Chapter 163.
The first thing Emilia noticed when the white Mercedes came to a smooth stop was the silence.
She looked out through the window.
For a moment, she saw nothing. Then her eyes widened.
"Oh."
The Mercedes had stopped in front of a private hangar.
The enormous doors were already open, revealing a stretch of polished concrete and warm golden lighting beyond them.
Emilia stared.
The aircraft stood on the tarmac beneath the early sunlight, gleaming white and silver. It was enormous.
The fuselage was sleek, long, and impossibly clean, with dark-tinted windows running in a precise line along its side.
The engines sat beneath the wings like polished pieces of machinery, and the entire aircraft looked less like something people used to travel and more like something someone had designed after deciding airports were simply too inconvenient.
Emilia slowly lowered her phone.
She had known Adrian was wealthy.
She knew.
But this? This was different.
She stared at the jet through the window.
"That’s his?"
The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "Yes, Miss Hayes."
Emilia blinked.
The driver stepped out. Before Emilia could even reach for the door handle, another man approached.
Then another.
Three men stood waiting for her.
All three wore perfectly tailored black tuxedos.
One opened the rear door.
Another stepped forward with a polite nod.
"Miss Hayes."
Emilia smiled awkwardly. "Hi."
The man gestured toward the jet.
"This way, please."
She stepped out, and the warm air touched her face immediately. She looked around again.
The hangar was quiet except for the faint hum of the aircraft and the distant sounds of activity beyond the private terminal.
She had dressed simply.
A white hoodie, matching white pants, and white sneakers. Her lush black hair flowed freely down her back, moving lightly with the breeze.
One of the men took her small travel bag.
"Oh, I can carry that." She called after him. "You don’t have to."
"It’s okay, Miss Hayes." He was already walking away with it.
Emilia watched him. Then she looked at the other two men. They were waiting for her.
They simply escorted her toward the aircraft.
Emilia looked up.
The jet seemed even larger from this distance.
The stairs had been rolled into place, covered in a dark carpet. She placed one foot on the first step.
Then another.
She couldn’t stop herself from looking back once. The Mercedes sat behind her, and the hangar stretched endlessly around it.
Emilia shook her head. "Adrian." She said his name under her breath. She pulled out her phone, and turned the camera toward the jet before her and started recording.
"Ky," she whispered, barely containing her smile. "I still don’t believe this." She turned the camera back to herself, then toward the jet again. "I’m literally about to get on a private jet."
She climbed the final step, and sent the video to Kylie.
One of the men opened the aircraft door. "After you."
Emilia stepped inside, and stopped. Her mouth fell open. For several seconds, she genuinely forgot to move.
The inside of the jet was—
Beautiful didn’t cover it.
The exterior had been luxurious. The interior was something else entirely.
The entrance opened into a spacious cabin with soft, warm lighting built into the ceiling and walls. Everything had been designed in shades of cream, ivory, charcoal, and muted gold.
There were no harsh lines, and no unnecessary decorations. Just expensive materials arranged with an almost ridiculous amount of restraint.
The floor beneath her sneakers was covered in thick carpeting so soft she felt slightly guilty standing on it.
To her left was a sitting area.
Two enormous cream-colored leather sofas faced one another around a low table made of dark polished wood.
Behind them were wide windows with electronic shades.
Further inside, another section held individual reclining chairs, each separated by enough space to give complete privacy.
There was a dining area.
A long table with six seats, and crystal glasses. And there was a vase filled with fresh white flowers.
Emilia stared at it, then she looked at the ceiling, the walls, and the seats.
"There’s no way."
A quiet laugh came from somewhere deeper inside the cabin.
Emilia smiled. She knew that voice. Her entire expression changed.
"There’s definitely a way."
Her heart skipped.
She turned.
Adrian stepped out from the private section of the cabin.
He was dressed simply compared to the men outside. He wore a black shirt, dark trousers, and a fitted jacket left open.
His sleeves were pushed slightly up his forearms. His hair was neat, though not overly styled.
His gaze was fixed entirely on her. And the moment he saw her, his expression softened. There was a slight release in his shoulders, and warmth entered his eyes.
He had been waiting for her.
Emilia smiled. "Hi."
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
He simply walked toward her. She barely had time to take another breath before his arms came around her.
He pulled her against him completely, and firmly. The hug felt like he had been waiting too long.
Emilia’s arms slipped around his waist.
Her face disappeared against his chest.
She breathed in his scent. That familiar scent she had missed far more than she wanted to admit.
