Chapter 2

The rain pelted the windows with unyielding force as Ava Sinclair sat enveloped in silence, her mind entangled in the intricate web of meanings hidden within his words. After a brief pause, she broke the silence, her voice tinged with disbelief, "I had no idea you were at the helm of EchoDigital."

Adrian Sterling, with a slow lift of his eyelids, infused his response with a trace of sarcasm. "Does that lead you to believe we're destined? Of all the companies sprawled across New York, it was mine you chose to apply to?"

Ava found herself momentarily at a loss for words, sensing an undercurrent of insinuation in Adrian's tone that she harbored ulterior motives. "If that's the conclusion you've drawn, I'm powerless to change your mind," she retorted, turning her gaze away.

Brian Hawkins, who was driving and served as Adrian's secretary, couldn't resist sneaking a look at them through the rearview mirror. The shadows concealed Adrian's expression, rendering it a mystery, though he appeared to have no interest in continuing their verbal duel.

Silence enveloped Ava as she leaned against the car door. Abruptly, her phone broke the quiet, prompting a brief hesitation before she answered, casting a surreptitious glance at Adrian, who appeared thoroughly disengaged. "Hello, Dad."

It was Robert Sinclair, her biological father, who wasted no time diving into the reason for his call. "I heard Adrian Sterling has made his return to the States. Has he reached out to you?"

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Ava's face as she shifted the phone to her other ear, responding in a hushed tone, "No."

A silence fell between them before her father pressed on, "You've been married for six months. How often have you seen him?"

"Not once."

Robert Sinclair's sigh carried a weight of disappointment. "You should make the first move. Rumor has it he's planning to stay this time. Why don't you reach out? Perhaps set a date for the wedding. It might be worthwhile to invite him over for dinner in the coming days."

He paused, then casually suggested, "Or dining out works too."

"Understood," she acknowledged.

After ending the call, Ava's gaze involuntarily drifted back to Adrian. Unseen by her, Adrian had his eyes closed, resting against the car's headrest. His features, defined and imposing even in repose, commanded attention—lips set in a firm line, chin slightly raised, and the prominence of his adam's apple unmissable. Even in his semblance of sleep, Adrian Sterling radiated an undeniable charisma.

Ava's mind wandered back to their first encounter, which took place in the opulent setting of a luxurious hotel. Running half an hour late due to unforeseen work commitments, she spotted him upon arrival, seated at the distant end of the table. He was clad in a slate gray overcoat, his striking features becoming more pronounced with each step she took towards him. In that moment, Ava experienced a fleeting sense of relief—realizing the stranger she was destined to marry possessed undeniable allure. However, she acknowledged this appeal as a minor consolation.

Just as Ava diverted her gaze, Adrian's eyes fluttered open. She hastily turned her attention to the window, trying to mask her discomfort. Whether Adrian had noticed her brief glance remained uncertain, but shortly after, the sound of shifting fabric preceded his voice, "Regardless of today's mishap, if you're still interested in the job, you can reschedule with HR."

Caught off guard, Ava hesitated before softly refusing, "Thank you, but there's no need."

"Why not?" His inquiry came with a hint of surprise.

Ava, feeling a need to clarify, responded, "Because I didn't realize it was your company."

A flicker of understanding crossed Adrian's face, momentarily interrupting his rest. "So, you're avoiding job opportunities because of me?"

Her response was measured, as she glanced around the car's interior, "I recall signing a prenuptial agreement right here, in this very car, six months ago." It was a declaration of her position.

Their marriage, fundamentally a business arrangement, necessitated a respectful distance in their unequal relationship, a principle Ava held firmly. Adrian appeared momentarily caught off guard by her assertion.

As they left the highway behind, the streetlights became sparse, casting shadows inside the car. Adrian responded with a casual smile, reclining further into his seat, "These are your concerns, not mine."

Ava sat up straighter, her tone resolute, "I trust your legal team and the solid prenuptial agreement. However, my stance is my own and not influenced by others."

After a brief look in her direction, Adrian turned his gaze away, simply stating, "As you wish."

Twenty minutes later, the car pulled up in front of Ava's building, marking the end of their journey.

Ava had intended to express her gratitude to Adrian before exiting the vehicle, but noticed he was already engaged in a phone conversation. Not wishing to interrupt, she moved to open the door, only to be stopped by Adrian's voice, "Brian."

