant.

Adrian was watching her the same way.

Carefully.

Like he was trying to figure her out.

“You’re very quiet,” Adrian said.

Selina looked up.

“I’m thinking.”

“About what?”

She gave a small smile.

“About whether I made the right decision coming here.”

Adrian leaned back slightly.

“And?”

Selina lifted her glass of water.

“I think I did.”

Adrian’s gaze sharpened.

“You still haven’t told me how you heard about me.”

Selina expected that question.

She kept her voice calm.

“Business articles.”

Adrian almost smiled.

“That’s not true.”

Selina raised an eyebrow.

“You’re very confident.”

“You’re very mysterious.”

For a moment they simply looked at each other.

Then Selina changed the subject.

“So,” she said lightly, “do you always invite strangers to dinner?”

“Only the interesting ones.”

Selina laughed softly.

“And I qualify?”

Adrian didn’t hesitate.

“Yes.”

The waiter arrived with their drinks, interrupting the moment.

When he left again, Adrian spoke.

“You said someone betrayed you.”

Selina’s fingers tightened slightly around her glass.

“Yes.”

“Was it a man?”

Selina nodded.

Adrian studied her expression.

“Boyfriend?”

Selina hesitated for a second.

Then she said quietly,

“Something like that.”

Adrian didn’t push further.

But he could see the pain flash briefly in her eyes.

And for some reason, it bothered him.

“You must have been very angry,” he said.

Selina laughed under her breath.

“You have no idea.”

Her voice carried a sharp edge.

Adrian noticed.

“And now?” he asked.

Selina met his gaze.

“Now I’m just… moving forward.”

But that wasn’t entirely true.

She wasn’t just moving forward.

She was planning destruction.

And Adrian was part of that plan.

The thought made her chest tighten slightly.

Adrian picked up his glass.

“You know,” he said, “most people come to London to escape something.”

Selina tilted her head.

“And you?”

“I came to build something.”

“Your company?”

“Partly.”

“And the other part?”

Adrian looked out the window briefly.

“Peace.”

Selina watched him carefully.

This man wasn’t like Jason.

Jason was loud, impulsive, arrogant.

Adrian was calm.

Controlled.

Thoughtful.

And that made what she was doing feel… slightly wrong.

But the image of Jason and Lila kissing flashed through her mind again.

The guilt disappeared instantly.

Dinner continued easily after that.

They talked about London, travel, work, and random stories.

To Selina’s surprise, Adrian laughed a lot more than she expected.

And Adrian noticed something too.

Selina had a sharp mind.

She spoke confidently.

She challenged him during conversations.

Most women around him tried too hard to impress him.

Selina didn’t.

It made her fascinating.

When the dinner ended, Adrian paid the bill and stood.

“I’ll drive you back to your hotel,” he said.

“That’s not necessary.”

“I insist.”

Selina nodded.

Outside, the cool night air brushed against them.

Adrian opened the passenger door of his car.

Selina got in.

As he drove through the quiet streets, neither of them spoke for a while.

The silence wasn’t uncomfortable.

Just thoughtful.

Finally Adrian said,

“You’re hiding something.”

Selina turned her head.

“What makes you think that?”

“Instinct.”

Selina smiled faintly.

“Your instincts might be wrong.”

Adrian stopped at a red light and looked at her.

“They aren’t.”

For a moment, the tension between them thickened.

Selina looked away first.

“You don’t know me well enough to say that.”

Adrian said calmly,

“I’d like to.”

Her heart skipped slightly.

Dangerous.

This was getting dangerous.

The car finally stopped in front of her hotel.

Selina opened the door.

“Thank you for dinner.”

Adrian stepped out too.

For a moment they stood facing each other under the soft hotel lights.

“I enjoyed tonight,” Adrian said.

Selina nodded.

“Me too.”

There was a pause.

Then Adrian asked quietly,

“Will I see you again?”

Selina knew the answer should be yes.

Her plan depended on it.

But suddenly she felt something unexpected.

Hesitation.

Still, she said,

“Yes.”

Adrian smiled slightly.

“Good.”

He stepped closer.

Close enough that Selina could feel the warmth of his presence.

For a brief moment neither of them moved.

The tension was thick.

Electric.

Adrian’s eyes dropped briefly to her lips.

Selina felt her pulse quicken.

This wasn’t part of the plan.

And yet…

She didn’t step away.

Adrian stopped himself just before closing the distance.

Then he stepped back.

“Goodnight, Selina.”

She exhaled quietly.

“Goodnight.”

Adrian got back into his car and drove away.

Selina watched the headlights disappear.

Then she slowly turned and walked into the hotel.

Inside the elevator, she leaned against the wall.

Her mind was racing.

Everything was working.

She had Adrian’s attention.

Soon enough, she would get closer to him.

Close enough that when Jason found out…

It would destroy him.

But the memory of Adrian’s eyes at dinner stayed in her mind.

And for the first time since her revenge began…

Selina felt a small crack in her plan.

Because Adrian Carter wasn’t the villain in her story.

He was just the brother of the man who betrayed her.

Back in his car, Adrian drove through the city with one thought repeating in his mind.

Selina Hayes.

He didn’t know where she came from.

He didn’t know what she was hiding.

But he knew one thing.

Meeting her tonight felt like the beginning of a storm.

And Adrian Carter had no idea that the woman he had just taken to dinner…

Was originally supposed to marry his brother.