Chapter 85

The evening skyline burned with hues of orange and gold as a black SUV wove through the city's traffic. Inside, Adrian flicked his gaze to his watch, then to the black envelope resting between his fingers. The insignia embossed on it caught the dim light, a silent reminder of the night's purpose. Mr. Turner sat in front, assisting the driver in navigating towards the hotel. A low vibration from the phone interrupted the quiet, and he handed it over to Adrian. "Mr. Cagliari, how is everything going?" Beau's voice came through the speaker. Adrian exhaled, his tone smooth but unimpressed. "I'll update you when I get there. I'm still en route." Beau huffed. "Ashleigh and I went through a lot to get that card into your hands, so kindly make it worthwhile, sir." Adrian's fingers traced the insignia on the card, recalling the bank's call from earlier. A smirk flickered across his face. "Must've been quite the ordeal. The bank took notice, after all." "Oh, it was," Beau replied. "Your wife seemed to enjoy it, though, so I'd take that as a win. You should spoil her more, Adrian." Adrian smirked, tilting the card between his fingers. "Is that so?" Before Beau could continue, Mr. Turner spoke up. "Sir, we'll be arriving at the hotel shortly." "I'll leave you to it then," Beau said. But before hanging up, his tone turned curious. "By the way, what exactly are you planning for the perfumer?" Adrian's gaze darkened as he watched the city blur past. The SUV slowed, pulling into a secluded hotel entrance. Unlike the lavish establishments he was accustomed to, this one had no flashy signage or unnecessary extravagance. "That's for me alone to know." He ended the call with a click. The moment the SUV came to a stop, a valet stepped forward and pulled the door open. Adrian exited smoothly, buttoning his suit jacket as he surveyed his surroundings. A woman in a sleek black dress approached, her expression unreadable. "Good evening. Appointment card?" Adrian handed it over. She inspected it carefully before nodding and returning it to him. "I will inform-" she began, but he raised a hand, silencing her. "That won't be necessary," Adrian interrupted, his voice quiet but firm. "I'd rather surprise my friend." She hesitated only for a second before stepping aside. "This way, sir." She led him through quiet corridors, stopping before a private elevator. A single swipe of a keycard later, the doors slid open. The interior was dimly lit, sleek, and silent. Adrian stepped inside without hesitation, and the woman pressed the button for the top floor. The moment the doors opened, she stepped back, walking away without another word. Adrian pushed open the suite's doors, and candlelight flickered across the vast space. The air was thick with an intoxicating blend of perfume and something more-anticipation. Then his gaze landed on the figure standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows. At the sound of Adrian's footsteps, the man turned, his lips curling into a welcoming smile-until recognition set in. "Mr. Cagliari." His tone remained smooth, but the sharp glint of surprise didn't go unnoticed. "I was expecting someone else." "I know," Adrian said, voice calm, cold. His gaze swept the room with thinly veiled disdain. "The preparations make that obvious." The perfumer's stance stiffened, but he forced an easy smile. "Plans change, I suppose. So, how can I be of help to you this evening?" He took a slow step forward. The perfumer instinctively took a step back, then another, until two figures emerged from the shadows. The guards seized him in a practiced motion, forcing him to his knees. He struggled briefly, but Adrian simply crouched beside him, his expression unreadable. "We're going to have a long talk." His voice was soft, almost cordial. But his eyes glowed with something far more dangerous. ******************* The morning air was crisp, but Ashleigh felt none of its sharpness as she paced the small hallway. Her palms were sweaty as she re dialled Adrian's number for the fifth time and placed it on her ear, however it gave the same response. Her stomach twisted painfully. She had spent the entire night waiting for Adrian to return, waiting for a message, waiting for anything. But the silence remained. Her heart pounded rapidly as she glanced at the doors of the conference hall. They would soon call for her to come in for her panel meeting, but she had no evidence to present to them to plead her case. She swallowed hard, gripping her phone tightly. More than anything, she didn't want to do this alone. A voice echoed from the room. "Next candidate, Miss Ashleigh Hartman, please enter." Her breath hitched. This was it. Squaring her shoulders, she took a deep breath and stepped inside. The doors to the conference room swung open, revealing a long table lined with panelists. At the head sat the chairman, his eyes unreadable as he gestured toward the lone seat in the center. The chairman leaned forward. "Miss Hartman, your case has been under review. The department has reached a preliminary decision, but today, you will have the opportunity to defend yourself before a final verdict is made." Ashleigh gave a firm nod, though her pulse pounded in her ears, and the deliberation began. A stern-looking woman stood first. "I am Mrs. Cartwright, representing the Department of Biochemistry. Miss Hartman was accepted into our department two months ago. She has shown commendable academic prowess in that short time." She paused, then turned to the projector screen. "However," her voice sharpened, "we were informed that two weeks ago, she was found in a compromising position, possibly under the influence of an illicit substance, near the Robinette Bash. The student president submitted this evidence for review." A clip played on the screen, showing Ashleigh in the hallway that night, the moment she was found. Heat crawled up her neck. Mrs. Cartwright turned back to her. "Do you have anything to say for yourself, Miss Hartman?" Ashleigh's fingers tightened in her lap. "I didn't do anything intentionally. I was deceived." Mrs. Cartwright's expression remained impassive. "Deceived?" "I was being stalked," Ashleigh said, voice firm despite the tension in the room. "That night, I received a message from someone claiming to be my stalker. Otherwise, I would never have put myself in that position." A man shuffled through papers. "You reported the stalking a week before this incident. When you received that message, did you inform campus security?" Ashleigh faltered. "No, but-" "And at the very least," Mrs. Cartwright interjected, "shouldn't you have informed a confidant? If this stalker posed a threat, wasn't that the logical course of action?" Ashleigh's breath caught. She thought of Damien's anger after the incident, and of Arthur's words "Yes," she admitted quietly. "I should have." "And yet," Mrs. Cartwright pressed, "you didn't inform security the moment you received the message." Mrs. Cartwright turned back to the panel. "This situation has tarnished the reputation of the Department of Biochemistry and Robinette College. We must consider a long-term solution." She leveled a cold gaze at Ashleigh. "And we are not keen on keeping her as our student." Ashleigh felt the weight of their decision pressing down, squeezing the breath from her lungs. The chairman turned to her. "Do you have any evidence to prove your innocence?" Her fingers curled against her lap. "No, sir, but if you could wait just a few more-" He raised a hand, cutting her off. "Then we will now give our final-" The doors swung open with a forceful click and the air shifted instantly. Adrian Cagliari strode in, his presence commanding. Ashleigh's breath caught, relief and disbelief colliding. His steps were unhurried, each movement exuding effortless control. Without sparing her a glance, he placed a folder on the table before the panellists. "I believe that won't be necessary," Adrian said smoothly. Silence fell, as he met the chairman's gaze, his smirk razor-sharp. "Before you finalize anything, I have rather crucial information that will change the course of this meeting." Ashleigh's heart pounded as Adrian flicked open the folder. "Shall we begin?"