Xavier shot Adrian a series of pointed looks, silently begging him to speak up and help out.
He’d been wanting to ask Theodore to act as a go–between and persuade Selene to return to Capital University. In Xavier’s mind, Selene had the kind of talent that could make her the university’s shining star.
But Theodore was far too proud to ever humble himself like that. He’d never lower his guard enough to try to sway Selene’s mind.
Adrian, however, was sitting right next to Selene. His refined, almost angelic features were lit up with a gentle smile as he gazed at her in quiet fascination, his eyes fixed on her profile, as if he could never get enough.
Xavier cleared his throat–twice–trying to remind Adrian he was still there.
Adrian looked up, his strikingly handsome face relaxed and languid, eyes flicking over Xavier like a cool autumn lake.
“I support whatever Selene wants,” he said.
Selene whipped her head around, surprise flashing in her eyes.
Adrian leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand, his elbow propped on the <table. In his dark, glassy eyes, Selene saw only her own reflection.
He tilted his head, exuding the harmless innocence of a child–a gentle, unthreatening presence that made it easy for Selene to let him draw near.
She could feel his breath, catch the intoxicating scent of his cologne–something quietly magnetic.
Then Adrian spoke to her with quiet conviction, “Whatever you decide, I’ll stand by you. Everything you want–you’ll have.”
*
In the banquet hall:
Crash! The sharp sound of shattering glass rang out, sending shards skittering acro
the polished marble floor.
Harrison was in the middle of a conversation with a colleague when he turned to see a young waitress crouched at his feet, frantically trying to gather the broken pieces of a wineglass.
She looked lost, her hands trembling as she tried to clean up the mess. When she glanced up, her face was pale and frightened–like a startled fawn caught in a hunter’s sights.
Harrison’s brow furrowed.
He couldn’t help but remember the day Selene had first joined the Vaughn family, when she’d accidentally broken a set of fine dinnerware. The plates had tumbled out of the cabinet–left unsecured by the house staff–just as Selene opened the door. She’d managed to rescue a single bowl, cradling it in her hands as she turned to him and said, “I saved your favorite bowl.”
He’d swept her up in his arms then, carrying her away from the mess of shattered porcelain.
The memory hit Harrison with the force of a punch, tightening every muscle in his body. His chiseled features grew even sharper, as if carved from stone.
The waitress at his feet noticed the drops of red wine that had splashed onto his expensive shoes. Instinctively, she reached out to try and wipe them away.
Across the room, Felicity was chatting amiably with a rising star in the business world when the commotion drew her attention. She glanced over and saw, to her shock, a young waitress crouched at Harrison’s feet–several wineglasses smashed on the floor.
A woman, again!
Felicity’s senses went on high alert. Her gaze fixed on the waitress, and in the next instant, her eyes grew wide with recognition.
Wasn’t this the same girl–the reserved, delicate one who’d been assigned as a hostess at Harrison’s divorce party at the Golden Radiance Club? The girl who seemed so timid and fragile, yet somehow inspired every man’s protective instincts?
Why did she always manage to cause a scene around Harrison?
She must be trying to get his attention!
Felicity’s internal alarm bells went off at full volume. Turning to the entrepreneur beside her, she offered a quick, “Excuse me for just a moment,” and strode off toward the commotion
