Adrian didn't hesitate.
The moment Raya's gaze locked with his, he stepped forward, his long strides confident, deliberate. He stopped in front of Stephen, reached out, and collected the bouquet of flowers from him without a word. Stephen immediately stepped back, like a subordinate who had just completed his task.
Adrian turned to Raya.
He held the bouquet out to her.
Raya stared at the flowers for half a second too long.
They were beautiful. Too beautiful. Fresh white roses mixed with soft pink peonies, carefully arranged, expensive, flawless— everything about them screamed thoughtfulness. And that alone irritated her.
She reached out and took them from him.
Reluctantly.
Her fingers barely brushed his as she collected the bouquet, and she quickly pulled her hand back, as if the contact burned. Her smile came easily, automatically, the one she had perfected over time, the polite, graceful smile people expected from Seraphina Hart.
But inside, her mind was spinning.
