And Adrian, good to see you again." He gestured to the woman beside him. "This is my daughter, Victoria. She'll be overseeing the marketing implementation."
Victoria Jameson was stunning. Tall, blonde, impeccably dressed in a designer suit that screamed old money. Her smile was professional as she shook hands with our team, but when she reached Adrian, it warmed considerably.
"Adrian. It's been too long."
"Victoria. You look well." Adrian's tone was polite, distant. "Let me introduce my team. This is Emma Carter, our Senior Marketing Director. She'll be leading the campaign."
Victoria's assessing gaze swept over me. "Miss Carter. I've heard impressive things about your work."
"Thank you. I'm excited about the possibilities for Riverside's expansion."
"As are we." But something in her eyes suggested she was evaluating more than just my professional capabilities.
The conference room was state-of-the-art, and within minutes, we were set up and ready. I took point, walking them through our strategy while Sarah and David provided support.
"The data shows a significant untapped market in the 25-35 female demographic," I explained, pulling up Sarah's analysis. "Current branding skews masculine, but with strategic repositioning, we can capture this segment without alienating your existing base."
Robert leaned forward, engaged. "How do you propose we do that?"
"Sarah, if you'd like to present your findings?"
Sarah stepped up, nervous but capable. She walked them through demographic analysis, competitor positioning, and market opportunities with clarity and confidence.
I caught Adrian's approving nod from the corner where he stood, letting me run the show.
Victoria asked sharp questions, probing our strategy from every angle. She was brilliant, I'd give her that. And clearly protective of her father's company.m
"The digital component is crucial," I continued after Sarah finished. "David's mock-ups show how we can modernize your brand presence while maintaining core identity."
David presented his visual concepts sleek, sophisticated, appealing to both traditional customers and new demographics.
"This is impressive," Robert admitted. "But the investment required is substantial. What's our projected ROI?"
I looked at Adrian. "Mr. Hartley has the financial projections."
Adrian stepped forward, commanding the room effortlessly. He laid out numbers, timelines, projected growth painting a picture of success that was both ambitious and achievable.
"Bottom line," Adrian concluded, "this campaign will increase your market share by fifteen percent in year one, with continued growth projected through year three. The investment pays for itself within eighteen months."
Robert exchanged glances with Victoria. "Can we have a moment to discuss?"
"Of course. We'll wait outside."
In the hallway, Sarah was practically vibrating with excitement. "That went well, right? They seemed interested."
"They were very interested," David agreed. "Your presentation killed, Sarah."
"Emma made it easy." Sarah smiled at me. "Thanks for trusting me with that."
Before I could respond, the conference room door opened. Victoria stepped out, her expression unreadable.
"Miss Carter, could I borrow you for a moment? Girl talk."
Adrian's eyes narrowed, but I nodded. "Of course."
Victoria led me to a smaller office, closing the door behind us. When she turned, her professional smile had vanished.
"Let's be honest with each other," she said bluntly. "You're sleeping with Adrian."
My heart stopped. "Excuse me?"
"Don't bother denying it. I know Adrian. I know how he looks at someone when he wants them." Her smile was sharp. "And he looks at you the way he used to look at me."
"Miss Jameson, I assure you"
"Victoria. And relax. I'm not judging you." She leaned against the desk, studying me. "Adrian and I ended three years ago. I'm happily engaged to someone else. But I know him well enough to spot when he's invested in someone."
"This is highly inappropriate"
"So is sleeping with your boss." Her tone wasn't cruel, just matter-of-fact. "Look, Emma, I'm telling you this as someone who's been there. Adrian Hartley is brilliant, driven, and absolutely devastating in bed. But he's also married to his work. He'll prioritize the company over everything, including you."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because your presentation was excellent. You're talented, and you shouldn't let a relationship with Adrian derail your career. That's what happened to me." She straightened. "I was CFO of my father's company when Adrian and I dated. But people started questioning my decisions, wondering if I was consulting with him. Eventually, I had to step back to VP of Marketing just to prove I could think for myself."
My throat tightened. "That's not going to happen to me."
"I hope not. You seem stronger than I was." Victoria moved toward the door, then paused. "One more thing. Adrian doesn't do relationships. He does acquisitions. Make sure you know which one you are to him."
She left me standing there, her words echoing in my mind.
Robert loved the campaign. Signed the contract on the spot, eager to start implementation immediately.
"Emma, you've exceeded our expectations," he said warmly. "I look forward to working with you."
On the flight back, Sarah and David celebrated with champagne. Adrian remained in his private cabin, reviewing contracts.
I knocked softly before entering.
He looked up, saw my expression, and immediately set aside his work. "What happened?"
"Victoria cornered me. She knows about us."
Adrian's jaw clenched. "What did she say?"
"That I'm sleeping with you. That you'll prioritize work over me. That I'm going to end up with a ruined reputation just like she did." I crossed my arms. "Is she right?"
"About which part?"
"All of it. Any of it." My voice cracked slightly. "Am I an acquisition, Adrian? Something you wanted so you took?"
He was on his feet instantly, hands framing my face. "No. God, no. Emma, you are not an acquisition. You're" He stopped, struggling with words. "You're the first thing I think about when I wake up. The last thing before I sleep. You're the reason I smile at my desk. You're"
"What? What am I to you?"
"Everything," he said simply. "You're everything, and that terrifies me because I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to be someone's partner and still run a company. I don't know how to protect you and give you space to shine on your own. I don't know how to"
I kissed him, cutting off his spiraling. "Then we figure it out together. But Adrian, I need honesty. Complete honesty. No more secrets."
"Okay. Honesty." He took a breath. "I'm falling for you. Hard. Fast. Completely. And I have no idea what I'm doing."
My heart stuttered. "That's terrifyingly honest."
"You asked for it." His smile was shaky. "Your turn. What am I to you?"
I thought about Victoria's warning. About the risks. About everything I could lose.
Then I thought about how Adrian looked at me like I hung the moon. How he defended me without hesitation. How he made me feel powerful and valued and seen.
"You're the bad boss I can't resist," I said softly. "The mistake I keep making on purpose. The risk I'm willing to take."
"That's not a love confession."
"I know." I wasn't ready for that yet. Wasn't sure I'd ever be. "But it's honest."
He pulled me close, his arms tight around me. "I'll take it. For now."
We stood like that for a long moment, the plane carrying us home, our future uncertain but together.
And somewhere below, Victoria's warning echoed in my mind: Make sure you know which one you are to him.
I was choosing to believe I was everything.
Time would tell if I was right.