Chapter 3

Two days before the engagement party, Moretti Group organized a stargazing trip to the mountaintop.

The route was one I'd planned myself, staying up late last month to put together a two-person anniversary itinerary.

At the time, Adrian hadn't even glanced at it before closing the tablet.

"Stargazing takes too long. I've got investors to meet soon. Be good. I'll make it up to you when things slow down."

Now Lily mentioned she wanted to see shooting stars, and he'd cleared two full days.

Before departure, admin circulated an outdoor gear registration form.

Lily's column was filled out in meticulous detail.

Height, shoe size, allergy medications. Even "afraid of the dark" was noted separately.

My gear notes had two words.

Plus size.

Admin asked if I wanted to be remeasured.

Adrian answered offhandedly from nearby. "No need. She's not picky about clothes. Loose is more comfortable."

The family driver handling security glanced at me and asked quietly, "Don, should we arrange escort detail at Callahan level?"

Adrian's expression cooled for a split second.

"No. Today's just team building. Don't make it bigger than it needs to be."

I didn't understand what that meant. I assumed it was some internal security code.

Late that night, the wind picked up on the summit and the temperature plummeted.

I was wearing nothing but a thin knit top, shivering uncontrollably.

Adrian opened the trunk and pulled out a windbreaker.

The tag clearly read: size small.

Lily was trembling in the cold.

Adrian unfolded the jacket, helped her into it, and zipped it all the way to her chin.

"It's windy up here. What are you trying to prove?"

Lily looked up at him, her lashes quivering.

"Boss, I thought this jacket was for Claire..."

"She has me."

Adrian walked back, wrapped his arms around me from behind. He opened his coat wide and folded me inside it, resting his chin on the top of my head.

"With someone my size holding you, isn't that warmer than any jacket?"

The people around us whistled and cheered.

His embrace was scorching. My heart went cold, inch by inch.

Half an hour later, heading back down the mountain, Lily's heels had torn the skin on her feet.

She gripped the railing, her eyes rimmed red with pain.

Adrian stopped.

"Don't move."

He took my bag, unzipped the inner pocket, and pulled out a box of hydrocolloid blister patches.

Those were custom-shaped patches I'd had a friend bring back from overseas, made specifically for my ankle bone structure.

Adrian had once studied the packaging for a long time.

"I've got this brand memorized. Tell me whenever you run out."

Now he was crouching in front of Lily, peeling off the last one.

He smoothed the adhesive edge with his fingertip, patient and careful.

"Try standing up. Don't rush it."

Lily steadied herself on his shoulder and thanked him softly.

My first year on the job, I wore heels to meet clients and came home with blood all over my heels.

Adrian had crouched on the sidewalk just like that, sticking bandages on my feet.

That day, he carried my shoes in one hand and me on his back for three kilometers.

When Adrian stood up, I had already looked away.

He reached for my arm.

"The steps ahead are steep. Hold on to me."

I stepped aside.

"I'm fine. I can walk myself."

His brow creased.

Lily winced again.

Adrian instinctively steadied her.

I kept walking down the steps.

A dozen meters later, Adrian caught up and draped his scarf over my shoulders.

"Throwing a tantrum again? It was one blister patch. Is it really worth all this?"

"Anything money can buy, and you have to make it a thing?"

Up ahead, someone called out to warn Lily about the wet ground.

Adrian's eyes tracked over immediately.

I passed him and didn't stop until I reached the bottom.

At the parking lot, he told the driver to take Lily to the hospital first to get her foot treated, then handed me his car keys.

"Drive yourself home. I'll come back after she's checked out."

He gave me the car. He gave her his company.

He didn't look back. Not once.