Chapter 10 Flowers
Kayla’s POV
“…you may now kiss the bride.”
The church erupted into applause as Haylee and Thomas shared their first kiss as husband and wife.
I smiled, clapping with everyone else as the organ music filled the air. Haylee looked radiant in her white gown, eyes glimmering with the kind of joy only new love could bring. Thomas was grinning from ear to ear, holding her hand like she was the only woman in the world.
It was beautiful…too beautiful.
And for a moment, it dragged me back seven years—to a time when I stood in front of a priest too, holding Adrian’s hand, believing in forever.
Now forever felt like a joke.
I blinked away the memory as the guests began moving out of the pews. I refused to let my mind go down that road again. Haylee deserved my joy, not my ghosts.
“Congratulations, Mrs. Fisher,” I said when I reached her.
Haylee turned, her eyes shining. “Kayla! You made it!”
“Of course, I did,” I smiled, hugging her lightly. “You look absolutely stunning.”
She giggled, still overwhelmed by it all. “You better come tonight. Thomas planned an after-party at Fairmont. You can’t say no!”
I raised a brow. “Fairmont? I thought you’d go somewhere quieter.”
“Not tonight,” she said with a wink. “Tonight, I’m celebrating big.”
“Alright,” I laughed. “I’ll be there.”
By the time I got back to my office, the glow of the wedding had faded. My mind slipped back into work mode, sharp and focused. But that calm didn’t last.
The security officer met me at the lobby, holding a bouquet of white lilies wrapped in gold paper.
“Ma’am, this was just delivered for you,” he said.
I frowned. “From who?”
“There’s a card.”
I took it and flipped it open. The handwriting was unmistakable.
“Kayla, I’d like to speak with you. Just once. — Adrian.”
I felt my pulse tighten. Of all the things he could’ve done, sending flowers was the last thing I expected.
I stared at them for a moment, then set the bouquet on the counter.
“Throw it away,” I said flatly.
“Ma’am?”
“Throw it away. And if anything else comes from Adrian Ward, don’t bring it to me. Reject it at the gate.”
The guard nodded quickly, clearly startled, and hurried off.
When I entered my office, Maya was already there, sorting through a few folders. She glanced up at me, immediately catching the irritation on my face.
“What happened?”
“Flowers,” I muttered, dropping my bag on the couch. “From Adrian.”
Maya blinked. “Oh. Well… maybe it’s about business? You’re both in the same association now. He could be trying to discuss a project.”
I gave her a look. “With lilies and gold wrapping?”
She pressed her lips together, realizing how ridiculous that sounded. “Okay, maybe not business.”
“He wants a chance to ‘express himself.’” I made air quotes. “That’s what his little note said.”
Maya sighed. “You know, Kayla, it’s been four years. Maybe he just wants closure.”
I turned sharply toward her. “Closure for what? He’s the one who ended everything. He’s the one who betrayed me. Whatever closure he wants, he can get it from the mirror.”
She nodded quietly. “Understood.”
I exhaled and sat down at my desk. “Sorry,” I said after a moment. “I didn’t mean to snap.”
“It’s fine,” Maya said gently. “You have every right to feel that way.”
For a brief second, silence filled the room. Then she switched the subject. “Bloomberg confirmed the interview. They’ll be here at two.”
“Good,” I said. “Let’s make sure the main conference room is ready.”
Talking about work steadied me again. That was the thing about my career…it grounded me when emotions tried to take control.
The interview went smoothly. The journalist was polite, clearly well-prepared. Like most of them, she wanted to talk about my journey…how I built Brooks Atelier from nothing, how I survived betrayal, how I managed to dominate an industry dominated by men.
I’d answered these questions so many times that the words rolled off my tongue naturally, rehearsed but still genuine. I told her the same thing I always told the world: that hard work and resilience were my only secrets.
When she finally left, I felt lighter. No matter what came from Adrian’s side, my story was mine now. He could never take that away again.
That night, the Fairmont Hotel buzzed with life. Laughter, music, and champagne filled the rooftop terrace as Haylee’s after-party began. Strings of golden lights glowed above the guests as we gathered around a large bonfire.
I’d kept my distance from most people, as usual. It wasn’t because I disliked company…it was because I’d learned not to let anyone too close. Even Maya, as loyal as she was, was still labeled “assistant” for a reason.
Haylee waved from across the crowd when she spotted me. “Kayla! You came!”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I said, smiling as I joined their circle near the fire.
Thomas’s younger brother was there too… a charming young man with too much confidence and too little restraint.
“So, Kayla Brooks,” he said with a playful grin. “The woman who built an empire. Tell me… how does it feel to be the most talked-about name in real estate?”
“Exhausting,” I replied smoothly, sipping my wine. “And overrated.”
He laughed. “You make success sound boring.”
“Only because you’ve never had to live it,” I said, smiling faintly.
The group laughed lightly, and for a moment, the mood was easy. We played a small game…sharing random stories from our lives. Someone talked about a failed honeymoon; another about a ridiculous client. I even shared a lighthearted memory from my early career, and everyone laughed.
Then, out of nowhere, one of Haylee’s friends…slightly tipsy—leaned forward and said, “Wait… I saw something online. Is it true you were once married to Adrian Ward? The Adrian Ward?”
The air around the bonfire went still.
I froze for half a second, forcing my face to stay calm.
“Rumors travel fast,” I said evenly. “Don’t believe everything you read.”
But the group didn’t let it go.
“Oh, come on, Kayla,” another said. “You and Adrian Ward are in the same industry now? That can’t be a coincidence.”
“It’s fate,” Thomas' brother joked. “Maybe he wants a second chance.”
The laughter that followed felt sharp in my ears. My chest tightened, and before I could stop myself, I stood.
“Excuse me,” I said quietly, and walked away from the fire.
I could feel a dozen eyes following me, whispers trailing behind like shadows.
I stepped out to the balcony overlooking the city lights. The night air was cool, brushing against my face. I gripped the railing tightly, willing myself to breathe.
A few minutes later, I heard soft footsteps behind me.
“Kayla,” Haylee’s voice came gently.
I turned, forcing a small smile. “You should be with your husband.”
“I should,” she said, walking closer, “but I needed to apologize. My friend shouldn’t have brought that up.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine. It’s not your fault.”
She hesitated, then asked softly, “So… it’s true? You and Adrian?”
I looked at her for a long moment, then sighed. “Yes. We were married. Seven years ago.”
Her eyes widened. “I had no idea.”
“Most people don’t,” I said quietly. “I don’t talk about it. He was my husband once, and I thought I’d heard the last of him. But now…” I gave a small, tired laugh. “Now he’s suddenly everywhere.”
Haylee frowned. “That must be hard.”
“It’s… complicated,” I admitted. “But I’ll deal with it. I always do.”
Just as I said that, Haylee’s phone buzzed with a message. She glanced at it, frowning.
“What is it?” I asked.
Her expression shifted. “The security just texted. They said there’s a man named Adrian Ward downstairs. He says he’s here to see you.”
My heart dropped.
For a second, I couldn’t breathe. The background music faded, the laughter from the terrace grew distant.
Adrian was here.