After Catching Her Boyfriend Cheating in a Manhattan Club, She Kissed a Stranger for Revenge
Part 2
Arya’s breath caught. “What?”
Adrian’s gaze stayed on the man at the end of the street. “He’s been on you since you left the club.”
The follower stopped pretending to use his phone. For one suspended second, he and Adrian stared at each other across the narrow Manhattan sidewalk.
Then the man turned and disappeared around the corner.
Adrian did not chase him. That scared Arya more than if he had.
“Who was that?” she whispered.
“I don’t know.”
“But you followed me too.”
His eyes returned to her. “Yes.”
“That’s not comforting.”
“It should be.”
Arya almost laughed, but her hands were shaking too badly. “You kissed me and then followed me into the street?”
“I kissed you because you asked. I followed you because he did.”
The simple answer should have sounded ridiculous. Instead, it sounded true.
Her phone buzzed from inside her purse. Luca. Different number this time.
Adrian’s jaw tightened before she even looked at the screen. “Don’t answer.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“No,” he said calmly. “But if you answer that, he gets your fear. Men like him feed on that.”
Arya stared at him. “Men like him?”
“Rich. Entitled. Used to owning rooms, women, consequences.”
She swallowed hard. “You don’t even know him.”
“I know enough.”
The phone buzzed again. A text appeared.
You embarrassed me. We need to talk. Now.
Arya’s stomach turned. “He cheated on me and somehow I’m the one who embarrassed him.”
Adrian’s expression darkened, not dramatically, not performatively, but like some internal door had closed. “Come with me.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere that isn’t a dark street.”
“I’m not getting into a car with a stranger.”
“You already put your mouth on one.”
Her cheeks heated. “That was different.”
“Was it?”
She hated him a little for asking. She hated more that her pulse answered before she did.
Another text came through.
If you think this is over, you’re wrong.
Adrian read it over her shoulder.
“Is he dangerous?” he asked.
“Luca?” Arya forced a laugh. “He’s an arrogant cheating finance prince with too much money and no shame. Dangerous seems generous.”
Adrian held out his hand. “Then let me be cautious for both of us.”
She should have walked away.
Instead, she looked at his hand.
“What are you, Adrian?” she asked.
His mouth curved slightly, but nothing about it was soft. “Tonight? Your bad idea.”
A black car rolled silently to the curb as if summoned by his thoughts. The driver stepped out, opened the rear door, and waited without question.
Arya looked from the car to Adrian.
“This is insane.”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to hurt me?”
“No.”
“How do I know that?”
“You don’t.”
The honesty chilled her. Strangely, it also steadied her.
She climbed into the car.
Adrian slid in beside her, and the door closed with a heavy, expensive sound.
As the car pulled away, Arya looked back through the rear window.
Luca stood across the street beneath a flickering streetlight, watching them leave.
May you like
His face was no longer jealous.
It was furious.
