Chapter 5 THREADS OF TEMPTATION

CHAPTER 4 – THREADS OF TEMPTATION

Sunlight came in through the tall windows of the atelier, smiling at us all, and made materials like satin and silk glow. The place smelled of warm fabrics and power. Everybody moved and worked fast, getting ready for the upcoming Paris event. But even in the midst of the numerous activities tying me down, I could feel him.

Adrian.

He sat near the stairway, taking in the sun, basking in the ambience. Then he deliberately rested his eyes on me. No, it wasn't casual. It was the kind of look that makes you miss your step. Each time I turned, he was looking at me... as if studying me. When I bent down to pick up my pencil, he watched me... his eyes following my movement. When I pinned a fabric on a mannequin, my sixth sense informed me of his presence. It was totally inappropriate and nearly drove me crazy.

"Rain, Focus," I told myself.

Katherine had put me in charge of planning how the runway activities would play out. The fabrics were to move like music, and the models were to move in concord with that music. My brain was supposed to be occupied with ways to perfect that presentation and not disappoint Katherine, not the man sitting ten feet away whose green eyes were addictive.

When I finally gathered the courage to look up, Adrian was coming over to my table. Calculatedly. Confidently. Every step he took made the air between us feel hotter.

"Why do you work so hard?" he asked, standing close. His cologne intimidated me. Oud, purely masculine and rich.

"To achieve the perfection that Katherine is paying me for," I replied, trying to sound unfazed.

He bent his head slightly, smiling, "Are you sure, Rain?"

The way my name rolled off his tongue did something dangerous to me. I looked away, pretending to arrange pins and chalk, "Yes."

"That's a safe answer," he said.

Before I could say anything else, his hand touched mine as he reached and picked up a sketch. The contact was short, but it gave me goose bumps. His eyes held mine for a moment too long before he backed away. My breathing was shallow. He was married... to my boss... he was Katherine Knight's husband. And yet, every part of me felt like none of that mattered.

That afternoon, while supervising rehearsals on the Academy runway, Katherine sent me to pick up fabric samples from her office; the very same office no one but her entered. Her office was chilly, and the air was thick with expensive perfume. A partially closed drawer behind Katherine's desk caught my attention. Curiosity asked me to peek inside. Curiosity again asked me to pull it out.

With my sweaty and shaky palms, I skimmed through the folders I picked up. Some had international bank seals. In the transaction histories were unending lists of transfers from Knight Enterprises to several foreign accounts. They all had Katherine's signature. I heard footsteps coming, I quickly returned the documents and snapped the drawer shut, eyes wide, pulse racing. I barely had time to gather the fabrics I came for before Adrian appeared at the door.

"Lost?" he asked calmly, but his eyes were sharp.

I forced a smile. "No, on an errand."

He came closer, his face unreadable. "Katherine doesn't usually allow anyone in here."

"She sent me to..."

He held up his hand, smiling, "Relax, Rain. Just... be careful. Some rooms in this house contain more than just silk and stitches."

Our eyes met, and I could swear he heard my heart pounding in my chest. There was this knowledge in his stare... as if he already knew exactly what I had seen earlier. He held my wrist as I made to leave. Gently yet firmly. His palm was warm and comforting. I forgot to breathe.

"Rain, breathe," he whispered.

I resumed breathing, almost gasping.

"Don't lose yourself in this glamorous world of beauty and lies." He finished.

The air between us was boiling. Blood rushed through me as his fingers drew invisible lines on my face, sending fire through my veins. I should've pulled away. I didn't.

"Adrian..." I breathed hard, his name feeling too heavy on my tongue.

His eyes did most of the talking. For a moment, it felt like time stood still. His hand caressed my arm, his breath heavy on my neck and my cheek, and then, as if realizing himself, he took a step back, tension written all over him.

"I leave for a business trip in a week," he said abruptly. "From there, I'll join you guys in Paris for the presentation."

The change in his tone was annoying. He was clearly trying to regain control, to rebuild the distance we both destroyed just a few minutes ago.

I nodded, stiffly, "OK."

"At least, I will get to focus completely on my work," I told myself.

He chuckled. "Yes, Rain. Focus on your work."

I didn't even realize I had said that aloud. My face silently pleaded with his mind to forget what he just heard me say.

He turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing down the hallway until they faded away completely. As I watched him go, I hated the way my body was already missing the heat of his closeness.

As I returned to the studio, my mind was in shambles. Guilt, thrill, fear, I felt all of them at once. I had touched something forbidden today, not just Adrian's hand, but a dark chamber of Katherine Knight's empire. I wasn't sure which was more dangerous.

That night, as I lay in bed, my heart was very far from calm. I kept perceiving his perfume, seeing his face, and hearing his voice. I told myself I would regain control in his absence. Deep down, I knew that was a lie.

Adrian Knight was a temptation I wouldn't survive unhurt. And the secrets hidden behind Katherine's desk were only the beginning.