Chapter 4 Candlelight temptation

"Uh, I'm sorry, sir," I stammered, hastily wiping my cheeks with the backs of my hands. "I didn't mean to be such a mess. I just needed some air."

Adrian waved it off gently, his expression softening further. "You don't have to explain anything to me, Lena. It's clear you've got something going on, and we all need space to breathe sometimes and clear our heads. So don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

He nudged me lightly with his elbow, a playful gesture that made us both laugh despite the heaviness in my chest. Then he reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket, pulled out a crisp white handkerchief embroidered with subtle initials and handed it to me.

"You look pretty scary right now," he teased, eyes twinkling. "You might want to wipe those tears before you frighten off the investors."

I managed a genuine smile, taking the soft fabric from him. "Thank you sir," I murmured, dabbing carefully at my eyes and mascara-smudged cheeks.

"I think we're going to have a problem very soon, Lena," he said suddenly, leaning in closer. His voice dropped, turning serious.

My heart lurched. "A problem? I'm sorry did I do something wrong sir?"

"There!" he exclaimed, a grin breaking across his face. "You just did it again, calling me 'sir.' I told you it's Adrian."

I chuckled, instantly feeling relieved that I'd panicked over nothing. "I'm sorry. That might be hard for me to get used to and since we're at work, it's only professional I address you that way but I'll try. No promises."

We fell into a comfortable silence for a while, then he spoke again, his tone shifting into something lighter.

"Since we're on the topic of being professional... how about I take you to dinner?"

I shook my head quickly. "I'm sorry, Mr.-Adrian, but I can't. I don't mix work with pleasure and as a matter of fact, I'm married." I lifted my left hand flashing my ring at him, clearly to serve as a boundary, but he didn't even glance at it. Instead, his eyes stayed locked on mine, unwavering.

"It's nothing personal," he said smoothly. "Nothing serious. It's just dinner between two colleagues, and If it makes you feel better, just think of it as a work dinner. Besides..." He paused, his gaze softening. "You look like you could use a friend right now."

He bit his lower lip unconsciously and my eyes betrayed me, by dropping to them. My heart raced, as my pulse throbbed in my throat. "Come on," he pressed further, clasping his hands together. "Just say yes. Pretty please?"

Damn! He had that charming, boyish, irresistible look which made him adorable.

"Okay, fine," I finally gave in, as the words came out before I could overthink them. "But just this one time, it's just dinner between colleagues. Nothing more." I repeated it like a mantra, to myself and to him. He grinned victoriously, standing and dusting off his trousers before slipping his hands back into his pockets. I rose quickly, holding out his handkerchief.

"Keep it," he said, shaking his head. "I think you'll need something of mine to remind you of me. How about 7 p.m.? I'll pick you up. No objections." He winked and walked away casually, as if he hadn't just flipped my entire world upside down.

I sat there for a few minutes, gathering my composure, before heading back to my office. My first priority, those emails Ethan had demanded. The last thing I needed was for him to scold me for tardiness. Once I was done, I went back to the rest of my tasks, although my mind kept wandering off to what I'd wear, how I needed to look really good. I keep telling myself it wasn't a date, but deep down? I wanted it to feel like one.

At exactly 5 pm, I grabbed my bag, stuffed my laptop inside, and headed home. Less than two hours to prepare for this "colleague dinner". Luckily for me, Noah wasn't home. I went straight to the shower, letting the hot water pour all over me as I took my time exfoliating, shaving, and moisturizing. I came out wrapped in a towel, applied my skincare serums, creams, the full routine I rarely bothered with now suddenly mattered.

For makeup I went with light, natural, but enhancing. A soft glow which defined eyes, a hint of shimmer. Something I hadn't done in ages because Noah never noticed anyway. I chose a free-flowing beige gown, elegant silk that skimmed my curves, with an open back that dipped just low enough to feel daring. I loosened my hair, letting it fall in bouncy waves. Put on simple jewelry, my favorite red lipstick, and sprayed the cologne I loved.

Taking a look in the mirror, doubt crept in. Was this too much? Or was I reading meaning into something that wasn't there? But just then Maya's voice echoed in my head. 'It's never too much to look beautiful.'

At precisely 7 p.m, I glanced out the window and spotted a sleek red Porsche parked outside. Adrian leaned against it, looking effortlessly handsome in a tailored black shirt and trousers. He looked up, caught my eye through the glass, and waved with a grin. I blushed, waving back shyly before grabbing my small matching purse and headed down. He opened the passenger door like a perfect gentleman, helping me gather the flowing fabric of my dress as I slid in. Then he climbed behind the wheel, and we were off.

The drive was quiet all through, but I caught him stealing glances, his eyes lingering on my legs, that satisfied smile playing on his lips like he'd won a prize. My palms got sweaty as I felt giddy, nervous, and excited like a teenager going on her date with her crush.

We arrived at an exquisite restaurant tucked away in the city's most exclusive district. As we stepped out of the car, we headed inside and that's when I realized we were the only guest. Inside, it was breathtaking and absolutely gorged. Crystal chandeliers casting soft golden light, marble floors, tables draped in white linen, fresh orchids everywhere. This was a place I could never have afforded, not even in a lifetime.

A distinguished older man approached with a silver champagne bucket, placing it on our table with a warm smile. "Good evening, Mr. Blackwood. It's an absolute honor to have you here tonight."

"It's been a while, Rich," Adrian replied coolly, grinning. "Thank you for making time for me on such short notice."

Rich poured the bubbling champagne into our glasses, bowed politely, and left.

"Oh, wow," I said, raising an eyebrow as I settled into my chair. "I guess the Blackwood name really does carry that much power, renting out an entire restaurant last-minute."

Adrian chuckled, lifting his glass. "It's not quite like that. Rich is an old family friend and yes, maybe the name does help, but I'd like to think my charm played a part too." He smirked, taking a sip. "I'm pretty irresistible, you know."

"Yeah, right," I teased, rolling my eyes playfully. "You're charming, alright. I'm not disputing that." His eyes widened in mock surprise as he clutched his chest dramatically. "Is that a compliment, Lena? Because I really don't mind if it is."

He leaned forward with his elbows on the table, his gaze intense and unwavering. If I had stared at him for too long, I'd lose myself so I reached for my champagne, sipping slowly to hide behind the glass. He leaned back, smirking like he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

"So," I ventured, curiously, "may I ask why you rented out an entire restaurant for a colleague? Not like I'm complaining, but I'm just really curious."

My eyes betrayed me again, tracing his strong jaw, then dropping to his perfectly shaped full lips which I was just noticing how tempting they were tonight.

"Well," he said softly, "I thought you might appreciate the privacy. I wasn't sure if crowded places were your thing. I'm a gentleman, obviously."

Just then rich returned, wheeling a silver tray filled with dishes I'd only seen in magazines. A truffle risotto, seared foie gras, lobster thermidor exquisite, rare courses I'd never tasted in my life.

As we ate, Adrian steered the conversation effortlessly. He asked about my life outside work, what I did for fun, my favorite books, my travel dreams, everything which pointed to the fact that he was really interested in getting to know me. And that stirred something deep inside me, something that I thought was once buried. And just when I thought he was done, he leaned in once more, his voice low and deliberate.

"I want you Lena Marsh," he said, his eyes burning with quiet intensity. "And I'm gonna get you." The words hung in the air, freezing me in place as my heart pounded wildly.