Chapter 127
As Melanie and Saira stood face to face, the girl who had been weeping in front of Adam just moments ago was nowhere to be seen. In her place stood someone else entirely—composed and somewhat dangerous in her calm. Even the tear streaks on her face seemed to be non existent.
Her lips curved ever so slightly—not quite a smile, more like the promise of one if the moment pleased her. Her eyes were deeply calculating as she raised her chin and walked towards Melanie and stopped right in front of her.
She didn’t speak at first. Just looked at Melanie with an unreadable expression — not quite mocking, but close. A single brow arched, as if daring Melanie to say something foolish and then she closed the distance between them, speaking slowly,” I am going to take him back soon.”
Melanie’s breath caught. Her eyes flicked instinctively to Adam, who stood just a little way off, watching them with unreadable eyes. The air between them shifted—taut, electric.
But as Saira turned to walk away, Melanie called out softly, a small, confident smile curving her lips, “You can try.”
She watched as a bit of surprise showed on the woman’s face before it was covered. She then bypassed the woman and walked towards Adam slowly, letting the click of her heels echo like a countdown… She could feel Saira’s gaze burning into her back, and that was exactly what she wanted. Let her see.
Without a word, she stepped in front of him and cupped his cheek. She saw the confusion in his eyes about her actions and knew that he wanted to ask her what she meant. But instead of giving him a chance, she slid her hand from his jaw to the back of his neck and put a little pressure on it. Not giving him a chance to speak, she ordered him,” Kiss me,”
Adam blinked at the order and raised an eyebrow, about to ask her what had gotten into her but somehow, looking into her eyes, he was mesmerized and putting aside the questions in his mind, he leaned close.
And just before their lips touched, Melanie reached back with one hand and shut the door of the wine cellar behind them with a soft, final click. And then stepped back.
Adam’s brows furrowed and it took him a moment to realise exactly what she had done.
“Why did you do that?” Adam asked slowly.
Melanie didn’t answer right away and instead stared at him, with a grin on her face and instead continued to caress the back of his head.
She wondered if she shoudl tell him what his ex had just told him but then stopped herself. No need for that as of now. Instead, she decided to use the same things he had done when she was still ‘married’ to Spencer. Her head tilted slightly, her brow arched and she gave him a faint shrug.
“I don’t like her. I think.”
Adam blinked at that. “You think? Do you really think that is a good reason to kiss me?”
Melanie chuckled and finally pulled him a bit lower by the neck,” I don’t really need a reason to kiss you, Adam.” With that, she covered the distance between them and gently kissed his lips, before pulling back and winking at him. “Now, come on. We need to return to the party.”
He followed her with a wry smile on his lips and almost forgetting allthe anger and emotions that were raging inside him. It was as if he had been engulfed in calm.
As he caught up with her, Melanie slipped her hand into Adam’s and he could only give her a look of astonishment. He never thought that he would have anyone offer him silent comfort like this.
The moment they stepped back into the large hall, however, they were in for another surprise.
Robert Collins stood in the centre of the hall, a microphone in his hand and Saira standing next to him.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining me this evening. It means more than I can say to have all of you here—family, friends, colleagues—to mark this milestone with me.”
“I’ve seen many birthdays,” he continued with a chuckle, “but today, as I celebrate eighty years, I find myself thinking not only of the past, but also of what lies ahead. For all of us.”
Melanie felt Adam shift slightly beside her.
“I have one more gift to offer tonight—not to myself, but to the legacy me and my late wife built together. When my wife passed away, I could not live in this place any longer. But now, I’ve made the decision to return to the city—permanently. It’s time to stop drifting on the edges and instead, settle back into the rhythm of life I know best. I am sure that will bring her peace.”
Robert paused as everyone applauded him but beside Melanie, Adam stiffened.
“And with that decision,” Robert continued, “comes another change. I have already stepped back from the day-to-day management at ABC Industries but still continue to hold the position of a director…
I feel it’s time for new voices, new energy. Of course, both my grandsons have my support as they strive to make ABC bigger and better. But I’ve chosen someone I trust implicitly to represent my interests and assist my grandsons, Spencer and Adam, in steering the company forward.”
Melanie’s eyes widened as she looked at the man in front of her and realized just what he meant.
As expected, he announced next, “My long time assistant, Saira Vaugn, will now join ABC Industries as Co- Director of Corporate Social Responsibility along with my grandson Adam.”
Melanie almost dropped her glass at this and shot the man an incredulous look. Director of Social Responsibilty? Seriously? It was not even a serious role in the company that appointing one person would be laughable but employing two was such a waste of resources. However while the other applauded, Melanie’s eyes narrowed.
Robert Collins intended to use Saira and that is why he had set things in such a way…