Chapter 12 Public Appearance gone wrong
Kayla’s POV
Maya wouldn’t stop pacing the floor. Her heels tapped across the marble tiles with a rhythm that screamed frustration.
“Do you realize what you just did, Kayla?” she said, throwing her hands into the air. “You practically told the whole world that you and Adrian are back together!”
I sat on the edge of the couch, elbows on my knees, staring down at the half-finished cup of coffee in my hand. The words from that interview kept replaying in my mind like a broken record. I could still see the shock on the interviewer’s face when I’d admitted that Adrian Ward had once been my husband.
I could hear my own voice saying I wanted to maintain a business relationship with him. And now, because of the way I’d phrased it, the entire world thought we were rekindling a romance that had long been buried.
I rubbed my temples and sighed. “I don’t know what came over me, Maya. I really don’t. But for the first time in years, it felt like I let go of something I’ve been carrying for too long. It wasn’t dread I felt after saying it. It was a relief.”
“Relief?” she repeated, stopping mid-pace. “You call that relief? Every gossip outlet in the country is using your name and Adrian’s in the same headline again. ‘Exes Turn Partners,’ ‘Kayla Brookes and Adrian Ward Rekindle Sparks’—it’s everywhere!”
I gave a small smile, even though it didn’t reach my eyes. “Maybe that’s okay.”
Maya gaped at me. “You’ve lost it.”
I chuckled lightly. “You said that the first time we met, remember?”
Her brows lifted slightly, the corner of her mouth twitching despite her irritation. “Don’t remind me.”
I leaned back against the couch, my mind drifting back three years. That memory was still sharp in my mind—like a faded photograph that refused to lose its color. Back then, I was nothing more than a dreamer.
I had ideas, sketches, and a fierce determination to make something out of myself. I’d attended a seminar hosted by a famous estate management pioneer.
The room had been packed with entrepreneurs, investors, and architects. Everyone was dressed to impress, yet the woman who caught my attention the most had been sitting alone at the front row—Maya.
She was taking notes so fast I thought her pen might burn through the paper. During the break, I’d started a conversation with her.
We talked about design, architecture, and the hunger to create something that would last longer than us. She wanted to run her own agency someday, while I wanted to build something that would redefine the design industry entirely.
We shared the same drive but had different visions—and somehow, that became the foundation of our friendship.
She’d respected my ambition. And from that day, she never left my side. I told her about my marriage with Adrian a year later, when things between him and me had already started crumbling. She had been the only person outside my family who knew everything.
Now she was staring at me the same way she did back then…half frustrated, half proud.
“You’re really not backing down from this, are you?” she asked.
I shook my head slowly. “No. I can’t. If I want to prove that what I said in that interview wasn’t a mistake, I have to stand by it. Which means I need to show people that I meant every word.”
Maya crossed her arms. “And that means what exactly?”
“It means,” I said, exhaling, “I have to prove that I’m comfortable working with Adrian. We’ll make public appearances together…but strictly for business. No personal interactions, no gossip material.”
“Kayla, you’re playing a dangerous game,” she warned. “You think the media will see it that way?”
“I can’t control what they see,” I replied calmly. “But I can control what I show them.”
Maya sighed and sank into the couch beside me. “You’re impossible.”
“I know,” I said softly. “But I’ve played worse games before.”
Her phone started ringing before she could respond. She excused herself and stepped aside to take the call. I watched her, half expecting more bad news. When she finally hung up, she looked at me, her expression slightly more serious.
“That was one of the association members,” she said. “They just confirmed that the governor will be attending the inauguration ceremony tomorrow.”
“The governor?” I repeated, sitting upright. “That’s good. Everyone from the association will be there, right?”
“Every single member,” Maya confirmed.
“Perfect,” I said, already forming a plan in my mind. “Then that’s it. That’s where Adrian and I will make our first public appearance together.”
“Yes,” she muttered.
—
The next day came faster than I expected. I spent most of the morning preparing. My stylist fussed over my outfit while I scanned through a few documents on my phone.
I finally settled on a white suit that balanced elegance and strength. The gold pins at the collar and the slim belt gave it a finishing touch.
Maya arrived right on time, her tablet in one hand and her phone in the other. “The ceremony starts at noon,” she said, stepping into my living room. “We should be there fifteen minutes early. The press will already be waiting.”
“Good,” I said, rising to my feet. “Let’s make sure they get the right picture.”
The drive to the city hall was quiet except for the hum of traffic. Maya was scrolling through her tablet, double-checking the itinerary, while I looked out the tinted window, watching the blur of the city rush by.
When we finally arrived, the atmosphere was buzzing with quiet anticipation. Cars lined the curb, photographers lingered near the entrance, and journalists murmured into their microphones.
Inside, the air was crisp with perfume and chatter. The event wasn’t huge—just the members of the Interior Design Association, a few major partners, and invited guests. Still, it felt grand. The city’s governor and the mayor were already present, speaking with board members near the stage.
As I walked in, heads turned. I could feel eyes on me, whispers starting almost instantly. Everyone was expecting to see Adrian walk in beside me.
Everyone wanted to witness the big reunion between the once-married duo who now shared a professional tie again. But Adrian was nowhere to be found.
I smiled politely as the host introduced me to the governor. “Miss Brookes,” he said warmly, shaking my hand, “I’ve heard great things about your company’s work with BuildTide. It’s an impressive project.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said with a confident nod. “We’re hoping it’ll be one of the most successful developments in the country.”
We exchanged a few pleasantries before I moved to greet a few other familiar faces. But no matter how many conversations I joined, my mind kept drifting to one thing…Adrian’s absence.
Maya must have sensed it because she leaned close to whisper, “He’ll come. Just relax.”
“I’m perfectly calm,” I said, even though my clenched hands betrayed me.
The host soon announced that the official proceedings would begin shortly in the private conference room upstairs. “The governor has another event to attend in an hour, so we’ll proceed immediately,” he said.
“Should we wait a bit longer?” I asked, my voice steady. “Adrian Ward hasn’t arrived yet.”
The governor gave a polite smile. “Miss Brookes, I’m afraid we must proceed. I can’t keep the mayor and the partners waiting.”
I nodded, hiding my disappointment. “Of course.”
As everyone started heading toward the private room, the sound of heavy doors opening echoed across the hall. The chatter died instantly. All heads turned toward the entrance.
The rhythmic click of polished shoes filled the air, followed by the soft murmur of surprise.
I turned too.
And there he was.
Adrian Ward.
He walked in like he owned the room…calm, sharp, completely unbothered by the attention. The suit he wore was sleek black, the kind that screamed authority. His eyes swept across the crowd until they found me.
But the moment shattered as quickly as it came.
Because walking beside him, her arm hooked through his, was Vivian.
She was radiant… smiling, graceful, dressed in a silk gown that caught every glint of light. The same woman I had almost forgotten existed.
My stomach twisted, and the polite mask I wore almost cracked. I straightened my shoulders instead, forcing a faint, steady smile.