Chapter 168.

Morning:

Emilia opened her eyes slowly. For several seconds, she didn’t know where she was. The ceiling above her was unfamiliar.

The sheets were too soft.

The air smelled faintly of something clean and expensive, mixed with the subtle trace of Adrian’s cologne still lingering against the pillow beside her.

Then she remembered.

Brazil.

Her lips curved before she was even fully awake. She turned her head. The other side of the bed was empty.

"Adrian?"

There was no answer.

She pushed herself upright, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

The room was enormous.

It was still difficult for her to understand how someone could call a place a hotel room when it looked more like an entire apartment designed by someone who had never heard the word modesty.

Floor-to-ceiling windows covered one side of the suite, allowing the Brazilian morning to spill inside in soft gold.

Beyond the glass, Rio was already awake.

Buildings stretched toward the horizon, layered against green hills and blue sky. The city seemed almost unreal from this height.

She could hear faint movement somewhere beyond the bedroom.

Then, she heard a knock.

She turned.

Before she could answer, the door opened. A woman in a perfectly tailored black suit entered.

Behind her came another, then another.

Emilia blinked.

"Good morning, Miss Hayes."

"Good morning?"

The woman smiled politely. "These are for you."

Emilia glanced behind her, and froze.

Seven staff members entered, and Emilia was no longer certain she was awake.

They wheeled in bags.

Large bags, small bags, medium-sized bags, boxes, garment bags, more boxes, and then more bags.

Emilia stared. One of the men pushed a particularly large case through the doorway. Another staff member followed with two garment bags hanging from a polished rack.

The room began filling.

Emilia slowly lowered the blanket from around her shoulders.

"What..." She looked at the woman who walked in first. "What is all this?"

The woman smiled professionally. "Your purchases, Miss Hayes."

"My..." Emilia stared at the growing collection. "Purchases?"

"From Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior."

Emilia’s mouth fell open.

There had to be forty bags.

She counted them once, and then again. It didn’t help. There were forty bags currently before her.

Seven staff members simply wheeled everything inside, positioned the bags neatly, checked something on their tablets, nodded politely at Emilia, and left one after another.

The last man paused at the doorway.

"Enjoy your day, Miss Hayes."

Then he left.

The door clicked shut.

Emilia remained seated on the edge of the bed. She stared at the bags, and the bags stared back.

"Forty." She whispered it to herself. "Forty bags."

She slowly looked toward the balcony.

Adrian stood outside.

His back was facing her.

One hand rested lightly against the balcony railing while the other held his phone to his ear.

His posture was relaxed, but Emilia could tell from the slight movement of his shoulders that he was listening carefully to whoever was on the other end.

She watched him for a moment. His dark hair was slightly messy from sleep. He wore black trousers and a simple white shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms.

Even from behind, he looked unfairly composed.

Emilia glanced back at the bags, then at him. She narrowed her eyes. "Oh, you’re in so much trouble."

As if he could somehow hear her from the balcony, Adrian turned his head slightly.

Their eyes didn’t meet.

He continued his call.

Emilia climbed out of bed.

She disappeared into the bathroom and returned several minutes later wearing a soft blue robe.

Her hair was still damp.

Small drops of water clung to the ends of her hair, and darkened the fabric around her shoulders.

She walked barefoot across the room and sat on the edge of the bed again.

Her eyes returned to the bags.

She still couldn’t believe it.

Adrian eventually ended his call. He slipped his phone into his hand rather than his pocket and turned toward the room.

The moment he saw her, his expression softened.

He walked inside. "Good morning, sweetheart."

"Good morning."

His eyes moved over her. Then to her damp hair, and back to her face. "Let me fix your hair."

He dropped both phones onto the couch.

Emilia watched him approach.

She held his gaze as he crossed the room.

There was something about the way Adrian walked toward her that still made her heart behave like it had never met him before.

Her heart fluttered.

He stopped in front of her. His expression remained completely calm.

Emilia slowly raised one eyebrow. "Aren’t the gifts much?"

Adrian chuckled. "Nothing is too much for you."

She gave him a look. "Adrian."

"Besides." He stepped closer. "I got two of everything."

Emilia blinked. "Two?"

"You give a portion of it to Kylie."

Her eyes immediately lit up. "Really?"

He leaned down and kissed the crown of her head. "Yes."

His arms came around her, trapping her gently between them as he looked down at her.

"She has been a good friend."

Emilia’s expression softened. "She has."

He kissed her forehead this time. "That’s why she gets half."

Emilia laughed softly. "You’ve already bought enough to dress a small country."

"Then Kylie should have options."

She smiled. She stood, and walked towards the vanity table by the bed side.

He reached for the hair dryer. "Turn around."

Emilia obediently turned, sitting between his legs as he stood behind her.

He switched the dryer on. Warm air moved through her damp hair.

His fingers worked through it gently, separating sections and drying them without rushing.

Emilia watched him through the mirror. There was something strangely intimate about it.

Not the grand gestures, not the private jet, not the designer bags, but this.

