Nadia glanced at me and said, "President Serrano, then I'll be leaving now."
I ignored her.
She left in quiet embarrassment.
Maverick looked at me. "I've just learned a new way to make Celebration Pastas. I'll go prepare it."
"I'll eat in your room later," I replied.
He nodded, saying nothing more, and as he left, he gently closed the door behind him.
Only then did Adrian speak. "Don't you think what you just said was a bit too much?"
I sat down and fixed my gaze on him. "Too much?"
"You lied about going to a business meeting, then spent the evening celebrating Nadia's birthday, and you think I'm the one being too much?"
"Or do you think, with my abilities and methods, simply cursing that woman a couple of times is what you call excessive?"
I leaned back slightly, my voice colder. "Or would you like me to show you what being 'too much' really looks like?"
"Don't overreact. There's nothing between me and her," Adrian said quickly. He went on, "Nadia grew up without a father; she's from a single-parent family. Because of that, she craves male affection."
"She told me I reminded her of the father in her memories. She said she never had a birthday with him growing up, and as her boss, I thought spending one birthday with her wasn't a big deal."
My expression was ice-cold. "When you're fooling around with her, does she call you Daddy too?"
"Bianca, don't you think that was way out of line?"
"And you think you can do disgusting things and expect me to speak nicely?" I could feel my emotions spiraling, though I still tried to rein them in. "Forget it. Let's not talk about this anymore. Since you're chasing a thrill, let's get a divorce."
Perhaps it was the word "divorce" that struck him. His eyes darkened with anger.
"I just had a birthday meal with her. Do you really need to escalate it this far?"
"Today is also my birthday. You made your choice, didn't you?"
Adrian lowered his head. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
"Fire her."
"Nadia has always worked seriously and hard. You're the one who always talks about giving newcomers a chance. And now, just because I had one meal with her, you want to fire her? That's not fair."
"I promise, no private contact with her again. Only work-related interactions."
"Nadia? How intimate. Does she call you by name?"
I rose to my feet, my gaze slicing through him. "Nine a.m. tomorrow. City Hall."
Deep down, I knew it already. Adrian's choice to dine with Nadia today was a choice in itself. He had chosen her, not me. And now, he was still defending her.
There was no longer any reason for this marriage to go on.
"I just wanted to give a newcomer a chance," Adrian said as he stood, moving to block my way. "I'll transfer her to a branch office. I can't let her take all the blame just because I had a meal with her."
"If we really fire her, what will people think? Wouldn't that only confirm that something inappropriate is going on between us?"
He caught my hand. "You're overthinking. I just felt sorry for her. We don't have a child, and I… I suppose I'm overflowing with fatherly love."
"How about… we have a baby tonight?"
"No mood."
"What do you want me to do, exactly? Just because I had a meal with Nadia, you're ready to divorce me? Don't you have any trust in me at all?"
I stared at him, my voice dropping to ice. "Do you know what this place is? No one else has ever set foot here. This is our private world, our emotional sanctuary. A place no outsider was ever allowed to enter."
"And yet you brought Nadia here to eat. You crossed the line."
"I'm sorry. I didn't think that far," he said quickly. "Please don't be mad. Uncle Maverick said he's making a new Celebration Pasta for you. Let's go try it. I swear, I'll never bring anyone here again."
