Chapter 145 Confrontation
The hall was full. Doft music played in the background. People moved around in groups, talking, laughing, holding glasses.
It was one of those business events where everything looked calm on the outside but underneath, everyone was watching something or waiting for something.
Adrian stood near one of the tall tables. A glass in his hand, his posture relaxed, his face calm but his eyes were not idle.
They moved and watched everything. Taking everything that was happening in.
Too many people and too many fake smiles, he thought. He wasn’t a fan of events like this. But he knew why he was here.
He was here for business, for the connections he could get just by being here and sometimes the information he might get.
He took a small sip from his drink then lowered the glass and that was when he felt a small shift in the air.
All of a sudden, the air around him felt different. His gaze moved, searching for the reason and then they landed on Derek.
He was sanding across the room, watching him with his full attention.
Adrian didn’t look away. He held the gaze. Although he knew Derek but this would be the first time he was taking a good look at him.
He had heard enough of him already and coupled with the fact he was actually going out with Rebecca, Adrian's interest in Derek had piqued. He'd long heard they were rivals in business but knowing it seemed like they were interested in one woman even made the rival more interesting.
Across the room, Derek’s jaw tightened slightly. His fingers curled faintly around the glass in his hand.
That’s him…
He didn’t need anyone to point Adrian out. He had already seen him once. That night, outside in his car with Rebecca.
The image came back clearly making Derek exhale slowly.
So this is the man… He studied him. The way he stood. The way he carried himself, so calm like nothing shook him.
That alone annoyed Derek. The fact that he looked too comfortable about everything didn’t sit well with Derek. Not at all.
For a few seconds, neither of them moved. They remained where they were, watching, measuring and trying to understand each other.
Then without another thought, Derek started walking slow, steady and direct to Adrian.
But Adrian didn’t move. He simply remained where he was standing, waiting.
When Derek stopped in front of him, the noise around them felt distant, like everything else faded. Leaving just the two of them, standing and facing each other.
For a brief second, neither spoke. They just stood there, looking at each other both a sense of superiority.
Derek spoke first. “I hear you’ve been meeting my wife,” he said, his voice sounding calm but devoid of anything soft.
There was something under it, something tight and something controlled like he was sending an undertone warning.
Adrian didn’t react immediately. He held his gaze, steady and unshaken.
So that’s how he wants to start…
He could hear it. The claim that Rebecca was his. The warning to stay away from his wife and the tension that they were not friends.
But he didn’t take the bait, not directly.
“She’s a very capable businesswoman,” Adrian said calmly. His voice was even, not defensive, neither was it aggressive. It just sounded clear.
For a second, Derek didn’t respond. His eyes stayed on Adrian. Sharp and searching.
That’s not what I asked…
But he understood. Adrian had answered. Just not in the way he expected, and somehow that made it worse. He was smart.
Derek let out a small, quiet breath that seemed to carry weight.
“You didn’t deny it,” he said narrowing his eyes.
Adrian tilted his head slightly. “I didn’t think I needed to,” he said, sounding simple and direct with no apology or fear underneath his voice.
Derek’s jaw tightened. He’s not even trying to hide it… He thought, his grip on his glass tightening slightly. But he didn’t lose control. Not here and definitely not like this.
“You’re moving very fast,” Derek said.
Adrian’s gaze didn’t change as he asked, “Am I?”
That calm tone again. Derek thought, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.
That tone made Derek’s chest feel tight like he was the only one feeling something here and Adrian wasn’t.
Derek leaned slightly closer, although not enough to draw attention but enough to make it clear that this wasn’t just a normal conversation.
“She’s still my wife,” Derek said, his voice dropping to a more lower and dangerous tone.
Adrian’s eyes didn’t leave his. “I’m aware,” he said without hesitation or discomfort.
Derek studied him again. This time, a little longer than necessary.
Why is he so calm? It didn’t make sense.
If it were him... If someone else was standing this close, talking about Rebecca like this, he wouldn’t be this calm. Not at all.
“She doesn’t seem to think so,” Derek said after a moment.
Adrian paused slightly, not long.
Then he said, “She seems to think for herself.”
That landed harder than Derek had expected. His expression shifted a little.
For a moment, silence sat between them, heavy and uncomfortable, unspoken things filling the space.
Then Derek spoke again.
“You should stay away from my wife. Whatever you think you're doing or trying to do just because you think she's vulnerable now, won't and can't work. She's mine and would always be.”
The words came out before he could stop them, and the moment they did, he felt like he'd gone to far but then, it doesn't matter now.
It was too late and he couldn't take the words back.
Adrian didn’t respond immediately, his eyes stayed on Derek but something changed slightly.
“I don't think you'd be here asking me to stay away from your wife if you were being a good husband. One word of advice for you: if you can't keep a woman's love then don't bother going after it in the first place,” Adrian said with a smug smile.
Derek blinked but quickly composed himself.
“You don’t know anything,” he said, his anger coming up now.
Adrian didn’t argue, neither did he rush or react. He just looked at Derek and nodded.
“You’re right,” he said, catching Derek off guard. “But I know what I see,” Adrian added.
Derek’s chest tightened.
‘And what do you see?’
He didn’t ask, but it was there in his eyes.
Adrian didn't wait f
or him to ask it out loud. He answered anyway. “I see someone who’s tired of carrying everything alone and needs someone who's ready to always choose and pay attention to her.”