Chapter 15 Lilie-s
Chapter 15 Lilie-s
The flower arrangement on the table helped Rowan calm down. His entire personal information might be available on the world wide web, but he kept little details like this to himself.
Fresh lilies were his favorite.
No one knew this, not even his parents.
He always picked them up himself, and never corrected the attendant at the flower shop when she assumed it was for a girlfriend.
It’s been a couple months since he had one of those.
Relationships were simply transactions, and he only ever indulged in it if there was some mutual benefit for both parties.
With Rose Beckham, it had been the project he needed her father to approve. She was a typical rich kid that depended on her parents.
There was nothing wrong with that.
The only problem was the lack of personality unlike the ever explosive man he’d married. Even now his hands were clenched in a fist.
Adrian had totally embarrassed him in front of the entire cast. He was going to pay dearly for it.
No one else was able to make him lose control like that, usually he had every unpleasant emotion tucked away into the deep corners of his mind.
But—
That man…
He always found new ways to unnerve him.
Even now he could remember how Adrian had placed his lips on Rowan’s cheek in a drunken kiss the night before.
He’d need to do something about Jack, he didn’t want Adrian running around with those soft lips and kissing everyone else.
There was a knock at the door before Silas popped his head in.
“Mr. Hale has rearranged your schedule. He said there’s no need for you to come into the office anymore,” Silas said as he walked.
He saw the flowers but said nothing. “He wants you to concentrate on your marriage and focus on convincing the investors that you’re a responsible modern man.”
Rowan stared point blank at Silas. “What does that even mean?”
Silas shrugged. “I have no idea. I’m just repeating his words.”
With a tilt in his head, Rowan stared at the old man. He was his father’s personal assistant that acted like their butler most of the time.
He has served the Hale family since Rowan was a kid.
“He wants me off the project,” he raised a brow. “Am I right?”
Silas said nothing.
“You’re so loyal to him,” Rowan mused. “I wish I had someone like that.”
Rowan’s phone suddenly rang, he saw the caller ID and turned the phone, putting the screen down on the table.
“I’m just doing my job. I already made reservations for your honeymoon.”
“Suspend that for now, we won’t be traveling till we’re done filming. I’m sure mother is aware of the current project. I can’t jeopardize it.”
“I did remind her, but she wants to go ahead with it.”
Rowan pushed the anger he felt to the back of his head. “I see. If there’s nothing else…”
Silas nodded and left the office, shutting the door with a soft click.
Rowan dialed the number that had called him. He heard the shuffle on the other end when the call connected.
“Lily.”
There was a sniff. “Rowan…”
His voice softened, “Is everything okay? You sound like you’ve been crying.”
“Everything is fine,” she sniffed again. “But my tummy hurts. And I’m tired of being inside all day, I want to go out sometime.”
“Don’t you remember the plan? You must not go out until your papers are ready. We can’t risk our families finding out what happened. Okay? It’ll put you at risk.”
He imagined her nodding while clutching the phone to her ear. “What about my brother? Is he worried about me?”
“I wouldn’t know, the guy is just infuriating. I can’t believe the two of you are related.”
There was the hint of a smile on her face. “Don’t say that to him, he’ll feel bad. He might seem hotheaded without a care in the world, but he’s actually very sensitive.”
Rowan sighed, “I know.”
He’d seen it in the way he flinched when he saw those hate comments and how eerily quiet he got whenever someone made a remark about his background.
Adrian had remained in the orphanage while the Harringtons had adopted Lily.
So what? He wasn’t the only person that had a hard time growing up. He needed to keep his emotions in check and work with his head.
“How soon can I reach out to him?”
“After you’re outside the country. It’s the only way to keep you safe,” Rowan replied. “How the—”
Lily immediately hung when she realized what he was about to ask.
“So much for helping,” Rowan muttered to himself.
Lily was quiet and calculating, a character she must’ve picked up from growing up with parents that dominated the business world.
Rowan played with the ring around his finger. He had a joint interview with Adrian the next day.
It was with a popular show known as ‘Movie Wreckers’. Silas had emailed them a script for the interview, Rowan was yet to go through it.
He picked up his phone and dialed an unknown number.
“I want all the information you can get on Jack Rover, let it be in my email by tomorrow morning.” He hung up immediately he passed the message.
What kind of best friends hugged the way they did? He wasn’t a fool. He could tell that Jack had some type of feelings for an oblivious Adrian.
The lust and hunger was clear in his eyes when Rowan saw him from across the private room.
Pffft.
They might not have gotten married in the conventional way but Rowan was going to make sure they had a good partnership.
The image of a drunk Adrian pouting up at him after puking flashed across Rowan’s head. He couldn’t deny that Adrian had looked cute in that vulnerable moment.
He wouldn’t let anyone else see him in that state.
There was another knock at the door and Rowan almost groaned. He’d be leaving the office soon to find out what his father was plotting behind his back.
An old man like Mr. Hale wouldn’t just give up his company because Rowan had kept to his rules.
“Silas, what more do you…” he trailed off when he saw a woman walk in. His tone was grave as he said her name. “Rose Beckham. To what do I owe this visit?"