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"Didn't Adam tell you about him?" She looks behind me and smiles at someone. Turning my head, I follow her gaze and see a blonde man approaching. I've not seen him before, and when he speaks, it's in an exquisite French accent.
"We met at an art gallery." Tina smiles, fondly. "He turned out to be my fated mate. Once Adam is done with everything, I plan to move with Reynold to France."
I watch as Reynold wraps his arm around her waist, pressing his lips to her cheek. "My fiancée is less patient than I am. You must be Cynthia, Adam's mate."
"You know of me?" I'm taken aback.
"Of course." His smile widens. "Your mate speaks of you with much love."
"Adam's been beside himself," Tina confides in me, "ever since he sent you away. But I can't tell my dad about Reynold, and I begged Adam to pull this engagement facade to protect both you and Reynold. Reynold was not happy either, as I imagine youweren't, but I couldn't leave Adam out there alone to face the sharks. You must be glad to have him back."
"I am," I say. "How bad was it for him when I left?"
She sighs and looks at Reynold. "Mind getting me something to eat, love?"
He nods, walking away, and Tina turns to look at me, "Jonathon was out for blood for some reason. Adam was accused of everything from the sun to the moon. I was there, but there were things even I couldn't help him with. There was a point I begged him to bring you back. He needed you. He was being torn apart, and he was barely holding on. But he was so determined to seize the alpha position at any cost as soon as he could. There was a point when I began to question his morals."
She presses her lips together. "He was losing himself without you. It wasn't a good time for him. He wouldn't eat, wouldn't sleep. It was like being next to a madman. His own company was beginning to suffer, and I had to step in. I've never seen him like that before. There was a time when I asked him if all this was worth it. He could just go to you and give up his alpha position. But he told me that even if he wanted to, he couldn't. That he needed to become Alpha for you. So, when he told me he was finally going to bring you home, you can imagine my relief."
My heart is thudding painfully in my chest. I never imagined things had been like that for Adam. He and Tony had mentioned that it had been hard for him. A hard knot of guilt forms in my chest.
"Thank you for telling me all this." I give Tina a sincere smile.
Her own lips curve in response. "Of course. Adam's my best friend, Cynthia. More than that, he's like my brother. My father never understood that, and he never will. At the upcoming event this month, I was supposed to go with him, but he's now decided to show you off."
I go still. "What do you mean?"
Tina grins. "Well, Adam doesn't want to hide you anymore. There was another reason behind our fake engagement, a private reason for me. But I've gotten everything I wanted, so he's now free to introduce you as his mate. He's very excited about this."
She sounds just as excited, and I ask, smiling, "Does this mean, you will also introduce Reynold as your fated mate?"
"I'll be introducing him as my mate." She winks at me. "It's going to be quite a party."
As her fiancée and future mate approaches us, she suddenly says, "Oh, right. I forgot. Adam told me you were the head of marketing in one of the companies he owns here. I admit I was curious about your work since he bragged so much about your skills. I loved your campaigns."
She reaches into her bag and brings out a business card. "I was hoping that once everything is settled, you would consider consulting with my company. I mean, if you want to jump ship, I'm all for it, and I will triple your salary, but Adam will kick my ass for poaching you, so I'm willing to settle for this."
I blink, stunned. "You're offering me a job?"
"Don't tell him that," she says quickly. "I'm offering you a freelance position as a marketing consultant. Make sure he knows that."
I smile broadly. "Thank you. And I will definitely consider this!"
"I'll see you soon." Tina smiles. "Reynold and I have to get going now."
I watch them leave, and my heart feels a lot lighter. I make my way to the counter and order some of the baked goods I had come here for.
As I leave, I find myself lost in my thoughts.
I had been so sure that forgiving Adam would be hard, that I would always resent him despite knowing everything. But the more I find out about what he went through to give me and Riya a peaceful life, the more that knot of anger within me loosens up. If he had told me everything beforehand, I would have stayed by his side. If he hadn't forcibly sent me away, I would have made sure he was okay.
My eyes are burning as I clutch the paper bag in my hands.
No wonder he's going above and beyond trying to win me over. That idiot! He could have spared himself all of this if he had just talked to me before he pulled any of this crap. Now, we're both hurting because of his decision to carry all the burden by himself.
Reaching my car, I'm about to open the door when the hair on the back of my neck stands up. My head immediately turns to the side, and for a moment, my heart stops.
Norman!
