Chapter 9
Daniel Hayes did not like Adrienne Romano.
At least, that was what Simone believed.
She had warned Adrienne before Saturday dinner.
“He's going to interrogate you.”
Adrienne had smiled.
“I've survived board meetings.”
“You don't understand.”
“I've met Daniel.”
“You've barely met him.”
“I've met him twice.”
“That's not enough.”
“Apparently.”
They were standing outside Simone's brother's apartment in Chicago, where she had insisted Adrienne come for the weekend.
Adrienne looked at the building.
“Your brother lives here?”
“Yes.”
“Does he know I'm coming?”
“Yes.”
“What did you tell him?”
Simone hesitated.
“That you're important to me.”
Adrienne's expression softened.
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It probably is.”
She rang the bell.
A voice answered through the intercom.
“Finally.”
Simone laughed.
“Hello to you too.”
The door buzzed.
They entered.
Her brother, Marcus Carter, opened the apartment door before they reached the stairs.
He was taller than Simone, broader, with the same expressive eyes and an unmistakable resemblance around the mouth.
He looked at Simone.
Then at Adrienne.
Then back at Simone.
“You brought him.”
Simone smiled.
“I did.”
Marcus extended his hand.
“Marcus.”
“Adrienne.”
The handshake lasted slightly longer than necessary.
Not aggressive.
Just evaluative.
Adrienne understood immediately.
This was the brother.
The man who had known Simone before New York.
Before Romano Holdings.
Before the five years of schedules and airports and conference rooms.
Before Adrienne.
Marcus stepped aside.
“Come in.”
The apartment smelled like roasted garlic and cinnamon.
Adrienne immediately recognized the music playing from a small speaker.
Jazz.
Of course.
“Dad's record,” Simone said.
Adrienne looked at her.
“You still have it?”
Marcus smiled.
“Half of them.”
“Half?”
“The other half are with Mom.”
Adrienne listened.
The music filled the room.
For a moment, Simone became very quiet.
Marcus noticed.
“You okay?”
She nodded.
“I'm good.”
Adrienne didn't interrupt.
He had learned.
They moved into the dining room.
Daniel was already there.
He looked at Adrienne.
Adrienne looked at Daniel.
Simone immediately sensed the tension.
“Don't.”
Both men looked at her.
“I haven't said anything.”
“You were about to.”
Daniel smiled.
“Welcome to the family.”
Adrienne raised an eyebrow.
“That's optimistic.”
Daniel laughed.
Marcus poured wine.
Dinner began.
For the first twenty minutes, conversation remained safe.
Bright Path.
The Chicago office.
Simone's mother.
Adrienne's company.
Then Marcus leaned back.
“So.”
Simone closed her eyes.
Here we go.
“So what?” Adrienne asked.
“You and my sister.”
Adrienne waited.
Marcus continued.
“What's happening?”
Simone opened her mouth.
Adrienne answered first.
“We're figuring it out.”
Marcus looked disappointed.
“That's vague.”
“Because it's true.”
“Are you serious about her?”
Adrienne did not hesitate.
“Yes.”
The room became quiet.
Simone looked at him.
Adrienne continued.
“But I'm not going to ask her to define something before she's ready.”
Marcus studied him.
“And what does serious mean to you?”
Adrienne thought.
“It means I want to know her life, not rearrange it.”
Marcus looked at Simone.
She smiled.
Daniel took a sip of wine.
“That's a much better answer than I expected.”
Adrienne glanced at him.
“Thank you.”
“I wasn't complimenting you.”
“I know.”
Daniel laughed.
The tension broke.
Later, after dinner, Simone went into the kitchen with Marcus's wife, while Adrienne and Daniel remained in the living room.
Daniel leaned forward.
“I owe you an apology.”
Adrienne looked surprised.
“For what?”
“The party.”
Adrienne understood.
“You don't.”
“I knew what I was doing.”
“What were you doing?”
“Making you jealous.”
