Adrian made a sound that might have been a smothered laugh.
Marcus's eyebrows rose. Then, to my surprise, he smiled. "Spirited. I like that. Better than the last few socialites Adrian brought around." He shook my hand with a grip designed to intimidate. I squeezed back just as hard.
"I'm not a socialite. I'm a CFO."
"Not anymore. Chen Industries is finished."
"Chen Industries is being restructured under Blackwood management. I'll be serving as COO during the transition." I kept my voice level, professional. "I believe you'll find my work speaks for itself."
"We'll see about that." He released my hand and turned to Adrian. "Three weeks seems rushed. People will talk."
"Let them talk," Adrian said coolly. "We want to be married before my birthday. The timeline is non-negotiable."
"Of course it is. Can't have you losing control of the company over a stubborn refusal to marry." Marcus's voice held an edge.
"Though I still say you're making this harder than necessary. A simple society wedding to Victoria Ashford would have sufficed"
"I don't want Victoria Ashford. I want Aria."
The room went silent. Even I wasn't prepared for the conviction in his voice.
Marcus studied his son with narrowed eyes, then nodded slowly. "Very well. Your choice. Your consequences."
"Marcus, darling, stop interrogating the poor girl."
I turned to find a woman gliding toward us.
Diane Blackwood was beautiful in the way of women who'd spent their lives perfecting the art of appearance. Mid-sixties but could pass for fifty, dressed in cream silk, every hair in place. Her smile was warm, but her eyes were calculating.
"Aria, welcome." She took both my hands in hers, air-kissing my cheeks. "Adrian has told us so much about you. Though he failed to mention how lovely you are. That dress is McQueen, isn't it? Excellent choice. Classic, elegant, powerful. You have good instincts."
"Thank you, Mrs. Blackwood."
"Please, call me Diane. We're going to be family, after all." She tucked my arm through hers, steering me away from the men. "Let's sit. I want to hear everything about the wedding plans. I've already spoken with the event coordinator at the club"
"Actually, I was thinking something smaller," I ventured. "Maybe something more intimate"
"Nonsense. A Blackwood wedding is a major social event. We have three hundred people on the guest list already, and"
"Mother." Adrian's voice cut through her chatter. "Aria and I will plan our own wedding. Your input is appreciated but not required."
Diane's smile tightened fractionally. "Of course, darling. I just want to help."
"Then help by respecting our wishes." He came to stand beside me, a united front. "This is our marriage. We'll do it our way."
I watched the silent battle of wills between mother and son. Finally, Diane inclined her head gracefully. "As you wish. I simply hope you know what you're doing."
"I always know what I'm doing."
"That's what worries me," she murmured, but her smile never wavered.
The door opened again, and my entire body went rigid.
Vanessa Blackwood swept in wearing designer casual jeans that probably cost a thousand dollars, a silk blouse, perfect makeup. She stopped when she saw me, her blue eyes widening with theatrical surprise.
"Aria! What a surprise. I had no idea you'd be here." The lie was delivered with practiced innocence. "Adrian, you didn't tell me you were bringing guests."
"Aria isn't a guest," Adrian said coldly. "She's my fiancée. Show some respect."
Vanessa's eyes gleamed with malice.
"Fiancée. How… sudden. I mean, wasn't it just a year ago that you were engaged to someone else? What was his name again? Oh right, David. Whatever happened to him?"
"Vanessa." Marcus's voice cracked like a whip. "That's enough."
"I'm just making conversation, Daddy. Surely we can talk about Aria's past relationships. After all, we're family now." She turned to me, all false sympathy. "You must be so grateful to Adrian for taking you on after… everything. Not many men would be willing to marry damaged goods."
The room froze. I felt Adrian tense beside me, felt the rage radiating off him. But I didn't need him to fight this battle.
I stepped forward until I was inches from Vanessa, close enough to see the mascara clumping on her lashes, close enough to smell the wine on her breath.
"You're right," I said quietly. "Not many men would marry me after what happened. But then, I'm not marrying 'many men.' I'm marrying Adrian. The man who owns this family, who runs the empire, who will inherit everything." I smiled. "While you'll always be daddy's little disappointment. No matter how many men you sleep with or how many people you betray, you'll never be good enough for this family's business. Must be exhausting, being you."
Vanessa's face went white, then red. Her hand came up, and I saw the slap coming.
But Adrian was faster. His hand caught her wrist mid-swing, his grip visibly tight.
"Touch her," he said softly, "and I'll make sure you never set foot in a Blackwood property again. Try me."
"Adrian, let go"
"Apologize to my fiancée."
"I will not"
"Apologize. Now."
They stared at each other, brother and sister locked in silent combat. Finally, Vanessa wrenched her arm free.
"I'm sorry," she spat, the words clearly painful. "I apologize for nearly slapping you, Aria. How terribly rude of me."
"Accepted," I said coolly.
Vanessa fled, her heels clicking on marble as she practically ran from the room.
