Chapter 2 - The Billionaire Who Started Smiling
I expected Adrian to pretend the hallway incident never happened.
Instead, the next morning, there was a dinosaur-shaped pancake sitting on my desk.
I stared at it.
My assistant, Jenna, appeared behind me.
“Please tell me Kane didn't send that.”
There was a note.
For Mia. Apparently this is part of the qualification process. — A.K.
Jenna read it over my shoulder.
“Oh, you're doomed.”
“Nothing is happening.”
“Our CEO sent your daughter a pancake.”
“It’s probably an apology.”
“Billionaires don't apologize with dinosaurs.”
I shoved the note into my drawer.
At ten, Adrian summoned me.
He was standing beside the windows overlooking Manhattan.
“Our Beaumont presentation needs restructuring.”
I immediately opened my laptop.
“I can have revisions tonight.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Tonight is fine.”
“Claire.”
I looked up.
“Go home at six.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“You've worked past nine four nights this week.”
“How do you know?”
“I run the company.”
“You don't personally monitor when employees leave.”
“I monitor you.”
Silence.
Adrian seemed to realize what he had said.
“For performance reasons.”
“Of course.”
“Professionally.”
“Obviously.”
He loosened his tie.
“This conversation is getting worse.”
“It really is.”
His phone rang.
He ignored it.
“Dinner.”
I stared.
“What about it?”
“Have dinner with me.”
“Mr. Kane—”
“Adrian.”
“You're my boss.”
“I'm aware.”
“And you own the company.”
“Technically Kane Global owns the controlling stake.”
“That makes it much better.”
He smiled.
“Dinner isn't a condition of employment.”
“Still complicated.”
“Then bring Mia.”
I stared at him.
“You're asking my six-year-old on our date?”
His eyebrow lifted.
“So you agree it's a date?”
I realized my mistake.
“No.”
“Too late.”
That Friday, against every sensible instinct I possessed, Mia and I met Adrian at a small Italian restaurant in Brooklyn.
Not some impossible reservation in Manhattan.
Brooklyn.
Mia was impressed.
“You know normal restaurants?”
Adrian removed his coat.
“I've heard rumors about them.”
She giggled.
Dinner was surprisingly easy.
Until Mia asked, “Do you have parents?”
Adrian became still.
“My mother died when I was nineteen.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
“And your dad?”
“Alive.”
“Do you like him?”
“Mia,” I warned.
Adrian shook his head.
“It’s okay.”
He looked at her.
“My father believes people are either useful or they aren't.”
Mia frowned.
“That’s stupid.”
“Mia!”
Adrian laughed.
“Yes. It is.”
After dinner, Mia fell asleep against my shoulder in the car.
Adrian insisted on driving us home.
At my apartment building, he carried her upstairs.
I unlocked the door.
“Bedroom is down the hall.”
He carefully laid her beneath her yellow blanket.
As we stepped back into the hallway, his expression was different.
“She's incredible.”
“She’s exhausting.”
“Both can be true.”
I smiled.
He stepped closer.
“Claire.”
“Yes?”
“I want to see you again.”
“You see me every day.”
“Not as my employee.”
My pulse accelerated.
“This could become messy.”
“Probably.”
“And complicated.”
“Definitely.”
“And potentially catastrophic.”
He considered that.
“I'm still interested.”
Before I could answer, Mia shouted sleepily from her room.
“JUST KISS HER!”
I covered my face.
Adrian laughed quietly.
“She has excellent timing.”
“No. She absolutely does not.”
But he didn't kiss me.
Instead, he touched my hand.
“Goodnight, Claire.”
“Goodnight, Adrian.”
After he left, I leaned against the door.
Mia appeared around the corner.
“You failed.”
“You were supposed to be asleep.”
“I was checking.”
“Checking what?”
“Daddy progress.”
“Mia!”
She ran back toward her bedroom laughing.
May you like
And despite myself, I started laughing too.
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