Adrienne smiled.
“It worked.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
Daniel looked toward the kitchen.
“Because she deserved to be seen.”
Adrienne became quiet.
“I know.”
“I wasn't trying to take her from you.”
“I know that now.”
Daniel nodded.
“Good.”
A pause.
Then he said, “If you hurt her again, I'll make your life difficult.”
Adrienne smiled.
“That's fair.”
“I'm serious.”
“So am I.”
Daniel studied him.
“You really love her?”
The question hit harder than Adrienne expected.
He looked toward the kitchen.
Simone was laughing.
Her voice carried through the doorway.
That laugh.
The real one.
“Yes.”
Daniel nodded.
“Then don't tell her yet.”
Adrienne looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because she doesn't need to hear you say it until you're certain you can live with what it means.”
Adrienne absorbed that.
“I am.”
“Then wait.”
Adrienne nodded.
When Simone returned, neither man mentioned the conversation.
Later that night, she and Adrienne walked through the quiet Chicago streets.
The air was colder than Brooklyn.
She slipped her hand into his.
“You survived.”
“Barely.”
“My brother likes you.”
“He threatened me.”
“That means he likes you.”
“And Daniel?”
“He probably likes you less.”
Adrienne smiled.
“He said he would make my life difficult.”
“He means it.”
“I believe him.”
They walked another block.
Simone looked up.
“You didn't tell him?”
“Tell him what?”
“That you love me.”
Adrienne stopped.
She studied him.
“I didn't.”
“Why?”
“Because Daniel told me not to.”
She laughed.
“You listened to Daniel?”
“Once.”
“Historic.”
Adrienne smiled.
Then became serious.
“Because I don't want to say it just because the moment feels right.”
Simone's expression softened.
“When will you know?”
“I already know.”
Her breath caught.
“Then why don't you say it?”
“Because I want the first time I tell you to be yours.”
She stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I don't want you to hear it because I need reassurance. I don't want you to hear it because I'm afraid you'll leave. I don't want it to become another thing you have to carry.”
Simone's eyes filled with tears.
Adrienne reached for her hand.
“I love you,” he said.
There was no music.
No candlelight.
No grand speech.
Just a Chicago sidewalk beneath a cold winter sky.
Simone stared at him.
Then smiled.
“You were going to wait longer?”
“I was.”
“How long?”
“I don't know.”
She stepped closer.
“I love you too.”
He closed his eyes briefly.
Relief moved through him.
Not the relief of possession.
The relief of being understood.
She wrapped her arms around him.
He held her carefully.
“I didn't expect this,” she whispered.
“Neither did I.”
“You were my boss.”
“I know.”
“You were terrible.”
“I know.”
“You were emotionally constipated.”
He laughed.
“That's harsh.”
“Accurate.”
“I accept the criticism.”
She kissed him.
This time, there was no hesitation.
No question.
Only choice.
When they separated, Adrienne rested his forehead against hers.
“I don't want to be your old boss.”
“You're not.”
“I don't want to be the man who thinks loving you gives him the right to manage your life.”
“You won't.”
“I might make mistakes.”
“You will.”
He smiled.
“That's encouraging.”
“I'll tell you when you do.”
“Please.”
She looked at him.
“That's the deal.”
“What deal?”
“You don't disappear into yourself. I don't disappear into work. We tell each other when something hurts.”
Adrienne nodded.
“Deal.”
They continued walking.
But neither noticed the figure standing across the street.
Daniel.
He had stepped outside to take a phone call and had seen them from a distance.
He smiled.
Then looked down at his phone.
A message had arrived from Bright Path's board.
Urgent.
Funding issue.
A major donor had withdrawn.
Daniel's smile disappeared.
He looked back at Simone and Adrienne.
Then at the message.
He knew what this meant.
May you like
Tomorrow morning, Simone's new life would be tested.
And this time, Adrienne would have to decide whether loving her meant protecting her from the problem — or trusting her to face it herself.
