Chapter 5 - Sweetheart
Dessert plates arrived shortly before Adrian was scheduled to give his speech.
By then, he was frustrated.
Serena had not praised him. She had not laughed at his jokes. She had questioned his decisions without sounding confrontational, leaving him no opportunity to accuse her of disrespect.
When she quietly checked the time, Adrian interpreted the movement as impatience.
“You have somewhere more important to be?” he asked.
“I have a briefing later this afternoon.”
“My speech begins in ten minutes.”
“I was informed it begins in fifteen.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“At my table, we follow my schedule.”
Serena looked toward the printed program beside her plate.
“The association appears to follow another one.”
Maya stared at the tablecloth.
She had seen that expression on Adrian’s face before. It was the moment when disagreement became personal.
Adrian shifted his chair closer to Serena.
“You may be accustomed to people making allowances for you,” he said softly, “but I do not tolerate carelessness.”
Serena’s eyes moved to him.
“I apologized for my delay.”
“An apology does not restore discipline.”
“No, but perspective often does.”
Adrian glanced around. Several guests were listening.
He felt challenged.
His hand closed around Serena’s forearm.
The movement was firm and deliberate.
“You’ll follow my rules, sweetheart.”
The word settled heavily between them.
Maya’s chair moved slightly as she prepared to stand, but Howard caught her gaze from the next table and gave the smallest shake of his head.
Serena looked down at Adrian’s hand.
Then she looked back into his eyes.
For the first time, uncertainty appeared in his expression.
She did not pull away immediately. She gave him one clear opportunity to understand what he had done and release her voluntarily.
He did not.
Instead, he tightened his grip.
Serena calmly freed her arm.
May you like
Adrian leaned back with a satisfied smile, believing her silence meant surrender.
Serena reached toward the dark handbag beside her chair.
