Chapter 6 - The Birthday Party
Saturday arrived with blue skies.
It was Elena's seventieth birthday.
The mansion was decorated with white roses, crystal lights, and photographs from seven decades of her life.
Guests arrived throughout the afternoon.
Business leaders.
Family friends.
Old neighbors.
People Adrian trusted.
People he did not.
I stood in front of the mirror wearing the navy dress from the boutique.
Adrian entered behind me.
He stopped.
I caught his reflection.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're staring.”
“Yes.”
“At least admit it.”
He smiled.
“You look beautiful.”
My heart fluttered.
“You clean up well too.”
He wore a black tuxedo.
His green eyes met mine in the mirror.
“I meant what I said last night.”
“I know.”
“I meant it before last night too.”
I turned.
“Since when?”
He looked at me.
“I don't know.”
“Try.”
He smiled faintly.
“The first time you defended me in a board meeting.”
“I remember.”
“You told my directors they were scared of me.”
“They were.”
“You said fear wasn't leadership.”
“It isn't.”
He stepped closer.
“That was the first time I realized you didn't need anything from me.”
I smiled.
“Except a paycheck.”
He laughed.
“Yes.”
Then his hand settled around my waist.
“Now I need something else.”
“What?”
“You.”
My heart broke open.
Before I could answer, Elena walked in.
She looked at us.
Then smiled.
“I knew it.”
Adrian sighed.
“Mom.”
She laughed.
“You're both terrible liars when you're actually telling the truth.”
I hugged her.
“Happy birthday.”
She whispered, “Thank you for staying.”
The party began.
It was beautiful.
Until Victor arrived.
He walked into the ballroom wearing a dark suit.
Every conversation stopped.
Adrian moved in front of me.
Victor smiled.
“Happy birthday, Elena.”
She went pale.
“Victor.”
He looked at her.
“Did you miss me?”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Leave.”
Victor laughed.
“You always did sound like your father.”
Security surrounded him.
He raised his hands.
“No weapons.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Then why are you here?”
“To congratulate the woman who ruined my life.”
Elena's expression changed.
“You ruined your own life.”
Victor smiled.
“Perhaps.”
He turned toward me.
“And you must be Emily.”
I felt Adrian's hand tighten around mine.
Victor noticed.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The weakness.”
I stepped beside Adrian.
“I'm not his weakness.”
Victor laughed.
“That's exactly what he said.”
He looked at the crowd.
“Perhaps we should tell them the truth.”
Adrian said, “Do it.”
Victor's smile faded.
“You're confident.”
“Very.”
“You think your evidence matters?”
“It does.”
Victor leaned closer.
“Your evidence proves nothing.”
Adrian held up a small drive.
“This does.”
Victor's eyes shifted.
For the first time, fear appeared.
The doors opened.
Federal agents entered.
Victor's smile disappeared.
“You wouldn't.”
Adrian said nothing.
An agent approached.
“Victor Hale, you're under arrest.”
Victor suddenly pulled a gun.
Everything happened at once.
Adrian pushed me down.
A gunshot rang out.
Glass shattered.
Screams erupted.
Victor ran.
Adrian chased him.
I stood.
“Adrian!”
He disappeared through a side door.
I ran after them.
They reached the terrace.
Victor aimed.
Adrian stopped.
“It's over.”
Victor laughed.
“You think she saved you?”
“No.”
Adrian looked back at me.
“She gave me a reason to survive.”
Victor fired.
Adrian moved.
The bullet struck his arm.
He fell against the railing.
I screamed.
Victor moved toward him.
Then Elena appeared.
She struck Victor with a heavy silver candleholder.
He staggered.
Security tackled him.
Police dragged him away.
I dropped beside Adrian.
Blood covered his sleeve.
“Stay with me.”
He looked at me.
“I'm fine.”
“You're bleeding.”
“It's not deep.”
I grabbed his face.
“You don't get to die on your mother's birthday.”
He smiled weakly.
“Wasn't planning to.”
“You're impossible.”
“You still love me.”
I laughed through tears.
“Yes.”
His eyes softened.
“Good.”
Then he passed out.
The party became a hospital.
Hours later, doctors said he would recover.
A bullet had grazed the upper arm.
Nothing more.
At four in the morning, I sat beside his bed.
He woke.
“You stayed.”
“Of course.”
He looked at me.
“No money.”
“No contract.”
“No reason to.”
I smiled.
“I have plenty of reason.”
He reached for my hand.
“Emily.”
“Yes?”
“When this is over, I want to do this properly.”
“Do what?”
“Ask you.”
“For what?”
He smiled.
“To stay.”
I squeezed his hand.
“I already did.”
Outside the hospital window, dawn began touching the city.
May you like
The seven-day lie had ended.
But our real story had just begun.
