Chapter 79

Ashleigh arrived at the dinner table, a rare giddy smile lighting up her face. For the first time in weeks, she felt like her life was falling back into place. Her conversation with Arthur had gone smoothly—he was relieved to hear she was safe and suggested they meet to discuss things in depth. She had agreed without hesitation. Yet, as she settled into her chair, her thoughts wandered to Adrian. Now came the hard part: convincing Adrian. Her heart sank slightly at the thought. She hadn't seen him anywhere in the house since the call, which probably meant he was out for business. Good—she needed time to plan her approach. 'Mrs. Ashleigh, you seem to be in a good mood," Susan observed, interrupting her thoughts. Her assistant stood beside Chef Larry, helping him place steaming dishes on the table. 'Yes" Ashleigh declared with a grin, sliding into her chair. 'I am in a good mood" 'I am beginning to feel like myself once again" she added, and Susan and Chef Larry exchanged a look of relief that didn't go unnoticed. Ashleigh raised an eyebrow, her fork poised midair. 'Was it really that bad?" Susan hesitated, but Chef Larry had no such reservations. He chuckled, leaning slightly over the table as if sharing a secret. 'Madame, you've no idea. It felt like a dark cloud had settled over the mansion." Ashleigh blinked, taken aback. She had been aware of her own struggles, but she hadn't realized the effect her mood had on the household. Susan stepped closer, her hands clasped nervously. 'Please, Madame, don't fall ill again. The house was so tense without you. Even breathing felt like an offense." 'Please Madame, don't fall ill again. I beg of you" she pleaded earnestly, recalling how Mr. Cagliari had been running things through Mr. Atkinson. 'You know you can tell me if anything is wrong" Ashleigh stated, and before they could respond, Adrian's voice cut through the room like a blade. 'And why would anything be wrong when I've already handled it, Mrs. Cagliari?" The tingling sensation that ran up Ashleigh's spine at his voice was entirely unwelcome. She turned to see him striding into the room, his gaze sharp and focused. Instead of taking his usual seat at the head of the table, he pulled out the chair beside her and sat down. Mr. Atkinson, trailed behind him. Susan and Larry immediately straightened up, bowing slightly before excusing themselves from the room. Ashleigh watched them leave before turning to Adrian with a hint of irritation. 'They might have things they want to tell me, Adrian. Why cut them off like that?" Adrian didn't miss a beat, picking up his cutlery with practiced ease. 'If they have issues, they should take them to Mr. Atkinson. He's in charge now." Her happy mood wavered, irritation creeping in. She could feel his dominance pressing against her, making her wonder if it was worth pushing back. She decided to let it go—for now. There were more pressing matters to discuss. As if sensing her thoughts, Adrian reached over and took her hand. 'For now, until your case is resolved, Mr. Atkinson will handle everything," he said gently. The softness in his tone caught her off guard. And though part of her wanted to argue, as she stared at their joined hands, her irritation ebbed slightly under his touch. She mumbled a quiet, reluctant, 'Fine." From the corner of her eye, she noticed Chef Larry and Susan exchanging shocked glances at the door before slipping away finally. It was rare for them to see their bosses to agree on anything without a battle. Susan beamed at the sight, reassured by the growing closeness between the two, while Larry frowned, sensing a disruption to his own plans. Once the staff had cleared out, Ashleigh pulled her hand from Adrian's grip, her cheeks warm. 'You don't need to hold my hand anymore, Adrian. They're gone." Adrian set down his utensils, turning his full attention to her. 'I wasn't putting on a performance, Ashleigh." Before she could respond, he leaned closer, sliding her chair towards him with a deliberate pull. 'But if you'd like me to, I can call them back and put on a show." His voice was low, teasing, as his lips brushed near her ear. Her heart raced, and she swallowed hard, unable to form a coherent response. The proximity was overwhelming, and she could barely focus on anything other than the heat radiating from him. 'You're impossible," she muttered, shoving her chair back slightly. 'And you're avoiding something," Adrian replied, his tone turning serious. Ashleigh glanced at him, startled by the shift. 'What do you mean?" 'You're in a particularly good mood tonight, which makes me think your conversation with your friend went well," he remarked, his voice calm but his gaze sharp. Ashleigh hesitated. 'It did." 'And now you want to meet him," Adrian said, more a statement than a question. 'Yes," she admitted, her tone cautious. 'We need to go over what we know about the case and try to piece things together." Adrian's fork clattered against his plate as he set it down. He leaned back in his chair, watching her with an unreadable expression and Ashleigh knew that was a bad sign. Choosing to push on, she continued speaking. 'He wants us to go over some things we know about the case, and see if we can put the pieces together" Adrian narrowed his eyes at her words, his expression remaining even. 'And what will this friend of yours add to the case that my investigation team hasn't found out?" 'Oh I don't know, maybe the fact that he was also at the party that night could help?" she replied, crossing her arms and facing him head on. 'You do recall there's a stalker on the loose ? that despite this there is still a threat on your life" he questioned, smirking with no humor. 'Yes I do, Adrian. But Arthur is my friend and I trust him, I need a different perspective to this case which he will be able to give me" Ashleigh stated, her frown evident now. The silence between them grew heavy, their gazes locked in an unspoken battle. Finally, Adrian sighed, running a hand through his hair. 'Fine," he said, his tone clipped. 'You can go—but I'm coming with you." Ashleigh's frustration boiled over. 'No, you're not." Adrian froze, the words hitting him like a blow. For a moment, his carefully composed expression faltered, a flicker of something raw passing over his face before he masked it again. 'Why?" he asked, his voice quieter now, almost dangerous. She hesitated, then exhaled deeply. 'Because... they don't know I'm married. And I'd prefer to keep it that way." The words hung in the air, their weight settling between them like a chasm. Adrian's lips pressed into a thin line, his hands clenching at his sides. 'Interesting," he said finally, his voice deceptively calm. Ashleigh frowned. 'What's that supposed to mean?" 'Nothing," Adrian replied, his tone clipped and Ashleigh held her breath as she anticipated his response. Whether he agrees or not, she will be going either way. She just hoped that things would be different this time with Adrian since she is seeking his approval. 'You may go then" he said finally, and she nodded as she held back a smile. He stood up and gestured for her to lead the way out of the dining room, and she excitedly left the dinner table with thoughts of how tomorrow will go. However, as she walked ahead and he strolled behind her, she couldn't shake the feeling that Adrian's mind was already spinning with plans.