Chapter 5 - The Velvet TrapThe wedding planning summit at the Plaza Hotel was supposed to be a standard, boring afternoon of reviewing floral budgets and cake tiers with the bride and groom’s families.
Instead, it turned into an ambush.
As soon as Nora and Adrian walked through the grand double doors of the private salon, every head in the room turned. The gossip blog post had already made the rounds among Manhattan’s elite circles. Claire was sitting at the head of the mahogany table, looking like a Cheshire cat that had not only swallowed the canary but owned the entire aviary.
“Well, look who decided to arrive together!” Claire trilled, dabbing at her mouth with a cloth napkin. “I see the Tribeca penthouse is working out wonderfully for you both.”
Nora felt her cheeks heat up, but before she could formulate a polite, icy denial, Adrian’s hand settled smoothly, possessively at the small of her back. His thumb traced a slow, lazy circle against the thin fabric of her silk blouse.
The gesture was entirely deliberate—public, intimate, and completely undeniable.
Nora gasped softly, looking up at him, but Adrian didn't break stride. He guided her to two empty chairs right beside Claire, pulling her chair out for her with old-school chivalry before taking the seat directly next to her, his thigh pressing firmly against hers under the table.
“We’re efficient, Claire,” Adrian said smoothly, his eyes scanning the room with calm authority. “When we decide to catch up, we don’t waste time.”
The meeting progressed in a haze of suppressed giggles from the bridesmaids and smug smiles from Claire. Nora tried to focus on the floral arrangements—peonies versus hydrangeas—but her entire nervous system was hyper-aware of the heat radiating from Adrian beside her. Every time he shifted, the friction sent a shiver straight down her spine.
When the meeting finally adjourned two hours later, the families cleared out quickly, leaving Nora and Adrian alone in the grand salon to pack up the binder and color swatches.
Nora slammed her laptop shut with a loud snap.
“You didn't have to touch me back there,” she whispered fiercely, turning on him. “You’re feeding right into her hands!”
“I was playing the part,” Adrian said calmly, leaning back in his chair and watching her with hooded, intense eyes. “Unless you’d rather I act like a stranger who avoids looking at you? Because after last night in the restaurant, and yesterday morning on the floor, we both know that ship has sailed.”
“That was different,” Nora stammered, gathering her folders with shaking hands. “We were venting. We were caught off guard.”
“Were we?” Adrian stood up, towering over her. He reached out, his long fingers gently catching her chin and tilting her face upward so she had no choice but to meet his gaze. “Nora. Look me in the eye and tell me you didn't think about me once in the last ten years.”
The air rushed out of her lungs. The room seemed to shrink until there was nothing in the world except the heat of his hand and the green fire in his eyes.
May you like
She opened her mouth to lie, to dredge up some defense about career goals and pride, but the words died in her throat.
Because the truth was, she had never stopped.
