Chapter 7 - Emily Refuses to Be RescuedAfter two months, Emily made a decision.
She moved out.
Adrian was surprised.
Lucy was devastated.
“But Mr. Adrian has a garden.”
Emily crouched.
“We can visit gardens.”
“This garden has swans.”
“Unfair argument.”
Adrian offered Emily a permanent position as estate operations manager.
She accepted the job.
Not the housing.
“I need something that belongs to me.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t.”
He raised an eyebrow.
Emily smiled.
“You own thirty-two rooms.”
Fair.
She rented a small townhouse.
Two bedrooms.
A tiny backyard.
Lucy immediately declared it perfect because her room had a purple wall.
Adrian paid the salary appropriate to Emily’s position.
Nothing more.
When he offered a company car, she refused.
When he offered private security, she agreed only temporarily until Vanessa’s criminal case progressed.
Those boundaries mattered.
Especially when attraction began.
Adrian noticed it first.
Maybe Emily did too.
Neither acted on it.
He was still her employer.
She was rebuilding.
Lucy adored him.
Everything about the situation could become coercive if handled carelessly.
So Adrian did something that surprised Michael.
May you like
Nothing.
He waited.
