The couple standing a few feet away belonged to a Chapter of Adrian’s life he’d hoped was firmly closed.
Irene Roseville had been one of the most popular girls at Oakridge High. To almost everyone, she was beautiful, funny, and practically impossible to dislike.
To Adrian, she’d been an exhausting headache.
It had only gotten worse when she decided she liked him.
Years ago, she’d asked him out. Adrian had turned her down as gently as a seventeen-year-old could manage, which, in hindsight, hadn’t been particularly gentle at all.
Irene never forgave the embarrassment.
Within a week, a rumor had spread through the school that Adrian had rigged the charity raffle. Then came the rest of it. He fixed games. He marked cards. He took money from people who trusted him.
None of it was true.
But it was exactly the kind of lie people were willing to believe about the boy who always seemed to win.
Even after a teacher investigated and confirmed the raffle had been completely legitimate, the whispers continued.
’There’s no smoke without fire.’
Adrian had heard that phrase more times than he could remember. It was one of the reasons he’d eventually chosen a university in the city instead of staying closer to home.
Standing beside Irene now was a broad-shouldered man in a polo shirt. Jacky Clint.
He’d also attended Oakridge and had eventually started dating Irene. He wore the expression of someone trying very hard to look bored while paying attention to absolutely everything.
"Well," Irene said, folding her arms. "If it isn’t the Oakridge cheat."
Adrian didn’t answer.
He simply took the watch tray from the salesman and examined the two pieces, letting the silence hang between them.
Jacob glanced between Adrian and the couple.
"Friends of yours?"
"If you’re going to pretend we don’t exist," Irene said louder, "you could at least say hello."
Adrian continued examining the watches. That irritated her far more than any insult could have.
Back in high school, he’d humiliated her by rejecting her. Now, years later, he was doing it again, this time in front of strangers and without even bothering to acknowledge her.
Her eyes drifted down to the shopping bags hanging from his hands. Then to his faded jacket. Then to his scuffed shoes.
A slow smile spread across her face. "Oh, I get it."
She looked around the boutique. "You’re running errands for your boss, aren’t you? Did he send you shopping?"
She exaggeratedly scanned the store. "Is he somewhere nearby? Is that why you’re pretending you don’t know me?"
Jacob’s jaw tightened.
’This woman is unbelievable.’
Jacky had been waiting for an excuse to step in, and apparently he’d just been handed one. He moved forward, grabbed Adrian by the shoulder, and spun him around.
"You’ve got some nerve. I’m talking to y..."
Adrian caught his wrist with two fingers. The movement was so quick and controlled that Jacky barely had time to react before Adrian removed his hand from his shoulder.
Adrian didn’t raise his voice. "As you can see, I’m busy. Don’t touch me again."
Jacky’s face reddened. He pulled his arm back and swung.
The punch was wide and clumsy.
Adrian simply stepped aside.
Jacky’s fist cut through empty air, and his momentum carried him forward. He stumbled into a nearby display stand, sending it crashing to the floor with a loud clang. Velvet cushions scattered across the polished tiles.
The entire boutique fell silent. Customers froze. Employees stared.
Jacky slowly pushed himself upright, his face burning with humiliation.
He looked at Adrian. Then at Jacob, who had quietly moved to Adrian’s side with his arms folded.
The numbers weren’t exactly in Jacky’s favor.
"Jacky!" Irene shrieked. "Hit him back!" Jacky grabbed her wrist.
"Enough."
"No! He assaulted you!" She yanked her phone from her purse and brought up the emergency screen.
"I’ve called security. Nobody is leaving until he apologizes."
Adrian sighed. He looked at her, more tired than angry.
"Irene, you tried this once before."
His expression remained calm. "Ask yourself how well it worked out."
She flinched.
Only slightly, but Adrian noticed.
Before she could respond, a respectful voice cut through the tension.
"Mr. Vale?" Everyone turned.
A sharply dressed middle-aged man was hurrying toward them from the Chanel boutique down the corridor.
"Mr. Vale, it’s an honor to finally meet you."
He reached Adrian and immediately extended his hand.
"I manage the store next door."
Adrian shook it, still looking slightly confused.
"Mr. Vale!" Another man approached.
"Welcome to the Galleria. I’m the manager of the Meet and Drink Lounge."
Then another arrived.
And another.
Within minutes, managers from different stores were appearing in twos and threes. Some introduced themselves. Others shook Adrian’s hand and welcomed him to the Galleria. A few thanked him for visiting personally.
The situation became increasingly surreal. A woman from one of the jewelry stores was already whispering to a colleague about preparing a welcome basket.
Jacob looked around in complete confusion. He knew Adrian had a Ferrari. He knew Adrian suddenly had a ridiculous amount of money.
What he didn’t understand was why a dozen store managers were treating him like a visiting head of state.
He leaned toward Adrian. "How do they even know you?"
"The ownership transfer notice went out about twenty minutes ago," one of the managers explained, having overheard him.
"Every tenant in the building received it. A description of you was shared around."
His eyes dropped toward the Ferrari keys in Adrian’s hand.
"Well..." He gave a small shrug. "You’re not exactly difficult to identify."
Jacob’s eyes widened.
Adrian suddenly remembered the system’s notification. One hundred percent ownership.
So the entire building had already been informed.
Across the boutique, Irene stood with her mouth hanging open. Jacky’s face had gone pale.
Two security officers pushed through the crowd a moment later. One of them recognized Adrian immediately and gave him a respectful nod.
"Mr. Vale. We received a disturbance report from this store. I assume it concerns these two?"
Adrian nodded. "It does." The officers turned toward Irene and Jacky.
"Sir, ma’am, I’m afraid we’ll have to ask you to leave the premises."
"What?" Irene sputtered. "Do you know who started this? He..."
"Please escort them out." Adrian’s voice remained calm.
He looked at Irene. For the first time in years, there was no anger in his expression.
Only distance. "And be careful. They’re a little unsteady on their feet."
The two officers exchanged a quick glance, clearly fighting back smiles. They escorted Irene and the thoroughly humiliated Jacky toward the exit while dozens of shoppers watched them leave.
Adrian waited until they were gone before turning back to the watch salesman.
"Sorry about the disturbance." He gestured toward the velvet tray. "I’ll take both watches."
"Of course, sir." The salesman’s smile practically lit up the room. "Right away."
Jacob was still staring at Adrian. "Adrian..."
He glanced around at the managers, the security officers, the shopping bags, and finally the Ferrari keys in Adrian’s hand.
"What exactly is going on?"