Chapter 7 Celia: The Midnight Conversation

Once again I forgot to breathe.

That voice, I knew exactly who it was. 

I looked back to confirm my fact. 

Adrian stood a few feet away, one hand tucked into his pocket, his expression unreadable.

The older woman's smile faltered.

"M.. Mr..Lancaster." She stuttered. 

He didn't look at her immediately.

His gaze found mine first.

Only for a second.

Yet something about it made my chest tighten.

Then he turned toward the group of women.

"I wasn't aware marriages were classified as stolen property," he repeated calmly.

The ballroom was silent.

The older socialite laughed awkwardly.

"Oh, I was only joking."

"Was that supposed to be funny?"

The smile nearly slipped off her face.

Several guests became very interested in their tea.

Nobody wanted to be caught in the middle of Adrian Lancaster's displeasure.

The woman cleared her throat.

"I meant no offense, honestly."

"Then choose your words more carefully."

His tone never rose.

Which made the situation worse.

Silence stretched across the room.

The woman nodded stiffly before retreating with her friends.

The moment they disappeared, conversations slowly resumed.

But the whispers had changed.

Now people were whispering about Adrian.

About why he had stepped in and defended me. 

Questions even I couldn't answer.

Questions I didn't want to think about.

Because thinking about them felt dangerous.

Adrian glanced at me.

"Are you alright?"

I blinked.

The question caught me off guard.

"Yes."

His eyebrow lifted slightly.

Neither of us believed that.

Before he could say anything else, another voice interrupted.

"Adrian."

My stomach dropped immediately.

It was that little brat, Sienna.

She approached gracefully, dressed in a pale pink silk that made her look soft and delicate.

Perfect.

Exactly the way everyone expected her to look.

The room seemed to brighten around her.

People smiled at her.

Greeted her warmly.

They adored her.

Pretty much the opposite reaction from when I walked in. 

Sienna stopped beside Adrian and slipped her hand through his arm naturally.

The gesture felt practiced.

Comfortable.

Like she belonged there.

A strange ache settled in my chest.

I hated it immediately.

Why should I care?

I didn't.

Or at least I shouldn't.

Yet I found myself looking away.

"Sorry I'm late," Sienna said sweetly.

Adrian gently removed his arm from her grasp.

The movement was subtle.

Most people wouldn't have noticed.

I did.

Apparently Sienna did too.

Because for a split second, something ugly flashed across her face.

Then it disappeared.

Hidden beneath another perfect smile.

"Did I interrupt something?"

"No," Adrian replied.

His answer was short, distant and straightforward. 

Sienna's smile tightened.

She turned toward me.

"Hello, sister."

"Celia" would have sounded too warm.

Too personal.

Too sincere.

So she chose her sister instead.

Like a warning perhaps even a warning. 

"Hello, Sienna."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then she leaned slightly closer.

Close enough that nobody else would hear.

"You look confident today."

I met her gaze.

"Do I?"

"Mm."

Her eyes drifted briefly toward Adrian.

Understanding flashed across them.

And suddenly I knew exactly why she was upset.

She had noticed it too.

The change.

The fact that Adrian was paying attention.

Not much.

Not openly.

But enough.

Enough to make her angry and absolutely sick to her stomach. 

Enough to make her dangerous.

"You should be careful," she murmured.

I sipped my tea.

"About what?"

Her smile never wavered.

"Getting attached."

The words landed harder than they should have.

"Whatever kindness you're imagining isn't real."

I froze.

Because she wasn't entirely wrong.

Men like Adrian didn't suddenly change.

Not overnight.

Not without reason.

Sienna leaned closer.

"Don't embarrass yourself by hoping."

Then she straightened and walked away. 

Leaving her poison behind.

The rest of the event passed in a blur.

I smiled when necessary.

Spoke when required.

Pretended not to notice the whispers.

By the time we returned to the Lancaster mansion, exhaustion weighed heavily on my shoulders.

Yet sleep still refused to come.

Again.

I lay awake staring into the darkness.

Sienna's words replayed endlessly.

Don't embarrass yourself by hoping.

The worst part?

I wasn't sure whether she had meant to hurt me.

Or warn me.

Eventually, I gave up.

The clock beside my bed read 12:43 a.m.

The house was silent.

Everyone asleep.

Or so I thought.

I slipped downstairs in search of water.

The kitchen lights were on.

I stopped in the doorway.

Adrian stood at the counter.

Alone.

His sleeves were rolled to his elbows.

His tie was gone.

His hair looked slightly messy.

For the first time since meeting him, he didn't look like the heir to a billion-dollar empire.

He looked tired.

Like an actual Human being.

His eyes lifted, meeting mine instantly.

Neither of us spoke.

For a moment.

And then, 

"What are you doing awake?"

The question sounded surprisingly normal.

I blinked.

"I could ask you the same thing."

Something almost resembling amusement flickered across his face.

Almost.

"Couldn't sleep."

The answer surprised me.

Maybe because it sounded honest.

"Neither could I."

A brief silence followed.

Then Adrian glanced toward the coffee machine.

Then toward me.

"Tea?"

I stared.

"What?"

"Do you want tea?"

His expression remained completely serious.

"I assume you don't drink coffee after midnight."

For some reason, I laughed.

A genuine laugh.

The sound seemed to surprise both of us.

Something shifted in the room.

The space felt a bit safer. 

Adrian looked at me for a second longer than necessary.

Then he pulled out the chair across from him.

An invitation.

Not an order.

Not a command.

An invitation.

My pulse immediately betrayed me.

And before I could stop myself, 

I sat.

For several moments, neither of us spoke.

The silence wasn't uncomfortable.

Which somehow felt even stranger.

Then Adrian placed a cup of tea in front of me.

I wrapped both hands around it.

Enjoying the warmth.

"Thank you."

He nodded once.

Another silence followed.

Then unexpectedly, he spoke.

"You handled yourself well today."

I looked up.

"What?"

"The women."

His gaze remained on his coffee.

"You didn't let them provoke you."

I stared at him.

Of all the things I expected Adrian Lancaster to say, that wasn't one of them.

A bitter laugh escaped me.

"I've had a lot of practice."

His eyes lifted, meeting mine, almost curious, like all of a sudden he was searching for answers. 

For the first time, I thought he might ask what I meant.

For the first time, I thought I might tell him.

And for some reason

It terrified me.

Was he finally going to be patient enough to hear the real truth?