The Nightingale's Heir Returns

Coffee and decisions

“I’m happy to see you, young master.” She bowed her head slightly then looked up at him with a bright smile on her face. 

Adrian stood there for a moment, looking past her at the men in black suits standing like statues behind her. Then back at her. 

This was Emilia Caldwell. The hotshot CEO everyone spoke about. He’d seen her everywhere—magazine covers, interviews, headlines. 

On camera, she appeared cold with an aloof demeanor, a direct opposite of her smiling so friendly in front of him now.

Even the richest man in West Brook city hadn’t been able to get her attention. The oil mogul had pursued her before, but she didn't give him the chance. 

Rumors had it that he had pursued her relentlessly for two years — flowers, very expensive gifts, private jet offers, entire islands booked out just to impress her. But she didn't even give him a proper answer and just outrightly ignored him. 

But here she was, beaming a sweet smile at him as if she had known him for a long time. Her face lit up like a high school girl finally meeting her crush.

Adrian’s brows drew together slightly. 

“Did we…” Adrian’s voice came out slower than he expected. “Have we met before?” 

Emilia’s smile deepened. She took a step closer, enough to notice her dimples. 

“Of course. I have met you many times.” She replied 

“Many times?” Adrian repeated as he slipped his hands into his pockets.

Adrian was stunned and his eyebrows dipped lower as his mind moved quickly, flipping through faces, places and events he had attended. 

“I don’t remember,” he said honestly.

Emilia tilted her head slightly, like she expected that answer. “I can tell you all about it but…” she paused as she glanced around. 

“This isn’t a good place to talk. Come with me.” She gestured lightly toward the Maybach behind her. “Let’s continue this in the car. 

Maybe it was her charm or how friendly she approached him but she had this tone that was difficult to turn down. 

“Why do you think I would come with you?” Adrian asked, tilting his head slightly. 

Emilia clasped her hands lightly, watching him. “Something tells me you would like to find out how you met me.” She replied confidently. 

At this moment, Adrian heard Vanessa's voice from inside. “Adrian, you don't want to get me more pissed than this. Now get in here and apologize!” 

Outside, Adrian calmly looked at Emilia, who was at a loss for what was happening. 

“Maybe you're right.” He walked down the stairs. “Let’s talk somewhere else.” 

Adrian walked past her and she followed behind him. One of the black-suited men opened the door for him while she went round to the other side. 

The interior of the Rolls-Royce had soft amber lighting, polished black panels and cream leather seats, and the air carried a faint floral scent. Pretty feminine. 

The door beside him opened and Emilia slid in beside him.

“Now tell me how you know me.” He said immediately, the door clicked shut. 

“Maybe we should get somewhere more convenient.” She replied. 

He thought for a moment. That won't be bad. Maybe a change of environment was what he needed now, so he nodded 

She turned to her driver. “Take us to the La Noches Café.” 

Throughout the whole ride, neither of them said much. He quietly sat there with one arm draped loosely against the side of the seat, the other resting on his knee.

The car rolled to a stop outside the Café. This was the most expensive café in the city and the moment they stepped out of the luxury car, the appearance of Emilia Caldwell drew attention. 

“She's such a beauty.” 

“That's the CEO of Orion Holdings.” 

No one even glanced at him. All their attention was fixed on Vanessa. 

The moment they walked into the Cafe the staff visibly straightened wearing professional smiles on her face as they escorted Emilia and Adrian to a private corner booth by the floor-to-ceiling windows, shielded from the rest of the café by polished dividers. 

A server appeared almost instantly and she ordered a black Americano.

Then, without even looking at him, added “And a caramel latte. Extra foam.”

Adrian blinked.

That had been his order for years. How did she know that was how he liked his coffee? He wondered.

The faintest hint of amusement touched her lips when she saw how confused he looked. 

“I think you should talk now.” Adrian leaned forward, looking pretty serious. 

