Chapter 16

I sat stiffly at the table, scanning Rey's (King's) one last time while Marissa rattled off details about the seating arrangements. The candlelight cast a warm glow over the mahogany tables, the waitstaff moved with practiced efficiency, and the soft hum of conversation filled the space. Everything looked perfect. But still, my nerves wouldn't settle.

The guests could arrive any minute now, and there was zero room for error. This dinner had to be flawless. If one thing went wrong, Lisa Anderson would be right there, ready to pounce like the vulture she was.

"Ili-ana-na-na-na," a deep voice crooned beside me.

I turned sharply, narrowing my eyes.

Adrian.

I wasn't sure what surprised me more, the fact that he was here instead of irritating Kia or the fact that he was casually lowering himself into the chair next to me, like we were old friends.

I gave him a look. "Can I help you?"

Adrian leaned back, grinning. "Just came to check on you. You looked about two seconds away from flipping this table."

"I'm fine," I said, shifting in my seat. "Just making sure everything runs smoothly."

He hummed, clearly not buying it. "Right. Because obsessing over the same thing ten times is totally normal behavior."

I folded my arms. "Shouldn't you be off getting rejected by Kia?"

"Shouldn't you be off pretending Zaden doesn't exist?"

I scoffed. "I am not pretending anything."

Adrian tilted his head, looking amused. "Could've fooled me. I don't think you've looked at him once, and trust me, he's noticed."

"Not my problem."

He nodded toward the kitchen, where Zaden was talking to a waiter, his jaw set tight. "The whole 'pretending he doesn't exist' thing. It's cute, but Zaden's about five seconds away from setting something on fire."

I don't say anything and look at him blankly.

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head. "You really have that man in a chokehold, huh?"

I blinked. "What?"

"You heard me." He smirked. "Zaden King—grumpy, rude, impossible-to-please Zaden—is stomping around his own restaurant like a kid who just got his toy taken away. And you are the toy."

I let out a sharp laugh. "If I'm the toy, why did he leave me in the damn box?"

"See, that's the part that makes it funny." Adrian leaned in conspiratorially. "The man is a walking thundercloud with everyone except you. And now, thanks to his own stupidity, you're ignoring him. It's beautiful, really."

I arched a brow. "So you came over here just to gossip?"

"Oh, absolutely." He grinned. "That, and to remind you that you're definitely enjoying this."

I gave him an unimpressed look. "What makes you think that?"

Adrian gestured lazily toward Zaden, who was now currently still scowling at the poor waiter like the guy had personally insulted his ancestors.

I pursed my lips. "I don't like you."

He smirked. "Yeah, you do."

I huffed, shaking my head. "This is weird. I was fully prepared to fuck you off you."

"I get that a lot," Adrian said, unfazed. "But let's be honest, we're gonna be great friends."

I squinted at him. "I don't know about great...or friends."

He leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Let's see. We both have bitchy and broody best friends . We're both funny. We're both smarter than them—"

"Obviously," I cut in.

"—and we both enjoy messing with them just a little too much."

I exhaled, shaking my head. "Okay, fine. You might be tolerable."

Adrian held out a hand. "Truce?"

I eyed it for a second before shaking it. "Truce. But I will still Kia that you called her bitchy and broody."

Adrian's eyes widen into saucers.

Just then, a deep voice cut through the noise.

"You finally done ignoring me, doll?"

A shiver ran down my spine before I could stop it. I turned slowly, already schooling my expression into something neutral.

Zaden stood there, arms crossed, looking down at me with a mix of irritation and something else I couldn't quite place.

Adrian let out a quiet chuckle. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."

I arched a brow, tilting my head slightly. "Ignoring you? That would imply I noticed you in the first place."

Adrian let out a low whistle. "Damn."

Zaden's jaw ticked, his dark eyes locking onto mine with that signature intensity that made my pulse do things I really didn't appreciate. "Cute."

"I am, aren't I?" I said sweetly, taking a deliberate sip of my wine.

Adrian leaned back in his chair, thoroughly entertained. "I should've brought popcorn."

Zaden shot him a glare before refocusing on me. "Are you seriously gonna do this all night?"

I feigned innocence. "Do what?"

"Act like I don't exist." His voice was low, edged with something dangerous, something almost desperate—not that he'd ever admit it.

I shrugged. "I don't see the problem. You seemed perfectly fine doing that to me. Figured I was just returning the favor."

