Chapter 7

"Chelsey." Adam's voice sounded like it was breaking apart. I'd never heard him like this before. "Who's really behind the Virtue Foundation? Tell me."

Sitting beside me, Rachel took a slow sip of her champagne, her eyes drifting off to the side, like she was really into the paintings on the hall walls.

I said, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Adam leaned in, both hands braced on my table, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Don't pretend. You knew from the day you signed. You've always known."

"Adam," Reece said, stepping over and putting a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go back. This is a public event."

Adam straightened up, letting Reece pull him away. He took a couple of steps.

He then turned back to look at me, his voice so low only I could hear it. "Chelsey, what does your family really do?"

I looked at him, and suddenly I was back ten years ago, standing outside the school library when he told me he liked me. He said, "Chelsey, I'm nothing right now, but one day I'll have it all. Would you wait for me?"

I waited for ten years.

And when Adam finally had everything he wanted, when he thought he'd made it, he turned around and said we weren't a match anymore.

I stood up, pushed my chair back, and said to Rachel, "I'm finished here. I'm heading out."

Rachel said, "Alright, I'll let everyone here know you're leaving."

I grabbed my coat from the back of the chair and made my way to the exit. As I passed the main table, Stuart stood up and gave me a slight nod.

I met his gaze and walked out of the hall.

The hallway at the Stellar Hotel was covered in deep burgundy carpet, and my heels made no sound as I walked.

My phone rang. It was Jacob.

"You out?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm out," I replied.

"How'd Adam take it?"

"He's probably busy explaining to Director Byrne why the sponsor suddenly pulled out."

Jacob chuckled. "Stuart said you handled yourself like a pro tonight."

"What's there to be nervous about?" I replied.

"Chelsey, come home for dinner. Mom asked me to call you. She says it's been months since she last saw you."

I paused in the hallway and said, "Alright, I'll grab a cab and head over."

After hanging up, I hit the elevator button. While I waited, I could hear some muffled voices drifting out from the hall behind me. I couldn't make out what they were saying, but the vibe was off.

The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped inside, pressing the button for the lobby.

As the doors closed, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

Emerald green cashmere, hair simply tucked behind my ears, no emotion on my face.

I remembered what Adam had said, "Chelsey, what does your family really do?"

He'd been asking me that for ten years, and for ten years, I always gave him the same answer: import and export.

It was time for him to finally know the truth.

But I didn't have to say it myself. He'd figure it out on his own.