The Assistant (34 page)

“Mrs. Kingston-”

“Katherine,” she corrected, smiling slightly.

I smiled in return before starting again. “Katherine. I am in love with Adrian just as much as he is with me. I have no ulterior motives with your son; I can assure you that from now. I do want to thank you for this talk. It may not seem like it, but your approval really meant a lot to me,” I mumbled, blushing slightly.

“I’ve always wanted a daughter-in-law,” Katherine said. She was grinning broadly at me now, and got out of her seat once my eyes met hers. “Come.” She smiled, opening her arms for a hug.

I stepped into them happily, just as the door burst open.

“Mother, I swear to- Wait, what? What the hell is happening here?!” Adrian demanded, looking at the hug in utter confusion.

Katherine and I began to laugh at Adrian’s confused state, before we pulled away from each other. “I think dinner is ready by now, how about we go and eat?” Katherine suggested, looking down at me.

“Sound’s good! Adrian?” I called out, looking over at him.

He was still watching the interaction between his mother and me with a guarded expression. “Who are you and what did you do to my disapproving mother?” he asked Katherine suspiciously, before wrapping an arm around my waist.

I laughed and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Your disapproving mother is actually quite approving when she needs to be,” I informed him with a grin as we made our way back down the flight of stairs.

Adrian continued to wear a confused expression. “I better get some sex tonight,” he grumbled, rubbing his temple and making me laugh again.

Chapter Twenty-five

“ADRIAN!” I tripped over my own footing and clumsily grabbed onto the doorknob to keep myself upright before opening the door in one swift motion.

“What? What happened? Is that pigeon back again?! I knew it’d be back.” Adrian shuddered as he reached our bedroom, and I momentarily forgot what I was going to tell him and gave him a look. “You know what, Shortcake? You weren’t there to see it happen. I feel it watching me
all the time
.” His eyes widened as his voice dropped to a low whisper, and I wacked him across the head.

“You’re an idiot! Telling off a pigeon and throwing a pebble at it – and missing, need I remind you – is not going to make a
bird
stalk you all the way back home and observe your every move, ready to strike.” I gave him a pointed look and he glared in response.

“You weren’t there,” he repeated stubbornly. “Anyway, why did you call me? I mean, you’ve already made it pretty clear that you don’t want me to get you pregnant, so I see no other reason for us to interact. Unless… are you finally letting me put a mini-me inside you?!” Adrian asked excitedly. I watched as his entire face lit up with a grinned, and I fought the urge to grin back at his hopeful expression.

Ever since we watched
The Back-Up Plan
together, Adrian has been begging for a child – which was ironic, considering the fact that he could barely stand the thought of holding one two months ago.

“Adrian. I’m not getting pregnant. We’re not even married!” I exclaimed.

“Fine. Marry me.” He shrugged.

“What?!” I shrieked with wide eyes.

“Ma-rry m-e,” he said slowly, smirking once he noticed my flat expression.

“You’re crazy,” I mumbled, shaking my head.

“Is that a yes? I have my grandmother’s ring is ready for us to-”

“
What?!
”
I repeated in shock.

“What?” Adrian replied, giving me an innocent look.

“I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not,” I grumbled, glaring up at him.

“Of course I am,” he responded while wrapping an arm around my waist. “I can’t tell whether you’re rejecting the proposal of the man who loves you or not.”

“I am,” I answered.

“Why?” Adrian growled, frowning down at me. “We’ve been dating for over 6 months; we live with each other and are both in love with each other. What is there that’s stopping you?”

I sighed. “Can we not do this right now?” I asked tiredly.

Adrian kept his glare firm for a few moments before his expression softened. “Fine. I’ll do you in exchange.” He smirked.

I scowled before slapping his chest. “Shut up,” I mumbled, blushing slightly.

Adrian chuckled at my reaction before placing a soft kiss on my forehead. “So why did you call me over to you again?” he asked in amusement.

My original thought came back to my mind. “Oh yeah! David texted me the next location of those stupid ‘secret’ dinners he blackmails me with. It’s tomorrow night at the Chinese restaurant you hate.” I pouted before unlocking my iPhone and showing him the next message. David’s contact name was under ‘devil’ and Adrian laughed every time he saw it. Except for tonight.

“That’s it. I’m not taking his fucking shit anymore. We’re doing my plan tomorrow night,” Adrian growled, snatching the phone out of my fingers and gripping onto it angrily as he looked over the blue bubble again.

I blinked in surprise before frowning slightly. “The plan you still haven’t told me about? I need to know it, Adrian! Or else, how am I supposed to know how to act?” I asked frantically, placing my free hand over the one he was gripping my phone in, in an attempt to calm him down.

Adrian shook his head before clenching his jaw. “No, you can’t know about it. You have to act normal the entire time. Don’t even think about it. He’ll get suspicious and know something is up.”

I frowned in thought before nodding in agreement. “You’re right. I’ll just act how I usually do. Say nothing but what I order and glare at him all night until it’s time to leave.”

Adrian chuckled before placing a lingering kiss on my lips. “I am so in love with you it hurts. Right here.” He pointed to his chest and pecked my cheek before smirking. “And here most of the time when you leave me hanging.” He pointed to his crotch area, and my eyes widened in shock as my face heated up.

“Adrian!” I exclaimed.

“What? It’s true! Anyway are you ready for that stupid meeting tomorrow?” Adrian asked as we began to make our way to the living room.

“Yes I am, and so would you be if you read everything I gave you! The company needs this, Adrian,” I reminded him. “Be nice.” He rolled his eyes at me but nodded. I considered that as a win and moved on to another concern. “What do you want for dinner?”

