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Afterstaringatmyclothes for a very long moment, I realize it’s time for backup. Otherwise, I’ll stand in front of my closet for another hour and remain uncertain. I know what could look good, and what I should definitely not wear, but I need to lookwow. Adrian is going to be at this meeting, and I want his jaw to drop when he sees me.
If anyone knows how to dress to get that reaction, it’s Aileen. She always wears the most breathtaking outfits.
I walk down the hallway, finding her in Nova’s room.
A curious grin spreads across her face when she sees the uncertainty on my face.
How can I help you, darling?she signs, and relief washes over me.
It takes me a minute to explain the situation to her, and she immediately goes for the black dress that hugs my curves in all the right ways. The long sleeves will keep me warm and so will the turtleneck shape of it. It’s sophisticated, but my breasts and ass make it less so. It’s perfect.
Aileen tells me to spin once before clapping approvingly.
A dropped jaw won’t be the only reaction you’ll get from him, I can assure you,she signs and winks, making a small laugh fall from my lips.
I don’t know if Adrian will even remember me. Three months is a long time, especially for someone like him who meets thousands and thousands of people, but I hope he’ll see me and remember me because I haven’t been able to forget him.
“Thank you, Aileen,” I say and sign before giving her a brief hug and hurrying into the bathroom to put on some makeup.
I draw a thin line of purple eyeliner on my lid, making sure it’s not too much for work. I tie up my hair so half of it is in a bun and half is falling freely down my shoulders with a few strands framing my face.
Once I’m happy with my look, I rush downstairs to my car. I’m close to being late, and today is not the day to be. Luckily, there isn’t a lot of traffic, and I even arrive before Gillian does. There is a note on my desk from him, asking me to get some more chairs for the drivers and put them in his office. Holly, a woman from marketing, helps me locate them, and I carry two of them to Gillian’s office. I pick up the third one when a too-familiar hand moves on top of mine to stop me.
My eyes shift to Lincoln’s hazel ones.
“Let me,” he offers, but I smack his hand away and bring the chair to the office myself. “You look beautiful,” Lincoln says when he joins me in the big room.
His compliment takes me by surprise, but I don’t respond.
“Come on, talk to me, butterfly. Don’t you want to make a mean comment or throw an insult my way? Isn’t that the greatest part of your day?” His words cause a low, involuntary chuckle to leave me.
“I’m at work, Linc. Unlike you, I’m capable of being professional,” I reply while cleaning up some of Gillian’s paperwork. It allows me to distract myself from the excitement bubbling in my chest.
Adrian is going to be here soon.
“Ah, there is the mean comment. Thank God, I was starting to think you weren’t feeling well,” he says as he sinks down on one of the chairs I brought.
I roll my eyes and turn around to hide my smile.Why am I in such a good mood around Lincoln?Some of the usual anger I feel toward him has somehow lifted, but not enough to make me forgive him, not even remotely close.
“Actually, I’m feeling great, Linc, despite your presence,” I say and spin around to see Adrian Romana standing in the door frame.
His eyes widen as soon as they lock onto mine, and I try to hide my smile by pulling part of my bottom lip between my teeth. He looks very handsome in his blue dress shirt and black jeans. His blonde hair sits in waves on his head, and his lips, the bottom one a bit bigger than the upper one, are pinker than the last time I saw them.
Adrian is smiling now as he takes a step toward me.
“It’s you,” he states, an expression of awe on his face. “Did you know we’d see each other again?” Adrian asks, and I beam up at him.
He remembers me…
“Wait, how do you two know each other?” Lincoln says, trying to interrupt my moment with the gorgeous Monegasque.
“I didn’t. I only found out a few days ago,” I reply, focusing solely on Adrian, whose attention hasn’t drifted from my face once since he came into the room.
I like capturing his gaze because, when he directs it at me, my heart races. Shivers run down my spine when he smirks at me.
“Well, a deal is a deal,” he points out and extends his hand for me to shake. “Hi, I’m Adrian,” he says, so I slide my hand into his.
Electricity shoots through me from my fingertips all the way down to my toes. Every cell in my body bursts to life as if they’ve all been dormant until this very second. Until I got to touch Adrian Romana.
