Chapter 13 - Why Adrian Believed Her
Emily found Adrian alone in the ballroom that night.
The chandeliers were dim.
The same tables remained from the night of the pie.
“You never answered my question.”
Adrian turned.
“What question?”
“Why did you believe me?”
He smiled faintly.
“Because you had nothing to gain.”
Emily crossed her arms.
“That can't be the whole reason.”
“No.”
He walked toward the dessert table.
“You reminded me of my grandfather.”
Emily laughed.
“That's not exactly romantic.”
“I wasn't trying to be.”
She smiled.
Adrian became serious.
“You were surrounded by people with money, influence, and reasons to lie.”
He looked at her.
“And you were the only person who didn't change your story depending on who was listening.”
Emily looked down.
“I was terrified.”
“I know.”
“You didn't look like you knew.”
“I was terrified too.”
She looked up.
Adrian rarely admitted fear.
He continued.
“When you stood there with cream on your hands and told Vanessa what everyone else was afraid to say, I realized something.”
“What?”
“I had spent years surrounding myself with people who feared me.”
Emily waited.
“You were the first person who respected me enough to disagree with me.”
That touched her.
Then Adrian reached into his pocket.
He held out a contract.
Emily stared.
“What is that?”
“A proposal.”
Her heart jumped.
“Marriage?”
He laughed.
“No.”
She laughed too.
“A permanent position managing the Morello estate's culinary and events program.”
Emily stared at the paper.
“You're offering me a job?”
May you like
“I'm offering you a seat at the table.”
That mattered more than the salary.