Lifting her gaze, Ava observed the secretary preparing to disembark. She hastily interjected, "No need to walk me out, just an umbrella will do."

Brian turned towards Adrian, seeking his approval. Without breaking from his call, Adrian nonchalantly instructed, "Give it to her."

Ava seized the moment to express her thanks, "Thank you for today, Mr. Sterling," eager to avoid any sense of obligation. Adrian, whether in acknowledgment of her gratitude or simply out of indifference, offered a subtle nod in response.

As Ava stepped out, closing the car door behind her, laughter from Simon Russell filled Adrian Sterling's car. "I see why you've been unreachable for two days, occupied with a woman. She has a pleasant voice, hasn't she?"

"Does she?" Adrian's response was casual as he glanced out the window, a spark of curiosity briefly crossing his face.

Outside, under the glow of a lamp post, Ava stood poised to open her umbrella when she noticed the car door reopening. Turning, she saw Adrian stepping out, holding a suit jacket.

"Is there something else?" she inquired, puzzled.

Adrian's eyes momentarily traversed her figure, causing Ava to instinctively follow his gaze. To her dismay, she discovered her white silk blouse had absorbed the rain, adhering to her skin in a revealing manner.

Caught off guard, Ava hurriedly positioned her umbrella as a shield, inadvertently splashing water onto Adrian and noticeably souring his expression.

He extended the jacket towards her with an air of cool detachment, stating, "Put this on."

Flustered, Ava reached for the jacket, mumbling, "Thank you," her actions stiff with embarrassment.

After a taxing journey home, her footwear soaked through, Ava entered to find Lily Johnson, her roommate, busily preparing something in the kitchen. "You're back! How did the interview go?" Lily asked with enthusiasm.

Ava, devoid of her usual vibrancy, responded, "I'll fill you in later, I need a shower and a change of clothes first."

Once in her room, she carefully placed Adrian's suit jacket on a hanger. Her gaze inadvertently swept over her dressing table, and her heart nearly skipped a beat. The earring from her right earlobe was missing.

Panic ensued as Ava frantically searched her hair and clothes, hoping the earring had snagged somewhere. Unfortunately, her search yielded nothing. While the thought of venturing outside to look crossed her mind, the combination of nightfall and the relentless rain dissuaded her. Resigned, she scrolled through her phone for a particular contact.

After a few rings, a relaxed voice greeted her, "Hello, who's this?"

A moment of hesitation followed; Adrian had given her this number six months ago when they were married, ostensibly for emergencies, yet it seemed he hadn't bothered to save hers. Rushing into her reason for calling, Ava explained, "Mr. Sterling, this is Ava Sinclair. I realized I've lost an earring after arriving home. It's one I chose specifically for today, so it couldn't have fallen in many places. Could you perhaps check your car for it? It's very important to me."

A pause ensued, during which Ava detected a hint of annoyance in Adrian's tone. Nevertheless, she soon heard him instruct someone, presumably Brian, "Pull over for a moment."

Brian Hawkins, the secretary, then took the phone, his tone courteous, "Ms. Sinclair, could you describe the missing earring?"

"It's a small but finely crafted diamond earring," Ava detailed, her voice laced with worry.

"Please, give me a moment," Brian responded, the kindness in his voice offering a sliver of hope.

As Ava waited, her anxiety mounting, she peered outside. The darkness had fully settled in, and the rain continued its relentless descent. If the earring wasn't in Adrian's car, it could either be in her own vehicle or at EchoDigital.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Brian's return to the line, "I'm sorry, Ms. Sinclair, we didn't find your earring in the car."

Feeling disheartened, Ava thanked him and ended the call, her spirits dampened further by the loss.

The call concluded briskly. Handing the phone back to Adrian, Brian seized one last opportunity to search the car floor using his phone's flashlight.

Adrian, engrossed in his tablet, caught the flashlight's beam from the corner of his eye and looked up, curious about the earring.

"A small diamond earring," Brian relayed, noting Ava's apparent attachment to the item. "Ms. Sinclair seemed to consider it quite important."

"Important, huh?" Adrian mused, his attention momentarily diverted, before turning his focus back to the screen.