His jaw clenched. For a second, I swore I saw something flicker in his eyes—something almost regretful—but it was gone before I could place it.

Adrian, meanwhile, was thriving. "Man, I gotta say, I respect this level of commitment to pettiness."

I smirked. "Thank you. I take pride in my work."

Adrian smiled, "You're welcome. Can you teach me a lit-"

Zaden exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face. "Doll?"

"Ah, there it is," Adrian cut in. "The pet name. Things are getting serious. When's the marriage, honeymoon or iliana when are you giving me my nephew or niece. If it's a boy, I'm thinking maybe he should be named after his father. But at the same time naming a child 'bitch' or 'pussy' isn't appropriate"

Zaden would normally threaten to kill him right now but he didn't. He really is committed on mending things. Huh.

He completely ignored him, stepping closer to me. His voice dropped, meant only for me. "We should talk."

I lifted my chin. "We should've talked days ago."

A muscle in his jaw twitched. He exhaled through his nose, frustration rolling off him in waves.

I shook my head, giving him a quick glance. "I'm working, Zaden. Can we save the drama for later?"

He didn't move. "I can't take you ignoring me anymore, Iliana. It's eating me alive."

I sighed, trying to keep my composure. "You disappeared, Zaden. No calls, no texts. I'm not a damn doormat."

He finally softened, his voice barely audible. "I was out of town... on a business trip. I wasn't around. But I missed you, doll. I can't... I can't see you like this. Being so close and not able to touch you or talk to you. And you being angry is completely acceptable. How dare I? Who do I think I am?"

Too cute.

I let out a shaky laugh and breath, looking up at him. There was sincerity in his eyes, something I hadn't seen before.

He is so pretty. I can't be mad anymore, it's tiring.

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "Fine. I forgive you."

Zaden's face broke into a rare, soft smile, and his hand reached for mine before he pulled back slightly, almost like he was testing the waters. "Can I... call you doll again? You didn't respond to it earlier. Broke my heart."

I looked at him for a beat, my smile widening. "You are so dramatic Zaden. And of-course."

He smirked, his dominance returning. "Good. Because I missed calling you that."

I shook my head, half-exasperated, half-amused. "You're impossible."

"But you like it." His eyes twinkled with mischief.

I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't make me regret it."

Zaden chuckled darkly, leaning closer. "I never do, doll."

The restaurant doors swung open.

Guests.

Showtime.

For nearly two hours now, Kia and I had been circulating through the room, playing the gracious hosts while the guests mingled. The crowd was full of the kind of polished, Porsche-driving, high-society people who made me wonder if any of them even knew what the word "humble" meant.

Adrian and Zaden had disappeared the moment the first drinks were served. My guess was that Zaden had retreated to his office, probably looking for an escape from the overwhelming crowd, while Adrian was likely somewhere working his charm on him—annoying him into making some ridiculous decision.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly when Marissa came rushing toward me, iPad in hand, her earplug in, and a panicked expression on her face. She was talking so quickly, I barely caught a word.

"Slow down!" I said, holding up a hand. "I can't understand a thing you're saying."

She took a deep breath, pulling out the earbud. "Lisa's here," she blurted, her voice shaky.

My brow furrowed in confusion. "Lisa? As in, Lisa Kudrow?"

Phoebe's here?

Marissa nodded, looking stressed. "Yes. What? No! Why would she-, never mind. It's Lisa Anderson. She just walked in with her entourage. I don't know what to do. This is supposed to be our event, not hers."

My stomach twisted. Lisa was the last person I wanted here tonight. She was our direct competition, and having her show up was beyond unprofessional.

I glanced around the room, trying to process the information. "I'll handle it. Just... get Haley on it, too."

Marissa nodded quickly, scurrying off to relay the message.

I glanced over at Kia, catching her eye. "Of course. Just when everything was going well..." I muttered under my breath, already feeling a headache coming on. "Witches be playing."

Kia shot me a look that could've melted ice. "This is exactly what we didn't need tonight."

I couldn't agree more. Lisa Anderson, here?

Hasn't that bitch done enough.

"Well, time to put on the performance of a lifetime," I said, forcing a smile as I straightened my posture. "Remember when I pretended I was okay after mom and dad got divorced?"

Kia nods, her eyes widening, obviously noting the intensity of the situation.

"Yeah, that's the level of pretending we are hoping

Kia exhaled through her nose. "Bring it on."