Chapter 83

The minute they walked away, he sank into a seat, sitting stiffly, his hands gripping the polished edge of the table. Dignitaries and colleagues were already filing out with polite nods and murmurs of thanks, but his eyes were fixed on the doorway through which Amelia had walked out. She had conducted herself with poise, immaculate in her tailored suit, every word measured, every gesture confident. She was radiant, powerful, and… utterly unreachable.

He couldn’t breathe properly. Not because of her business acumen, not because of the way she had commanded the room, but because of what he hadn’t expected.

Adrian’s heart thudded violently. Something about the way she moved, the gentle sway in her steps, was different.

Suddenly, he shot up from his seat and walked out the door, ignoring Peter’s calls. From a distance, he trailed her and Ryan, making sure no one noticed him lingering in the lobby. Through the large glass doors, he saw Amelia approach her car. Ryan carr