“I wouldn’t mind having you,” Adrian smirked before plopping himself onto the sofa.

“Ew. Cannibal.” I scrunched my face in disgust before breaking out into a grin at his shocked expression. “I told you to stop making that joke every time I ask you what you want to eat or I’ll think of something even more disgusting,” I reminded him, giving him a pointed look.

“That won’t stop me.” Adrian smirked again, quickly recovering.

I glared in his direction before opening up a cupboard. “I’m going to make pasta since you won’t answer me.”

“Are you fucking shitting me?” Adrian exclaimed angrily.

I frowned in confusion and began turning around to face him. “Yes? Don’t you like-”

“
Would I Lie To You?
began 15 minutes early today!” Adrian threw a pillow at the television before turning around to look at me angrily while pointing at the television schedule on the screen. “We’ve practically missed the entire fucking show!”

I mockingly gasped and placed a hand on my chest. “The nerve they have!”

“Don’t comment, you immortal Hybrid-loving loser,” Adrian glared in reply at my sarcasm.

“Technically, you’re the loser for remembering what Klaus is even though you claim not to watch the show when you’re sitting beside me,” I pointed out in amusement.

Adrian stared back at me for a moment, and I watched as the realisation settled in his expression physically. “Shut up and make the food. I’m hungry,” he demanded, ignoring my comment.

I laughed to myself before placing a pot on the stove to begin making the sauce for the pasta when I noticed the suite went way too quiet. I turned around out to look at Adrian out of curiosity and found the sofa that he was occupying a few minutes ago empty. I turned around with a bored look before I began mixing the sauce again. He was going to do it again.

Moments before Adrian was able to shout in an attempt to frighten me, I turned around and raised an eyebrow. “Really? You’re trying to scare me again? You do this
every time
I’m cooking dinner. I know your routine by now, Adrian,” I stated smugly.

He gave me a look of disbelief. “I was quiet this time!”

“I know you were, sweetie. Next time, okay?” I responded while fighting the urge to smile at his flat expression.

“Stop cooking, we’re going out,” he stated suddenly, before turning around and walking out of the kitchen. “You have 10 minutes to be ready.”

I stared at the kitchen entrance blankly for a few moments before turning the stove off in a rush. “Wait, what?! What do you mean we’re going out?” I called out, hurrying after him.

Adrian smirked over his shoulder before entering our bedroom. “Well, Shortcake. When one says ‘we’re going out,’ it usually means that two or more people participate in moving from one place to another-”

“Adrian,” I growled, glaring at his back. “Where are we going? Aren’t you hungry?” I asked.

He pulled off his shirt and tossed it on the floor before answering. “We’re going on a date.”

I gave him a confused look. “Why?”

“Come on Shortcake, can’t I take my girlfriend out on a date?” He smirked before pulling his sweatpants down.

I squeaked in shock and covered my eyes with my hands before replying. “Yes but… where are we going?”

“You’ll see. Just get dressed. And hurry up. You have 8 minutes,” he informed me, before exiting the bedroom.

***

“Seriously, a fair?
Again?
”

"Attempt two?" Adrian tried, grinning cheekily.

I rolled my eyes and shoved him slightly. "You could've told me that before I wore heels and a dress," I whined, pouting.

"Sorry Shortcake, I didn't want to ruin the surprise. Plus, you only had 2 minutes to spare. I promise to behave this time. Come on, I want to go on the Ferris wheel with you." He dragged me along in the direction of the ride.

"Wait, Adrian! I- I don't think that's a good idea," I stuttered, looking over at the colourful wheel nervously.

Adrian frowned. "Why not?"

I cleared my throat and looked down at my heels. "Because, I... Uh... Because I'm wearing heels and a dress! I think it'll be inappropriate," I lied. The reality of the situation was that I was not a big fan of heights. Especially in something that moved.

"Who cares? We're in a separate carriage and there are seats inside it. No one will see anything. Excluding me." He smirked, wrapping an arm around my waist.

We got to the line faster than I liked, and Adrian shoved past the people waiting patiently with me stumbling in tow, before he flashed a card at the man in charge of the ride.

The man nodded in recognition before he pressed a button for the next empty carriage to appear in front of us. "Here you go, Mr. Kingston." The man smiled, before opening the door for the both of us.

"Adrian, please," I mumbled, giving him a desperate look.

"Come on Shortcake, it'll be fun!" Adrian exclaimed, pulling me into the carriage with him.

I sat across from him and gripped onto the seat tightly as the carriage moved up a spot. "I hate you." I scowled, glaring in his direction.

"No you don't," Adrian replied, smirking smugly.

The Ferris wheel moved up another two spots higher, and I squeezed my eyes shut.

"Emily? Are you o- oh. I get it now. You're afraid of heights!" Adrian burst out in a fit of deep laughs, slightly shaking the carriage we were sitting in while it moved up another level.

We were almost at the top now, and I gave Adrian another desperate look. "Please stop," I whimpered.

Adrian's laughs slowly died down as another smirk formed on his plump lips. "Stop what, Shortcake?" he asked with an innocent look, before pretending to adjust his position and purposely shaking the carriage in the process.

"Adrian!" I snapped, just as the entire ride began to move.

"OH! Did you mean this?" he asked, before shaking the carriage roughly while laughing.

"ADRIAN, STOP!" I shouted in fright, clutching onto the bars of the carriage with my eyes squeezed shut.

I began muttering the words to 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star' before I felt the carriage stop moving.

My eyes popped open and landed on Adrian's amused smirk. "What," he began slowly, "Were you just singing?"

"Shut up," I snapped, glaring at him.