Marcus cleared his throat. "Well. That was entertaining. Aria, I believe I may have underestimated you."
"Most people do. It's my greatest asset."
He laughed a genuine sound of appreciation. "Adrian, you've chosen well. This one might actually survive us."
"That's the plan," Adrian said dryly. He turned to me. "Ready for dinner?"
I was shaking inside, adrenaline still flooding my system. But I kept my voice steady. "Absolutely. I'm starving."
Dinner was an elaborate affair in a dining room that could seat twenty. Just the four of us Marcus, Diane, Adrian, and me seated at one end of an enormous table. Vanessa didn't reappear, which was fine by me.
The meal was perfectly prepared and utterly tasteless. Or maybe that was just my nerves.
Diane dominated the conversation, discussing wedding details despite Adrian's earlier objections. Venue options, floral arrangements, dress designers. I nodded and agreed where appropriate, letting the words wash over me.
Marcus watched me throughout the meal, those calculating gray eyes never still. Assessing. Measuring. Trying to find my breaking point.
"Your father was foolish," he said during dessert, setting down his fork. "Letting his company fall apart like that. Poor management. Emotional decision-making. Classic mistakes."
"My father trusted the wrong people," I replied evenly. "It's a mistake many make. Even successful businessmen."
"Are you implying something?"
"I'm stating facts. Trust is a liability. You taught Adrian that, didn't you? Better to rely on contracts and leverage than loyalty and faith."
Adrian's eyes met mine across the table, something flickering in their depths.
"Quite right," Marcus said slowly. "Though it's a harsh lesson for one so young."
"I learned harsh lessons early. They're the ones that stick."
We finished dessert in relative silence. Finally, Diane stood, indicating the evening was over.
"Aria, it's been lovely meeting you. I'm sure we'll see much more of each other in the coming weeks." Her smile was pleasant and completely devoid of warmth. "Adrian, walk your fiancée to the helicopter. It's getting late."
We said our goodbyes, the ritual of air kisses and firm handshakes. Then Adrian and I were outside in the cool evening air, walking back toward the helipad.
"You handled that well," he said quietly.
"Did I? I threatened your sister and argued with your father."
"Exactly. You didn't back down. You didn't let them intimidate you. That's what I needed to see."
We reached the helicopter, but he made no move to board. Instead, he turned to face me, his expression unreadable in the fading light.
"You asked me earlier if I've ever been in love," he said. "The answer is no. But I have loved. My younger brother, Thomas. He died when I was eighteen. Car accident. Drunk driver."
I caught my breath. "Adrian, I'm so sorry"
"He was everything I'm not. Warm, open, trusting. He believed the best in people. And it got him killed he was in the car with someone he trusted, someone who'd been drinking." His voice went flat. "After that, I decided emotion was too dangerous. Better to be cold and alive than warm and dead."
"That's not living. That's just surviving."
"Maybe survival is enough."
I studied his face, seeing past the cold mask to the man beneath. The boy who'd lost his brother and built walls so high nothing could touch him.
"What we're doing," I said slowly, "this marriage it doesn't have to be completely empty. We can be partners. Allies. Maybe even friends."
"Friends." He tested the word like it was foreign. "I don't have friends, Aria. I have associates, employees, and family. Nothing in between."
"Then maybe it's time to learn."
For a long moment, he just looked at me. Then, slowly, he extended his hand.
"Partners?"
I took it, feeling the now-familiar warmth of his grip. "Partners."
"Good." He helped me into the helicopter, then paused. "For what it's worth, what you said to Vanessa she deserved every word. And more."
"Did she really betray me because she was jealous?"
"Partially. But there's more to it. I'm still trying to figure out what." He buckled himself in. "When I do, you'll be the first to know."
The helicopter lifted off, leaving the Blackwood estate behind. Below us, I could see Diane and Marcus still standing on the front steps, watching us go.
"Do they approve?" I asked.
"My father does. My mother is reserving judgment. But their approval doesn't matter. This is my life, my choice."
"And mine."
"And yours," he agreed.
We flew back toward the city in comfortable silence. When we landed, Adrian insisted on having his driver take me home.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said. "We need to go over the final contract revisions and start on the living arrangements."
"Tomorrow," I agreed.
But before I could step away, he caught my hand one more time.
"Aria. Thank you."
"For what?"
"For not running. Most people would have after meeting my family."
I smiled despite myself. "I don't run. I face things head-on and deal with the consequences. You should know that about me by now."
"I'm learning." His thumb brushed across my knuckles, the touch so brief I almost thought I'd imagined it. "Good night, Aria Chen."
"Good night, Adrian Blackwood."
I walked to the car, feeling his eyes on me the entire time. When I finally looked back, he was still standing there, watching me go with an expression I couldn't quite read.
Something was shifting between us. Something neither of us had anticipated.
And I wasn't sure if that terrified me or thrilled me.
Maybe both.