Adrian standing behind her, carefully drying her hair as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

She smiled.

He caught her expression in the mirror, and smiled back at her. His fingers moved through her hair again.

After a moment, she asked, "Are you still working?"

"No."

She glanced at him. "You were on a call."

"I was."

"So..."

He continued drying her hair. "I was speaking to Sophie."

The smile on Emilia’s face faded slightly.

Adrian nodded.

Emilia turned her head slightly.

He gently guided her back. "Don’t move."

She obeyed. "Is she okay?"

"She’s better."

His voice made Emilia pay closer attention.

Adrian’s expression had changed.

It was subtle, but she knew him now. She knew when something mattered.

"The doctor called me." He switched the dryer off briefly and separated another section of her hair. "The new trial medication seems to be helping."

Emilia’s eyes softened. "Really?"

"Apparently." He switched the dryer back on. "It’s keeping her more balanced."

His fingers moved carefully through her hair. "And her immune system is responding better than they expected."

Emilia smiled. "That’s good."

"It is."

For a few seconds, neither spoke.

Emilia met his eyes through the mirror. "You were worried."

Adrian didn’t answer immediately. His gaze remained on her reflection. "I was."

Emilia reached up and placed her hand over his. He turned his palm and intertwined their fingers.

She squeezed gently. "I’m glad she’s doing better."

"So am I."

"Does she know you’re in Brazil?"

"Yes."

"Did you tell her about me?"

His eyebrow lifted.

"She knows about you." Emilia’s cheeks warmed. "That was quick."

"She has known for a while now. She even asked when she could meet you."

Emilia turned around so quickly that he immediately lowered the dryer. "We already met."

"Emilia."

"What?"

"Your hair."

She froze. "Oh."

He smiled. "Exactly."

She turned back around, and he continued. "Apperantly, when she met you then, I didn’t tell her how in love I was with you."

Emilia’s cheeks warmed.

After a few minutes, the dryer clicked off.

Adrian placed it on the dresser. He gently ran his fingers through the ends of her hair, checking that they were dry.

"There."

Emilia looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was soft and full around her face. She touched it.

"You did a good job."

"You almost reduced my pass marks."

She laughed. Before she could say anything else, Adrian’s gaze moved toward the bags.

"Choose what you want for today."

Emilia looked at them. "Today?"

"Yes."

"We’re going to the beach." She reminded him.

"I got somethings."

She walked toward the bags.

Adrian followed. Emilia opened one. Inside was a neatly arranged selection of clothing.

Another contained shoes, and another accessories. She pulled out a dress, then a pair of sunglasses.

She stared at them, and then held up the white sunglasses. "These are beautiful."

"They’re yours."

She looked at him. "You really don’t understand moderation, do you?"

"I understand it."

"You ignore it."

"Only where you’re concerned."

Her heart gave a small, helpless flutter. She lowered the sunglasses, then something caught her attention.

She opened another bag.

Inside was a small collection of pieces clearly chosen with someone else in mind.

Kylie’s taste.

Emilia knew it immediately. It was a sleek black handbag, a pair of blue heels, a silk scarf, and a few elegant accessories.

She smiled. "She’ll love these."

Emilia stepped forward. Her arms slipped around his waist, and looked up at him with soft eyes.

Adrian immediately wrapped his arms around her.

"You’re very good at this."

"At what?"

"Making me love you more."

His chin rested lightly against the top of her head. "That’s unfortunate."

"Why?"

"I was hoping you’d stop." He joked.

She laughed against his chest. "You wish."

He chuckled, and then pulled back. Adrian brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "We have the morning to ourselves."

"Just us?"

"Just us."

"Christian?"

"He has plans. Apparently, he found a restaurant he wants to try." Adrian’s mouth twitched. "He also intends to find a race track."

Emilia eyes hardened for a second. "He race?" she asked, as her overthinking mind made some unnessary link.

Adrian nodded. He saw the change in her eyes, and immediately changed the subject. "Let’s find something to wear."

She pointed toward the bags. "We have forty bags."

He looked at them. "Forty-one."

"What?"

"I bought another one."

She glared at him. "Adrian."

He smiled. "I’m joking."

She slapped his arm lightly. "You are impossible."

He caught her hand before she could pull away. "And yet." He brought her knuckles to his lips. "You love me."

Emilia’s expression softened. "I do." She squeezed his hand. "I really do."

Adrian brought her closer. "I love you too." He kissed her forehead, then her cheek, and then the tip of her nose.

Emilia laughed. "Stop."

"No." He kissed her left cheem.

"Adrian."

"You started this."

"I said I love you." She defended herelf.

"Exactly."

"That’s not a reason."

"It is to me."

She smiled.

He kissed her once more. "Go get dressed."

She pulled away. "What are you wearing?"

"Whatever I choose."

Emilia smiled. "Fine." She walked toward the wardrobe, then stopped. She turned.

"Adrian?"

"Yes, baby?"

"Thank you."

He gave her a small smile. "You’re welcome."