Chapter 230
“Adam!” Samantha’s voice dripped with rehearsed warmth as he wheeled into Luxury Vista’s private dining room. “It’s been ages.”
Her eyes flicked to his wheelchair for a split second before returning to his face with practiced sympathy.
“Samantha.” A curt nod. “Mr. Wright.”
Marcus clapped his hands once. “Perfect timing to breathe new life into our partnership, don’t you think?”
Wright’s smile didn’t reach his cold eyes. “We’ve always valued what Haven Enterprise brings to the table.”
Adam watched Samantha from the corner of his eye. She’d dressed the part perfectly–tasteful pale dress, simple ponytail, minimal makeup. But he caught how her fingers strangled her water glass when Marcus casually mentioned Emerald Garden. For a heartbeat, her perfect smile cracked, revealing the bitterness beneath.
“Food’s getting cold,” Adam said, eager to move things along.
The business conversation flowed around them as they ate. When the plates were cleared, Marcus suggested, “Shall we move to the lounge? More comfortable for what we need to discuss.”
In the leather couches of the private lounge, Adam positioned himself at a strategic distance from everyone else, especially
Samantha.
“Your thoughts on Asia, Adam?” One of the partners leaned in. “Your last forecast was spot on.”
Adam snapped into business mode, laying out potential moves and spotting opportunities that had the entire room hanging on his words.
“Brilliant,” Wright muttered under his breath.
From across the room, Samantha watched. The war on her face fascinated Adam–reluctant admiration battling with obvious resentment.
The business talk wrapped up, and Adam checked his watch. Nearly nine. If he left now, he could still make his treatment session with Irene.
But Samantha was already on the move. She waited just long enough to seem casual before sliding into the vacant seat beside him.
“You were on fire tonight,” she said, voice pitched low for privacy. “Had them wrapped around your finger.
Adam’s response was a slight nod, already planning his escape.
“I saw Irene at the Hayes event,” she said, watching his reaction like a hawk. “Don’t think she was thrilled to see me.”
“Irene has better things to worry about than cocktail party gossip,” he replied, ice forming around each word.
“Could you help me out?” Samantha leaned closer, voice honeyed with fake sincerity. “Would you mind apologizing to Irene for me? I didn’t know her true identity back then and overstepped. Please tell her not to take it to heart–after all, you can’t blame someone who didn’t know any better, right?”
The calculated move was so obvious it was almost embarrassing. Her eyes didn’t match her apologetic words they gleamed with something closer to meanness.
“Irene doesn’t waste energy on trivia.” The protective edge in his voice could have cut glass.
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Chapter 230
Samantha’s smile flickered before she recalibrated.. “She means a lot to you, doesn’t she?”
Adam checked his watch again, not bothering to hide it. “It’s late.”
The gathering was finally winding down. Freedom was within reach. waiter drifted past with champagne glasses. Samantha stepped back as if to dodge him, wobbled dramatically, and pitched forward directly into Adam’s path.
“Oh! Her hands pressed firmly against his chest.
The overwhelming scent of perfume hit him like a slap, soaking into his jacket. The sweet, sickly smell made his stomach roll.
Jesus, did she pour the entire bottle on? Nothing like the light, clean smell that followed Irene around–a hint of herbs that somehow felt right, not like this perfufne attack.
His need for cleanliness–what Thomas politely called being “particular“-kicked into high gear. If his father and Wright hadn’t been standing right there, he wouldn’t have bothered steadying her. She could’ve face–planted and he wouldn’t have cared.
“So clumsy of me,” Samantha murmured, lingering a beat too long before stepping away, triumph flashing behind her apologetic
smile.
Adam’s expression shuttered completely. He pulled out his phone and hit speed–dial without looking.
“Thomas. Car. Now.”
He turned to his father. “Need to go. Treatment. The excuse was bare–bones but effective.
Marcus nodded, understanding in his eyes. “Of course. Don’t miss it on our account.”
Adam didn’t spare Samantha a glance as he wheeled toward the exit, each breath of the perfume making him more desperate to
escape.
Behind him, Samantha’s eyes tracked his retreat, victory dancing in them.
The second he cleared the hotel doors, Adam ripped off his jacket like it was burning his skin.
Thomas was already waiting, jumping out of the car when he spotted his boss. His eyebrows shot up at the sight of Adam holding the expensive jacket at arm’s length.
“Sir? Everything okay?”
“Trash it,” Adam said, voice flat.
“Your jacket?” Thomas hesitated. “But-”
“Just get rid of it.” Each word landed like a stone.
Can’t stand another second of this smell. His skin crawled just thinking about it.
Thomas took the jacket with only a moment’s hesitation. Without a word, he walked to a nearby trash can and dumped it inside.
Home, Adam said as Thomas helped him into the car. “Fast.”
The drive passed in silence, Adam’s irritation gradually fading with each mile closer to Emerald Garden. By the time they pulled up, the sight of lights still on next door washed away the last of his tension.
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Chapter 230
“She’s still up,” he murmured, more to himself than Thomas.
Inside, Irene waited in his living room, medical bag at her feet. She looked up from her book, fighting a yawn. Her hair was loosely tied back, her face scrubbed cle of makeup, wearing simple leggings and an oversized sweater. The sight of her, comfortable and real, hit him like a breath of fresh air after hours in that perfumed cage.
“There you are,” she said simply.
The tightness in his chest, the remnants of the evening’s frustration, melted away. Something warm and genuine spread through him at the sight of her sitting there, waiting just for him.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said, wheeling closer. “Meeting from bell
He noticed the tiredness around her eyes, how she struggled to keep them open. The kids would be asleep by now, yet she’d waited up, just for his treatment.
“No big deal,” Irene replied, standing and stretching before reaching for her bag. “Let’s get you fixed up.”
“Let me change first,” Adam said, turning toward his bedroom.
As they passed in the narrow hallway, Irene suddenly stopped. She sniffed once, then again, her brow furrowing.
“Wait…” she said slowly. “You smell different.”
Adam froze mid–motion.
How is that possible? The jacket’s gone!
“That’s…” Irene leaned slightly closer, her expression curious. “That’s women’s perfume.”
Adam’s heart stumbled.
“Client dinner,” he explained carefully. “One of the attendees bumped into me. Must have picked it up then.”
Irene’s eyes narrowed as something clicked. Recognition spread across her features.
“That scent…” She looked directly into his eyes, something knowing in her gaze. “That’s Samantha’s perfume.”
Adam stared back, completely blindsided by how quickly she’d recognized it. The questions hit him all at once–why would Irene know Samantha’s perfume so well? Why did she care enough to notice? And what did that slight edge in her voice mean?
For once in his life, the man with all the answers had none.
