Olivia appeared at my studio the next morning.
I recognized her immediately.
Perfect hair.
Perfect clothes.
Perfect smile.
She looked around the dusty workshop.
“This is where you work?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“I expected something more impressive.”
“I didn’t invite you.”
“No.”
She walked toward my display table.
“Adrian asked me to come.”
My stomach tightened.
“For what?”
“Business.”
I crossed my arms.
“What business?”
She picked up one of my sketches.
“You have talent.”
“Thank you.”
“But talent isn’t enough.”
I took the sketch from her.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
She smiled.
“I understand why Adrian likes you.”
I looked at her.
“He likes me?”
She paused.
“Interesting.”
“What?”
She walked toward the window.
“Adrian and I have known each other for years.”
“I know.”
“Before you.”
“I figured.”
“Our families have worked together.”
“I also know that.”
She turned.
“Then you know that our marriage was once considered a possibility.”
I said nothing.
She smiled.
“I thought so.”
“Are you here to warn me?”
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To tell you something you should understand.”
She placed her handbag on the table.
“Adrian doesn’t live in your world.”
I laughed softly.
“Neither did Daniel.”
Her expression changed.
“Daniel was a boy playing with money.”
“And Adrian?”
“Adrian is a man who built an empire.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
She looked at me.
“Adrian doesn’t fall in love easily.”
My heart skipped.
“Who said he was in love with me?”
“No one.”
She picked up her bag.
“That’s exactly why you should be careful.”
She walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she stopped.
I looked at her.
“Whatever Adrian told you about the Carter family—”
She paused.
“Don’t assume he’s telling you everything.”
Then she left.
I stood alone in the studio.
For several minutes, I didn’t move.
Then my phone rang.
Adrian.
I answered.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?”
“At the studio.”
“Is Olivia there?”
I froze.
“How did you know?”
Silence.
Then Adrian said:
“Don’t believe everything she tells you.”
I frowned.
“That’s exactly what she told me about you.”
He was silent.
“Adrian?”
“I’m coming to you.”
“Why?”
His voice became colder.
“Because Olivia wasn’t supposed to find you.”
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone.
For the first time, I wondered whether Olivia had come to threaten me— or warn me.