Chapter 2

Adam didn't bother hiding the irritation on his face. His eyes were filled with obvious anger as he glared at me, lips moving but no words coming out. Then, he stood up and took a step closer, closing the gap between us.

"Pick it up," he ordered, his voice as cold as winter.

Unfazed, I stood my ground, face to face with him.

"No," I replied, surprisingly calm.

For a brief moment, I saw a flicker of surprise, maybe even amazement, in his eyes. But in an instant, the emotion disappeared, replaced by the usual icy composure. His eyes turned that steely blue, and I couldn't help but shiver. I refused to wrap my arms around myself, to show any sign of weakness.

"It's not like you to be this stubborn, Sophia," he said, almost sounding disappointed, though I knew it was more of a challenge than a concern.

He paused before speaking again. "Take the dress and put it on."

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, he interrupted.

"Don't make me repeat myself, Sophia. If you don't want to wear the dress, consider yourself out of a job right now."

The anger flared within me, but it was quickly doused by the cold, hard reality. Losing my job was simply not an option. It was the only thing keeping me afloat, and if I let it slip away, I had nothing left. My marriage to Bob was lifeless, and my family was hardly supportive. So, I bit my tongue, fighting the urge to hurl the dress at Adam's face. Instead, I forced a smile that I knew wasn't genuine.

"I apologize," I said, defeated. "I'll change and meet you downstairs."

Despite the dress being pure white, symbolizing purity, it clung to every curve of my body, revealing far more than I wanted to show. When I slipped it on, I wanted to avoid any reflection of myself, but the bathroom, with its full-length mirrors, didn't allow that luxury. Even the elevator was designed with mirrors. By the time I stepped out, all I could think about was how badly I wanted to run away.

How could he do this to me? How could Adam force me to wear that dress again? It was meant to be something special, something for only the two of us, our first anniversary, the first time I'd worn such a thing. And now he was making me wear it to show it off to a stranger. Derek, of all people. I couldn't stomach it.

I climbed into Adam's car, determined not to look at him. I was ready to quit, ready to leave everything behind, but I didn't. No matter how furious I was inside, my body just kept moving, my feet following him into the restaurant.

Dinner was nothing but a blur. I couldn't bring myself to care about the conversation Adam and Derek were having. I was only there because Adam made it clear that I had no choice. I was supposed to wear the dress, smile, and keep my mouth shut. And I did. While Derek threw occasional glances my way, trying to engage me, I focused on anything but him.

It was getting harder to breathe, though. Derek was making it obvious he wasn't just here for business, and I felt like a puppet, forced into this scenario by Adam's whims.

Adam excused himself to the restroom, and Derek immediately turned his attention to me. My skin crawled when he stepped closer.

"So, are you Adam's secretary?" he asked, his voice dripping with a false sweetness as he leaned in too close for comfort.

I forced out a smile, trying to keep my composure. "I work for Adam, but I'm not his secretary."

Derek just smirked, his eyes scanning me in a way that made me feel exposed. He was attractive in a way I hadn't expected, but I couldn't let myself be fooled by that.

"How about we skip all this boring business talk and go somewhere... fun?" Derek's voice was low, and I could hear the unspoken implications. My stomach churned.

I could barely breathe. Where was Adam? He'd been gone for over five minutes. Wasn't he coming back soon? I just needed this night to end.

Derek stepped closer, his hand casually grazing my arm. I flinched, trying to ignore the disgust bubbling inside me.

"You like that, don't you?" His tone was smug, assuming my reaction was one of desire.

My mind screamed at me to leave, but I stayed seated, trying not to panic. "I need to find Adam," I said, my voice trembling slightly.

Derek scoffed, "Adam's a big boy, Sophia. Stay here. Keep me entertained."

His voice turned darker, his eyes narrowing as he added, "You wouldn't want me to pull out of this deal, would you?"

The words hit me like a slap to the face. I could feel my pulse racing. I had no choice but to laugh nervously, but Derek didn't buy it. His grip on my face tightened, and the pain made me gasp.

"Please, it hurts," I begged.

But Derek didn't let go. His eyes burned with a dangerous intensity. "Maybe you didn't understand me the first time," he said, his voice like a death sentence. "Let me say it in a way you'll get."

Just then, the door to the private room slammed open.

"What's going on?" Adam's voice broke the tension in an instant.

Derek released me, and I stumbled back from him, relieved beyond belief that Adam had come back.

Derek, ever the smooth talker, flashed his usual grin. "Sophia and I were just having a little fun, Adam. You don't mind, do you?"

Adam's gaze flicked to me, his expression unreadable. But I stayed silent, my mind reeling. I couldn't help but think how Adam was no longer the man I once knew.

After a long, tense pause, Adam spoke, his voice cold. "Get out."

Derek stared at him, incredulous. "Excuse me?"

"I said, get out, Derek," Adam repeated, his tone unwavering.

"You'll regret this, Adam," Derek muttered, glaring at both of us before storming out.

Once Derek was gone, Adam and I stood in silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. I took a deep breath, turned to grab my things, and said, "I'm leaving."

Adam didn't speak. Not that I expected him to. Since we met again, he'd hardly said a word to me.

But just as I reached the door, Adam's voice stopped me.

"Was I wrong, then?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration.

I paused and turned around.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"I thought you were in trouble with Derek, so I came to save you," he said, raising an eyebrow. "But I guess I was wrong. Are you leaving to catch up with him?"

Anger flared in me. He really thought I owed him something for "saving" me? He was the one who put me in this situation in the first place.

"Don't be ridiculous," I said, my voice sharp. "Why would I want anyone to 'save' me when I already have a loving husband?"

The words came out bitter, but I didn't care. Adam's gaze flashed with something unreadable. But it was his final words that hit me hardest.

"Guess you weren't satisfied after all," he said, his voice low and angry.

His words burned, and in that moment, I knew my decision was final. I was done with Adam.