Stepping out into the evening, Ava donned a casual jacket, informing Lily only that she had some errands to run, omitting the detail about her lost earring. Umbrella in hand, she meticulously retraced her steps between their complex's northern gate and her apartment three times. After more than twenty minutes of searching to no avail, she faced the reality that the earring was neither in Adrian Sterling's car nor anywhere near her residence. This left only two places: her own car or the EchoDigital office. The former was an easy check, but the latter posed a problem—if the earring was at the office, it might be closed by the time she managed to get there.

Seeking shelter from the rain, Ava paused under an awning and dialed a number on her phone. She reached out to Doris, a colleague from a previous job who had encouraged her to apply to EchoDigital. Though they weren't close—Ava didn't even know Doris's last name—she remembered her as being straightforward and considerate.

The call, distorted by the sound of rain and occasional thunder, crackled with static as Ava explained her dilemma, "I might have left something at the office. I'm having trouble finding a cab in this weather, and I'm worried the office will be empty by the time I get there."

"I'm not in New York at the moment; I've been in White Plains for work since yesterday," Doris replied, her voice brightening as she proposed a solution. "However, let me connect you with my roommate. She also works at EchoDigital and often stays late. She should still be there."

A wave of relief washed over Ava. "Really?"

"More reliable than your diamond earring," Doris joked, promising to inform her roommate and send Ava her contact information.

Grateful, Ava thanked her profusely. Shortly after, amidst the storm's fury, she received a message from Doris with her roommate's details, introducing Zoe Harper and noting she'd been briefed on the situation.

Anxious but hopeful, Ava was about to message Zoe when she received an unexpected photo.

Zoe Harper: "Ms. Sinclair, is this the earring you're looking for?"

Ava scrutinized the image, her relief palpable when she recognized the missing piece. "Yes, that's it! How can I ever thank you?"

Zoe's reply revealed a surprising twist. "I actually found it about fifteen minutes ago. Mr. Sterling had asked us to keep an eye out for it. It's been at the front desk since then."

As lightning streaked the sky, Ava paused, the implications dawning on her. The timing of Zoe's discovery aligned with the end of her conversation with Adrian, highlighting his silent efforts despite his apparent annoyance on the call. This unexpected gesture left Ava pondering the complexities of Adrian's character.

Snapping out of her reverie, Ava focused on Zoe's next message, which offered her a choice: to pick up the earring herself or have it sent to her the following day.

Ava swiftly responded, "I'll come by tomorrow to collect it. This whole situation has been quite the ordeal for you and Doris. Since I heard she's returning from her business trip tomorrow, why don't I treat you both to dinner as a thank you!"

After a brief but cordial exchange with Zoe Harper, Ava set aside her phone, her earlier tensions dissolving.

Once back home, she opened up to Lily about the day's events, including the loss and subsequent recovery of the earring, finally allowing herself to unwind.

Lily, with a light laugh, nudged her friend toward the shower. "You've been so engrossed in your phone since you came back, all that secrecy over an earring?"

Pausing at the bathroom door, Ava offered a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry for the drama. It didn't even cross my mind that I had lost it until I was home."

Lily waved off the apology, handing Ava a set of pajamas. "It's just an earring, right? Mostly sentimental value, I assume. Besides, you've still got the other one."

Feeling lighter after her shower and dinner, Ava let the stress of the day fade away. She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, before pulling out a folder from her nightstand. She spread its contents across her bed—a brightly colored marriage certificate, a simple wedding band, and a detailed prenuptial agreement. She hadn't revisited these documents since they were signed, under no illusions about the nature of her marriage.

Yet, tonight, perhaps influenced by Adrian's unexpected act of kindness, she felt compelled to review the prenuptial agreement more closely. The specifics of his assets held little appeal to her.

Her attention was caught by an attachment at the back—a deed to a villa Adrian had put in her name on their wedding day, a detail unbeknownst to even her father, Robert Sinclair. While many saw Adrian's involvement in the Sinclair family business as a saving grace, Ava recognized the true value of their arrangement.

That villa now served as a sanctuary for those she truly considered family.

After organizing the papers, Ava noticed Adrian's jacket, still damp from the rain, hanging nearby. Checking the label, she realized it required special care. She brought the suit to the bathroom and started the washing machine, its steady hum breaking the silence. With her phone in hand, she typed out a message to Adrian: "Mr. Sterling, would you like me to send your jacket to your office after it's cleaned?"