Chapter 228

The bridal boutique's lights stung her eyes.

Wendy Evans clutched her skirt with bone-white knuckles, her manicured nails nearly drawing blood from her palms. She glared at the man before her, voice trembling. "Adrian Roland, what do you mean by this?"

Adrian kept one hand in his trouser pocket, his tie still perfectly knotted. "Exactly what I said."

"Because of that woman who barged in?"

"I told you, she's irrelevant." He checked his wristwatch. "Miss Evans, our terms were clear from the beginning. I need a wife who won't interfere with my private life. And you—"

"And I was stupid enough to think you'd change!" Wendy ripped off her veil and flung it to the floor. "Is this how the Roland family treats their fiancées?"

Torrential rain lashed against the glass doors.

Penny Anderson shrank into the corner, wishing she could melt into the walls. As she inched toward the exit, her high heel twisted. A sharp pain shot through her ankle.

"Stay."

Adrian's voice froze her in place.

"M-Mr. Roland..." She fought back tears. "I'll go to HR to resign immediately..."

The man turned abruptly, his black suit glinting coldly under the lights. "Your handwriting is decent."

"Excuse me?"

"Calligraphic Script." He took two steps closer, eyes dropping to her swollen ankle. "Who taught you?"

Penny instinctively retreated until her back hit the chilled glass. "My grandmother..."

The rain intensified.

Wendy stormed toward them in stilettos, tear tracks ruining her flawless makeup. "Adrian! You'd rather chat with an intern than explain yourself to me?"

"Nothing to explain." He didn't bother turning. "Secretary Anderson, fetch the car."

Penny's eyes widened. "Me?"

"Now."

The Maybach cut a sleek arc through the downpour. Penny's hands shook on the steering wheel. In the rearview mirror, Adrian scrolled through his phone, the blue light sharpening his jawline.

"Sir..." she whispered, "I only got my license two months ago..."

A sudden brake sent them both lurching forward.

Adrian steadied himself against the seat, eyes darkening. "Your resume stated three years of driving experience."

"Well..." Penny forced a laugh. "I drove my cousin around for three years..."

The wipers struggled against the deluge.

Without warning, Adrian leaned in, his cedarwood cologne enveloping her. Penny held her breath as his long fingers flipped on the hazard lights.

"Pull over."

"Yes, sir..."

"Why apply for a secretary position?"

Penny blinked. Rain streaked the windows, distorting her reflection. "Because... the pay was good?"

Adrian smirked and retrieved his wallet. Penny glimpsed a photo in the card slot—a girl in a school uniform, seen from behind.

"I'm flying to Milan in three days." He handed her an embossed business card. "Heal that ankle."

She took it numbly. The gold foil letters burned her eyes: Executive Assistant to the CEO, New Frontier Group.

"I'm... not fired?"

"Keep talking and you might be."

The storm-veiled city resembled a watercolor painting. Penny stole a glance at the man beside her. He stared out the window, the mole on his throat bobbing with each swallow.

Suddenly, she remembered the red circle around the word "Star" on her resume.

In the curve of that stroke hid something inexplicably familiar.