A Dangerous Game

The tension at the table was like a game of chess—each word, each glance, a calculated move. Evelyn could tell that Moreau enjoyed pushing Adrian’s limits, but what fascinated her more was how Adrian was letting him.

That wasn’t like him.

Adrian was many things—ruthless, cold, terrifyingly strategic—but he was never reckless. Yet here he was, gripping her hand like a silent warning to Moreau.

Interesting.

Moreau took a slow sip of his wine, eyes glinting with amusement. "I must say, Sinclair, you’ve got the whole city talking. A woman running an empire, untouched by scandal… how do you do it?"

Evelyn leaned back, crossing her legs. "By not entertaining men who waste my time."

Adrian smirked, but Moreau only chuckled, clearly unfazed. "Sharp tongue."

She tilted her head. "You should see what else I can do."

Adrian coughed, hiding what she swore was a smirk.

Moreau’s gaze flickered between them before he sighed dramatically. "Alright, alright. I’ll behave—for now." He set his glass down. "But tell me, Westwood, how far are you willing to go for this one?"

Adrian’s grip on her hand tightened just slightly "Careful, Moreau."

"Relax," Moreau said, eyes twinkling with mischief. "I’m merely curious. We both know business is just another battlefield… and love? That’s where the real wars are fought."

Evelyn felt Adrian stiffen beside her.

For the first time, she turned to him, studying the sharp line of his jaw, the slight tension in his shoulders. He wasn’t just reacting to Moreau’s words—he was thinking about them.

Moreau smirked. "I’ll see you two around."

And just like that, he was gone.

Evelyn exhaled, turning back to Adrian. "You good?"

His gaze lingered on the spot where Moreau had been. "He’s planning something."

"No doubt."

Adrian finally looked at her. "You trust me?"

She blinked, caught off guard. Did she?

For all his arrogance, his power, and his maddening ability to get under her skin, Adrian had never given her a reason to doubt him.

"Yeah," she admitted softly. "I do."

Something flashed in his eyes—something she wasn’t ready to name.

But before she could overthink it, Adrian smirked. "Then let’s give Moreau something to really talk about."

She raised a brow. "Oh?"