Adrian lowered his head and pressed a kiss to the crown of her hair.
He held her there.
Emilia closed her eyes. She had missed this.
Him.
Adrian’s hand moved slowly over her back. "How was the drive?"
Emilia didn’t lift her head. "Okay."
He tightened his arms slightly. "Just okay?"
She nodded against his chest. "Yeah." She smiled teasingly.
Adrian pulled back enough to look at her. His hands remained around her. "Good?"
Emilia bit her lower lip. She could see the dissatisfaction in eyes. She could see in his gaze that he wanted her to have just the best.
"It was a comfortable ride."
He gave her back another soft pat, his palm settling briefly against her back. "I want you to have just the best."
She smiled.
Adrian looked at her for another moment. He leaned down and kissed the crown of her head again.
"I love you."
Emilia’s smile widened, but she didn’t say it back.
A voice suddenly came from somewhere behind them.
"Wow."
Emilia’s eyes widened.
Adrian’s expression remained completely neutral. He looked used to it.
Christian stepped into view from around the corner of the cabin. He had apparently been standing there long enough to witness the entire reunion.
His face was comical. He didn’t say anything. His eyes had already done all the talking.
They were wide.
His brows had climbed so high they looked like they were considering leaving his forehead entirely.
He looked at Adrian, then Emilia. Then Adrian again. His expression seemed to ask approximately seventeen questions at once.
Emilia bit the inside of her cheek.
Adrian’s arm remained comfortably around Emilia’s waist.
Christian’s eyes dropped briefly to Adrian’s arm. Then returned to his face. His eyebrows lifted even higher.
Adrian’s stare narrowed.
Christian slowly looked away.
Emilia almost laughed.
Adrian turned back toward her as if Christian didn’t exist. He pulled her gently into another hug.
This one was softer.
Emilia’s arms slipped around him again. Her fingers curled lightly into the fabric of his shirt. She rested her cheek against his chest.
The scent of his cologne filled her lungs.
She was simply with him.
Adrian’s hand rested against the back of her head.
Christian watched them. His eyes moved between them then toward the ceiling, and back.
He seemed genuinely fascinated.
Finally, he spoke.
"So..."
Adrian didn’t answer.
Christian cleared his throat. "Adrian."
Adrian continued holding Emilia.
Christian stared. "So you’re in love."
Adrian’s eyes slowly shifted toward him.
Christian nodded as if he had just solved a complex mathematical equation.
"Yeah."
Emilia’s shoulders shook. She was trying not to laugh.
Christian stepped closer. "You’re actually in love."
Adrian’s expression didn’t change.
Christian pointed at Emilia.
"Like—" He pointed at Adrian. "—with a human."
Adrian’s stare became colder.
Christian continued. "I just want to make sure we’re all aware of what’s happening here."
Adrian finally spoke. "Christian."
"Yeah?"
"Leave."
Christian stepped closer. "You invited me." He said to Adrian’s face.
Adrian lifted one hand.
Christian barely had time to react.
Adrian placed his palm directly against Christian’s face, then firmly pushed him away from his sight of view.
Christian stumbled backward. "Hey!"
Emilia burst into laughter. She covered her mouth.
Christian stared at Adrian in disbelief. "You just pushed my face."
Adrian lowered his hand. "I’ll do it again."
Christian looked at Emilia. "Did you see that?" he asked, genuinely in need of a lawyer.
Emilia was still laughing. "I did."
"He assaulted me."
Adrian’s expression remained blank. "Unfortunately."
Emilia laughed harder. Her eyes disappeared as she laughed.
Christian looked at her. His expression relaxed. "At least you think I’m funny."
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
Christian immediately raised both hands. He took a step backward. "I’m quiet."
Adrian took Emilia’s hand. His fingers intertwined with hers. "Come with me, sweetheart."
Christian’s head snapped toward them but he swallowed what he had to say when he saw Adrian’s expression.
Adrian’s expression remained completely deadpan.
Christian blinked, then looked at Emilia.
Emilia was already trying not to laugh again.
Christian looked back at Adrian.
Adrian led Emilia toward the private section.
They had barely taken two steps when Christian called after them. "Adrian."
Adrian stopped. Emilia turned.
Christian approached again. This time, his expression was calmer. Almost normal. He stopped a comfortable distance away.
He looked at Emilia, then smiled politely. "It’s really nice meeting you in person."
Emilia smiled. "You too."
Adrian slowly turned his head. His gaze landed on Christian. He gave him a very tight glare.
Christian backed away. "Very welcoming."
