Chapter 9 - The Collapse
I scrambled to my feet as the smoke alarms in the penthouse began screaming wildly. Adrian kicked the heavy wooden door of Mia’s bedroom completely off its hinges. I braced myself for a scene of absolute horror, but the room was entirely empty of the attacker. The massive window facing the balcony had been completely blown out by a tactical explosive. Mia was sitting safely on the floor, clutching her stuffed elephant and looking slightly confused. "Mommy, the loud man flew out the window," Mia announced calmly. Adrian rushed to the balcony, looking down at the zip-line cable attached to the railing. His private strike team had scaled the building and breached the window precisely as the man raised the knife. The attacker was currently being dragged onto the rooftop terrace above us, completely subdued. I dropped to the floor and wrapped Mia in the tightest hug of my entire life, sobbing with pure relief. Adrian walked back into the room, his white shirt stained with soot and his hands shaking slightly. He knelt beside us, wrapping his massive arms around both of us to form an impenetrable shield. "You are safe," Adrian whispered, pressing a desperate kiss to the top of my head. The police arrived minutes later, securing the attacker who turned out to be a rogue mercenary hired by a rival firm. The anonymous offshore account Adrian had transferred his wealth to was instantly frozen by federal authorities. Adrian had purposefully used a flagged account he created specifically to trap corporate spies. He had never actually lost his empire, but he had been fully willing to do so to save my child. Later that evening, after the chaos finally settled, the penthouse was quiet once again. I walked into the master bedroom, finding Adrian standing by the repaired glass window. "You gave up everything for a child that isn't even yours," I whispered, stepping softly behind him. He turned around, his piercing gray-blue eyes softer than I had ever seen them before. "She is mine, Chloe," he said firmly, closing the distance between us. "You both belong to me now, and I will spend the rest of my life proving it." He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket, dropping gracefully to one knee. He looked up at me, completely discarding the cold, intimidating facade he wore for the world. "This is no longer a fake arrangement," Adrian vowed quietly. "Will you do me the absolute honor of marrying me for real?" Before I could answer, the bedroom door creaked open, and Mia walked in rubbing her sleepy eyes.
