Chapter 2
“I think your family has used marriages to secure alliances for two generations.”
“My family is not standing here.”
“Your guards are.”
“Because somebody from the Marzano crew has been photographing you from across the street for eleven minutes.”
Naomi froze.
Adrian’s eyes moved past her shoulder.
She started to turn.
“Don’t.”
The softness disappeared from his voice.
Not louder.
Worse.
One of his security men casually stepped between Naomi and a man in a gray jacket fifty feet away. The stranger lowered his phone and began walking.
Naomi stared at Adrian.
“You knew he was there?”
“I noticed him when we arrived.”
“And you said nothing?”
“You were already nervous.”
“This. This is exactly why I’m divorcing you. You decide what I can handle, what I can know, where I can go—”
“You’re right.”
The words stopped her.
Adrian took one step closer, then deliberately stopped outside touching distance.
“You’re right,” he repeated. “I should have told you.”
Naomi’s anger lost its footing.
He continued before she could answer.
“The divorce remains your decision. Whatever is happening with your body is also your decision. But you can barely stand, and I’m not watching you walk into that building because a schedule says we should.”
“And if I refuse?”
His jaw tightened.
For three years, Naomi would have expected an order.
Instead, he looked at the sedan, then back at her.
“I’ll ask you again.”
“That’s your grand transformation?”
“It’s what I have this morning.”
Despite everything, a broken little laugh escaped her.
Adrian stared at her as if he had forgotten what that sound was.
Then nausea twisted her stomach again.
She closed her eyes.
His voice changed.
“Please.”
Naomi opened them.
May you like
Adrian Vale did not say please.
Not to employees. Not to attorneys. Not to men who sat across tables from him and tried to steal pieces of his empire.