She gave a small laugh and her expression softened.

“There was a banquet three years ago. The Lawsons’ Winter Partnership Gala.”

Adrian's eyebrows lifted in recognition as eyebrows lifted as he suddenly recalled that night. 

Vanessa had dragged him there despite his reluctance, insisting it was important for appearances.

Emilia continued.

Adrian’s brow furrowed deeper and then he recalled well now. 

An investor had cornered a tipsy young woman near one of the private lounges. Adrian had stepped in without hesitation, pulled him off her, and thrown him out in front of everyone.

That was when things escalated. He discovered that the young man had been sent by his boss, Mr Edgar, to bring the young lady to him and being publicly humiliated didn’t sit well with him.

Mr Edgar was the owner of one of the biggest security firms in the city and had the respect and fear of many people, so when he kicked out his man in front of him he had sent a few security guards to beat Adrian up.

Everyone had seen what happened, but didn't want to offend a powerful man over someone insignificant like Adrian.

But Adrian took them down in seconds, then he walked over to Mr Edgar and punched the bastard hard enough to send him into a glass display before taking the woman out of the hotel himself.

He remembered wrapping his coat around her shoulders and making her get into a cab back home safely, but he had never even learned her name.

Aurora’s eyes held his. “That woman was me.” Her lips curved into a faint smile.

“I’d just taken over Orion Holdings Company. I was younger and it was one of the first major banquets I attended alone.”

“After that day, I did some research about you and found you were with Vanessa Lawson. From that day, I thought she was the luckiest woman in Crestwood city to be with someone like you.” Her fingers traced the rim of her coffee cup.

Adrian let out a bitter, humorless laugh. Luckiest woman? 

His mind flashed back to the conference hall. He remembered how she spoke off him as nothing more than just a live-in husband who was obedient and compliant.

Every insult from her family he had swallowed because she asked him all for what?

His jaw tightened. 

He had taken care of the house and cooked the meals while he waited for her to come back late every night and tell him she just had some business matters to attend to while in reality she just spent time intimately with Marcus. 

His fingers slowly curled into fists beneath the table. 

He shook his head. 

“She didn’t deserve any of it.” The words came out low.

Emilia noticed the look in his eyes and the coldness in his voice whenever Vanessa's name surfaced. 

Of course. She guessed that the sudden return was due to the fact that things were no longer straight with them. 

Emilia leaned back slightly and for the briefest moment, surprise flickered across Emilia’s face. She didn't expect him to make up his mind so quickly. 

“In that case…” Her tone seemed to get serious but that softness still remained. 

“May I withdraw Orion’s holdings from Lawson Industries?”

Adrian stared into blank space for a while. Once he did this he had decided to completely cut ties with Vanessa. Aurora continued calmly.

“The only reason Lockwood Industries ever became one of the Lawson's Company’s priority partners was because of instructions from above.”

She meant Catherine, his mother. 

Emilia’s expression remained composed as he listened to her. 

“I also assigned one of our top technical specialists to her company at significant internal cost.”

Adrian eyebrows pressed together. Suddenly he understood everything now. That was where Marcus came in. 

It was really laughable. Vanessa had probably believed Marcus’s return was some reward for her brilliance and had thrown herself at him. 

When in reality It had been handed to her because of the man she had spent years humiliating.

“It’s your call,” he said flatly as he waved his hands. 

Emilia studied him for a moment. “You already know what I’d choose.” She calmly replied.

“Then do it.” He shrugged. 

He didn't want to waste another ounce of energy on Vanessa Lawason because she wasn't worth the stress to him any longer. 

But she certainly did not deserve what had been given to her through him.

“Understood.” She nodded and reached for her phone.

At that exact moment, Adrian’s own phone began to ring.

The screen lit up. It was Vanessa. 

He hesitated, just for a second.

He excused himself, rose from his seat and walked toward the glass wall before answering the call.