The Billionaire's Proposal (Edited Version) || COMPLETED

Becoming friends with Adrian did not change the dynamic we already had much. He was still quite reserved and serious. However, now I received the occasional 'Good morning' or 'Good night'. Oh, and we also left the office together.

       "Tomorrow we have the meeting with L. A. Modeling Management in regards to the rental of the Bahamas hotel for their photoshoot. We also have contact our seafood supplier in regards to the new regulation. Oh, and move up my meeting with Kenneth Hathaway. I have to speak with him in regards to the construction of our new hotel."

       We were already on the lobby floor, but to Adrian that did not matter. I made a mental note of all his requests as we exited the building.

My phone chimed and I pulled it out.

Reminder: Get present for bestie! 🥳

Oh fuck! I had almost forgotten all about the present I was supposed to buy today.

"What's wrong?" Adrian asked as he noticed I was no longer following him.

"You go on ahead home. I have to stop by the mall and get something," I answered as I slipped my phone back inside my handbag.

Thankfully, the nearest mall was only a five minute walk from where we were.

       "I'll go with you," Adrian replied. "Jared, you can take a break. Meet us at the main entrance in about two hours or so."

"Yes, sir." Jared closed the door and hoped into the driver's seat before driving away

"You didn't have to accompany me," I said as Adrian and I began walking toward the mall. Adrian's lips pressed into a tiny frown and I quickly corrected myself. "Not that I do not appreciate it. I do, it's just... you didn't have to bother."

"It's no bother," Adrian replied. "What did you need to get from here?"

"My childhood best-friend is returning from India, so I thought I would get a 'welcome-back' present," I chirped. "Which reminds me, I have to leave early tomorrow. We throwing a welcome party for him."

"Him?" Adrian asked.

It could have just been a figment of my imagination, but I thought I saw a hint of jealousy flash across his blue eyes.

"Yes, his name is Sebastian. Like I said, he's my childhood best-friend. He left for India after we graduated high school to work as a humanitarian and I haven't seen him since," I explained.

       "Oh, that's nice." Again, that envious glimmer in his eyes.

       "Yes, it is." I replied trying to prevent an awaken silence from surrounding.

       "Did you miss him a lot?"

       "I did." I nodded.

       A small smile broke out as I remembered all the good times I had with Sebastian.

       He had also been an orphan.

       "I remember the day he arrived at the orphanage, he was so loud and bubbly. All the kids wanted to be friends with him. I was shy and reserved, but for some reason he chose me as his best-friend," I replied. "He helped me cope with the loneliness of being an orphan. I guess we bonded over it. I cried like a baby the day he left."

       "Seems like you two have a pretty strong connection," Adrian mumbled. His tone sounded disappointed and sad.

       When I looked up at him, he was staring down at the floor with a small frown. It was almost as if he was truly upset about how I talked regarding Sebastian.