3: Benea

na

s breath warm on my

ier than it should have, and I froze as his hands re

It's fine," in a tighte

de my heart beat. Adrian Blackwood was a guy who didn't linger; he moved with efficiency and p

voice pinched onc

y, and his black tuxedo was perfectly fitted, making him seem flawless as alwa

wn the silk of my robe

nto place securely as he bow

was gone in

whispered greetings, and a sea of strangers acting as if they were friends. Adria

reality, I felt like a mannequin on exhibit. I was still an outsider, an actress in

rought to my att

, "Adrian." Her gaze passed over me with hardly disguised contempt,

s hurt, I tried to kee

laire," he began with a smoothness that gave his voice a sharp edge

a is my wife, and you will treat her with respect," Adrian

shed us away, holding on to m

y eyes and said,

ed such a simple quest

in a voice that

e throng after nodding

e, attempting to interpret the change in his attitude. Despite being a guy who prized control above al

well-thought-out attempt to preserve

in one hand and a hot cup of coffee in the other. As I walked in, he g

e, he said, "

rway and carefully an

hair on the other s

of his unexpected kindnes

r down and leaned back to examine me. "You d

nk you," not know

tone. Claire is a lady who feeds on making

ed that I ow

minute as his lips curled int

ian stood up straight, his face stiffening again. Tomo

d out of the room, leavi

y saying my name when he thought no one was listening, adjusting my chair at a dinner party so I wo

ion from a guy who generally lo

id of the impression that ever

the genuine tw

ing a book. When I looked up, I saw Adrian standing in the doorway wit

he said

se of something in his to

way. Then he sighed and moved across the

felt stuck?" he

. Did Adrian Blackwood, th

cautiously ackn

nusually vulnerable gesture he mad

perfect as it seem

eyes prevented me from pressi

"You know, you could

terly. "It's n

a hush that was thick

e could open up even more. His face

denly and said,

ria

, "Goodnight, Elena

im again for the remainder of the evening. Adrian Blackwood was not

t to his office bec

was out, but my curiosity won out. Aside f

ing. I knew it was in there,

the room for the key be

it on his shelf, h

shaking hands. A tiny, unmarked black packet

hed heavily on me as I paused, but

and read the words scribb

ything ma

secret to conceal. I wa