Chapter 5 BAD LUCK

ISLA

I always knew I had bad luck.

But this?

This was a whole new level of disaster.

LATER AT NIGHT

The penthouse was pitch black, and I was thirsty.

So I made my way to the kitchen, half-asleep, reaching for the light switch.

That's when I heard it.

A noise.

My heart stopped.

Then I saw a shadowy figure standing by the fridge.

I froze.

A thief.

I didn't even think.

Didn't hesitate.

I grabbed the nearest heavy item I could weight, I lifted it over my head.....

And swung.

THWACK!

The figure let out a loud curse and stumbled back.

That's when I finally turned on the lights.

And saw Adrian.

Adrian Kingston.

Holding his head.

With murder in his eyes.

My stomach dropped. "Oh."

"Oh?" His voice was deadly. "You hit me with a frying pan."

"I-I thought you were a thief!"

He exhaled sharply, looking up at the ceiling like he was praying for patience.

Then, in a voice so calm it was terrifying, he said, "Go to your room before I change my mind about letting you live."

I ran.

*********

"I'm going to be sick."

Adrian barely looked up from his steak.

"Then go to the bathroom," he said.

I glared at him, pushing my plate away.

I didn't know what it was, but the smell of his expensive five-star breakfast was making me nauseous.

I clutched my stomach, groaning.

"Something's wrong," I mumbled.

Adrian sighed. "It's pregnancy cravings. Or nausea. Or whatever. You'll live."

That's when I bolted up and ran straight to the bathroom.

Because I was definitely not going to live.

-----------

FEW MINUTES AFTER

"I'm coming with you."

Adrian didn't even look up from his coffee.

"No, you're not."

I crossed my arms. "Yes, I am."

"No."

"Why not?"

Adrian sighed heavily, setting his cup down.

"Because you're a walking disaster, Isla."

I gasped. "I am not...."

He gave me a pointed look.

I scowled. "That's not the point."

He rubbed his temples.

"I have meetings. Conferences. Business to handle. The last thing I need is you breaking a million-dollar deal and a million-dollar chandelier on the same day."

I pouted. "I wouldn't break a chandelier."

Adrian gave me a blank stare.

"...Not on purpose."

He exhaled sharply. "Islaaa"

"If you don't let me come, I'll cry," I said dramatically.

Adrian looked unimpressed. "I don't care."

"I'll tell people you kidnapped me."

He rolled his eyes.

I smirked. "I'll also....."

"Fine," he snapped.

My eyes lit up. "Really?"

"I don't have time for this," he muttered. "Just... don't touch anything. Or talk. Or breathe too loud."

I beamed.

Adrian looked like he regretted everything.

But I didn't care.

Because I was going to work with him.

And if Adrian Kingston thought he could get rid of me that easily?

He had another thing coming.

I regretted coming to work with Adrian immediately.

Not because the office was bad, actually, it was stunning.

It was one of those fancy corporate buildings made of glass, with men in expensive suits walking around like they owned the world.

But the problem?

The meetings.

The never-ending, soul-crushing, mind-numbing meetings.

I was bored out of my mind.

I sat next to Adrian, trying to look professional, but my head was spinning from all the numbers, reports, and financial terms being thrown around.

"...We'll need a 12% increase in the quarterly projections for the third fiscal period."

What does that even mean?!

I slumped in my chair, sighing dramatically.

Adrian's hand tightened around his pen. "Stop sighing."

"I'm bored," I whispered.

"We've been here for fifteen minutes."

"Exactly."

He clenched his jaw. "Be quiet."

I huffed, crossing my arms.

Adrian ignored me, turning back to the presentation.

And so, my revenge began.

I started tapping my fingers on the table.

He glared.

I started bouncing my leg.

His eyes twitched.

I grabbed a pen and began clicking it.

Click. Click. Click.

Adrian snatched the pen from my hand so fast I didn't even see him move.

I smirked.

One point for Isla.

*********

Adrian

I was going to lose my mind.

Bringing Isla to work was the worst mistake of my life.

She was a walking distraction.

She fidgeted, sighed, clicked pens, tapped her nails, and even tried drawing on my meeting notes.

I snatched the paper away before she turned my financial report into a kindergarten coloring book.

But then, she did something worse.

She leaned over and whispered, "Adrian, I'm hungry."

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"We'll eat after the meeting."

"But I'm really, really rea....."

"If you say one more word, I swear..."

"Starving," she whispered dramatically.

I took a deep breath, counting to ten.

For the first time, I understood what it meant to be on the verge of insanity.

********

Isla

After what felt like a lifetime, all the meetings were finally over.

Adrian practically dragged me out of the conference room, his grip firm on my wrist.

"You are never coming to work with me again," he muttered.

I grinned. "Aw, did you miss me already?"

He didn't answer.

Because the second we stepped into his office, his assistant walked in.

"Sir," she said. "The results are in."

The paternity test.

My stomach flipped.

Adrian took the envelope without hesitation.

I held my breath as he tore it open, eyes scanning the document.

His expression didn't change.

But when he lifted his gaze to meet mine, I already knew.

It was positive.

I swallowed, suddenly feeling nervous.

"So...?" I asked softly.

Adrian exhaled. "You weren't lying."

I rolled my eyes. "I told you I wasn't."

His jaw clenched. "I had to be sure."

I knew that.

But it still hurts.

Before I could say anything, the office door swung open.

And someone walked in.

******

Elena

I didn't hesitate.

The second I landed back in New York, I came straight to Adrian's office.

I wasn't going to let anyone take him away from me.

But when I stepped inside, I immediately noticed her.

The girl.

The one I had already heard about.

My gaze landed on her stomach.

She was pregnant.

With Adrian's child.

I smiled sweetly, but inside, anger burned.

"Adrian," I purred, walking toward him. "I've missed you."

He glanced up, expression unreadable.

"Elena," he said flatly.

I ignored his cold tone, turning to the nobody standing next to him.

"You must be Isla," I said, my voice too sweet to be real.

She looked wary. "And you are?"

I smirked.

"Elena Russo," I said smoothly. "Adrian's childhood best friend."

Her eyes narrowed.

Good.

Now she knows who I am.

This is going to be fun.

******-*****

Victor Morelli

I didn't lose.

And I definitely didn't let what was mine walk away.

But somehow, that stupid girl had managed to escape.

I sat in my study, swirling a glass of whiskey, listening as my men delivered the news.

"She's with Adrian Knight, boss," one of them said. "At Adrian Knight's company."

My fingers tightened around my glass.

Of course.

The one man I despised more than anything.

Adrian fucking Knight.

I set the whiskey down, my expression cold.

"She's pregnant," the man continued.

That caught my attention.

"By who?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

The man hesitated. "Knight, we think."

I exhaled slowly.

The rage inside me grew.

First, she escaped me.

Now, she was carrying another man's child.

Unacceptable.

I leaned back, my mind already formulating my next move.

"I want her back," I said.

"And if Adrian gets in my way?" one of my men asked.

I smirked.

"Then we'll take him down, too."