Chapter 3 - The Man Who Wanted Adrian’s Empire
Three weeks changed everything.
Adrian stopped eating lunch alone.
Sometimes Mia visited after school.
Her drawing remained on his desk.
And somewhere between campaign meetings, Brooklyn dinners, and arguments about whether pineapple belonged on pizza, I discovered something dangerous.
Adrian Kane wasn't cold.
He was guarded.
Then his father arrived.
Richard Kane walked into our Monday executive meeting without knocking.
Silver-haired. Perfect suit. Zero warmth.
“Everyone out.”
Nobody questioned him.
I gathered my papers.
“Claire stays,” Adrian said.
Richard looked at me.
“So this is her.”
My stomach tightened.
Adrian stood.
“Be careful.”
Richard smiled.
“I've spent forty years being careful.”
He turned toward me.
“Ms. Bennett, your work has been excellent.”
“Thank you.”
“Unfortunately, you're becoming a distraction.”
Adrian's voice hardened.
“Enough.”
Richard ignored him.
“The board is concerned.”
“The board doesn't control my personal life.”
“They control the confidence required to keep you CEO.”
I stared between them.
Richard placed a folder on the table.
Inside were photographs.
Adrian leaving my apartment.
Adrian with Mia.
The three of us eating dinner.
I felt sick.
“You had us followed?”
Adrian slammed the folder shut.
“You photographed a child?”
“Security conducted routine observation.”
“She's six.”
Richard remained unmoved.
“Which is exactly why this foolish situation ends now.”
I stood.
“I'll excuse myself.”
“No,” Adrian said.
“Adrian.”
“Stay.”
Richard smiled.
“You see? This is precisely the problem. You're allowing emotion to dictate business.”
Adrian stepped toward his father.
“You want business?”
“Always.”
“Then here it is. Claire's department increased client retention eighteen percent. Her Beaumont campaign is projected to generate the strongest fourth-quarter acquisition rate in six years.”
Richard's expression tightened.
“She stays because she's valuable.”
“She's valuable to you personally.”
Adrian didn't hesitate.
“Yes.”
That silenced everyone.
Including me.
Richard picked up the folder.
“You're risking billions for a woman with baggage.”
Adrian's face went cold.
“Don't call her daughter baggage.”
Richard looked at him.
“That child isn't yours.”
Adrian answered quietly.
“Never speak about Mia that way again.”
Richard left.
I waited until the door closed.
Then I turned toward Adrian.
“This has to stop.”
His expression changed.
“What?”
“Us.”
“Because of him?”
“Because he's right about one thing.”
“Which thing?”
“This is affecting the company.”
“I don't care.”
“I do.”
“Claire—”
“I spent twelve years building my career. I don't want people believing I reached this position because the CEO fell for me.”
He went silent.
I picked up my folder.
“And I won't let Mia become ammunition in some billionaire family war.”
“I'm trying to protect you.”
“I know.”
“Then don't run.”
My voice softened.
“I'm not running.”
“It looks exactly like running.”
“I'm protecting my daughter.”
That stopped him.
Because Adrian understood that argument.
He stepped back.
“What do you want?”
“Professional distance.”
His jaw tightened.
“For how long?”
“I don't know.”
I walked toward the door.
“Claire.”
I stopped.
His voice was quieter.
“Was any of it real?”
I turned.
“All of it.”
That somehow hurt worse.
I left.
That evening, Mia immediately noticed.
“Where's Adrian?”
“He's busy.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Probably not.”
She studied me.
“Did you fight?”
“No.”
“You look like you fought.”
“We decided things were complicated.”
Mia crossed her arms.
“Adults say complicated when they're scared.”
I stared at her.
“Where did you learn that?”
“Cartoons.”
“What cartoons are you watching?”
She walked away.
For the next ten days, Adrian and I barely spoke outside meetings.
He stopped smiling.
Mia stopped asking.
Then, on Friday afternoon, Richard Kane made his next move.
May you like
And this time, he came after my career.
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