Chapter 15 Contract Termination
Kayla’s POV
I didn’t know why I’d chosen this place.
The restaurant hadn’t changed… not one bit. The same peeling green paint on the walls, the same worn-out chairs that wobbled when you sat, the same familiar scent of roasted vegetables and toasted bread that once kept me company during those endless nights of planning and sketching.
It used to be my spot. My little haven when I had nothing but a bag of dreams and a heart full of fear. Back then, no one knew my name. Now, every table turned to look when I walked in… recognition flashing in their eyes.
I took the seat by the window, the one I always used to claim. I didn’t have to wait long before Adrian walked in.
He still had that same calm arrogance about him, perfectly dressed, perfectly composed, as though nothing ever fazed him. Except his eyes. They flickered when they found me.
He walked over and stopped by the table. “Kayla.”
“Adrian,” I said evenly.
He hesitated before sitting down. The silence stretched for a few seconds… thick, awkward.
“How did you get my number?” I finally asked.
He gave a faint smirk, the kind that used to irritate me years ago. “I have my ways.”
“Right,” I said flatly. “Of course you do.”
The waiter came and dropped two glasses of water, sensing the tension but too polite to comment. I didn’t touch mine.
“I didn’t expect you’d agree to meet me,” Adrian started quietly.
“I didn’t either,” I replied.
He leaned forward slightly. “You’ve changed.”
I raised an eyebrow. “That’s what happens when you grow up, Adrian.”
He gave a small laugh, almost nervous. “I just mean… I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. You’ve built an empire in less than four years. I always knew you were ambitious, but this… this is something else.”
My lips curved into a sharp smile. “Did you think I’d never amount to anything great?”
His face fell. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
“I just—” he sighed, rubbing his temple. “I’m impressed, Kayla. That’s all.”
“Well,” I said coldly, “I hope you didn’t invite me here to feed your curiosity. Because if you did, we’re done talking.”
He shook his head quickly. “No. I wanted to apologize. For Vivian. What she did at the inauguration was—”
“Embarrassing?” I cut in.
“Unacceptable,” he corrected. “She’s… insecure. She misunderstood the situation.”
“Of course she did,” I said, leaning back. “You have a way of making your partners feel that way. It’s kind of your specialty, isn’t it?”
His expression tightened. “That’s not fair, Kayla.”
“Fair?” I let out a bitter laugh. “I think it’s more than fair. You turned me into someone who begged for your attention, and now you’ve managed to do the same thing to your wife. Congratulations… at least you’re consistent.”
“Vivian’s not you,” he said quietly.
“No,” I agreed. “She’s not. But she’s standing where I once stood. And if you keep treating her the same way you treated me, she’ll end up exactly where I ended up — alone.”
Adrian’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t argue.
We sat in silence for a few seconds before I spoke again, my voice softer this time. “So… is that it? The apology?”
He hesitated. “Yes. I—”
I pushed my chair back. “Then we’re done.”
“Kayla, wait.”
His hand brushed my arm before he could stop himself. That simple touch — gentle, familiar — froze me.
“I need to say this,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “I messed up, Kayla. Four years ago, I was too stupid to see what I had. I thought ending things would make life easier. Instead, I destroyed everything that ever made sense to me.”
I stared at him, searching his face for something real. “And you’re telling me this now because…?”
“Because I’ve spent the last four years regretting it,” he said. “Every time I see you… how strong you are, how far you’ve come, it reminds me of everything I threw away.”
I let out a short, sharp laugh. “Is that what this is? Remorse? Or is it just envy now that I’ve finally become someone without you?”
“That’s not it,” he said quickly, his voice almost desperate. “It’s not about what you’ve achieved—”
“Then what is it?” I snapped, my control slipping. “You think saying sorry now will erase the nights I cried myself to sleep? Or the humiliation I went through while you were parading around with her?”
His lips parted, but no words came.
“That’s what I thought,” I said quietly. “You’re not stupid, Adrian. You did what you wanted to do. And I did what I had to survive. We both have to live with that.”
I picked up my bag. “Go home to your wife.”
I stood to leave, but his voice stopped me. “Kayla—wait.”
I turned halfway, unwilling to give him more than that.
“When was the last time you spoke with your parents?” I asked suddenly.
He blinked, surprised. “My parents?”
“Yes. The people you supposedly represent at Ward Group. When was the last time you spoke to them?”
He hesitated. “Recently,” he said after a beat too long. “Why?”
I studied him quietly, noting the flicker in his eyes… the way he couldn’t quite meet mine. “No reason,” I said. “Just curious.”
And with that, I walked out. I got into my car and didn’t look back.
The next day came with no time to breathe.
By 9 a.m., I was already at the office, my hands full of files and design boards for our presentation at BuildTide Co. The meeting had been scheduled for weeks… to discuss progress on our joint project, one of the biggest contracts my company had ever landed.
Maya met me in the lobby, tablet in hand, her hair pulled into a messy bun. “Morning, boss,” she said, matching my pace. “Before we go in, I’ve got something important to tell you—”
“Later,” I said. “Let’s focus on the meeting first.”
“But it’s about Adrian,” she insisted in a whisper.
I stopped just long enough to glance at her. “Then it can wait until after. I’ve had enough of him for one lifetime.”
She nodded reluctantly, and we pushed through the glass doors into the conference room.
The board members were already seated… six of them, all older men and women in sleek suits, their faces unreadable.
“Miss Brookes,” one of them greeted. “Please, have a seat.”
I smiled politely. “Thank you. I believe we’re here to review the progress of the DreamSpace project.”
They nodded, and I began. I spread the plans across the table — the floor layouts, 3D renderings, and mood boards my team had worked tirelessly on.
“This is the updated color scheme,” I said, pointing at the display. “We’ve kept the neutral palette you requested, but added depth with bronze accents. The lobby layout has been redesigned to improve natural lighting, and—”
I stopped when I realized they weren’t looking at the presentation. They were looking at me.
A quiet tension filled the air.
“Is there something wrong?” I asked.
Mr. Grayson, the chairman, cleared his throat. “Miss Brookes, your company’s work has been impressive. However, we’ve been monitoring recent developments — particularly the media attention surrounding you.”
I frowned. “The interview?”
“Among other things,” he said carefully. “Your… history with Mr. Ward has become rather public, and it’s begun to attract unnecessary attention to this project.”
I straightened. “With all due respect, my personal life doesn’t affect the quality of my work.”
“Perhaps not directly,” another member said. “But image matters, Miss Brookes. Investors are nervous. They see headlines… not designs.”
I tried to steady my voice. “This project is nearly seventy percent complete. We’ve met every deadline, every standard—”
“And yet,” Grayson interrupted, “our legal department reviewed the contract. There’s a clause stating that if any party’s public image poses a risk to completion or reputation, the other party has the right to withdraw.”
My heart sank. “You can’t be serious.”
“We are,” he said calmly. “We’ve discussed this at length. It’s not personal… just business.”
I looked around the table, disbelief spreading like fire through my chest. “You’re terminating our contract… because of gossip?”
“Because of risk,” he corrected. “We appreciate your work, Miss Brookes, but under the current circumstances, we cannot continue.”
For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My fingers tightened around the edge of the table, nails digging into the wood.
Maya’s soft whisper broke through the silence. “Ma’am Kayla…”
But I couldn’t speak. I couldn't think.
The room was spinning… all the voices fading, all the hours, the sleepless nights, the sacrifices… all reduced to nothing because of one man and one scandal.
I sat there, frozen, as realization sank in.
They were ending everything.