FOUR

            "....Addie? Addie?" Sue said as she waved her hand just in front of Adelynn's face. She was staring at empty space and her mind seemed to be clouded by several thoughts.

"Earth to Addie!" Sue whispered, finally snapping her friend out of the whirlwind of thoughts that had encased her mind.

"What exactly were you thinking about? I'm really feeling bad right now, Addie. What's wrong? You've been so out of it lately"

Adelynn forced out a smile and looked away, gazing beyond the window.

"I'm fine, Sue"

"You're anything but fine"

Adelynn let out a sigh, absentmindedly fiddling with her wedding ring. Things would have been a lot different if she'd accepted Jensen's proposal. Maybe, she truly deserved what she was getting now. As she gazed outside the window, her eyes went wide when she noticed the sleek limo that had just pulled up into the company's parking lot. She rose to her feet, her heart rate accelerating.

No, it can't be, she thought.

   The door on the driver's side was pushed open and a man wearing a black suit stepped out and moved to the passenger side of the limo. She watched with wide eyes as a very familiar pair of shoes came into her line of vision. Her jaw dropped when the owner of the very expressive pair of shoes stepped out. What the hell is Dominic doing?! She thought. He was looking so impeccably dressed in a formal, white designer suit with a black shirt. He walked towards the lobby with confident steps, his right hand buried in the right pocket of his white pants. Two men dressed in black followed behind him, their expressions stoic. A second car pulled over and a lady with Auburn curls stepped out. She rushed up to Dominic's side, looking winded. Dominic barely spared her a glance as they walked into the lobby. "Wait, isn't that your husband?" Sue asked and Addie just stared.

"Is he here to see you?"

"I-I don't know!" Adelynn breathed, fisting a handful of her golden locks, frustrated.

There was a knock on the door and they both exchanged bewildered glances. "Come in" Adelynn said, not looking away from Sue.

   Sam, one of their colleagues, poked his head in. "Mr Jefferson requested that you come to his office alongside Sue. Our client has arrived"

"Oh, okay" Adelynn said, still stunned. As soon as Sam left, the new information finally sank in.

"He's our client? But-"

"Come on, Addie. Let's go"

....

   As soon as Adelynn walked into Jensen's office, her gaze met her husband's. He looked so relaxed, like a Cheshire cat and there was a glint in his eyes that she didn't like. Jensen frowned when he noticed the tension between his new client and Adelynn. He cleared his throat and Dominic finally looked away from his wife, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Why don't you introduce me to your team?" He said, the drawl in his statement very obvious.

"This is Susan Bricks, she's the head of the HR department....." Jensen began and Adelynn clenched her jaw. You're such an asshole! She thought, glaring daggers at the back of Dominic's head.

".....This is my personal assistant, Adelynn Suarez"

Adelynn seemed to be jolted back into reality when Jensen finally introduced her to Dominic.

    For the rest of the meeting, Adelynn felt like she was going to suffocate to death, especially since she was in the midst of two powerful men. After the meeting, Adelynn walked out of Jensen's office, trying to regain her composure. She closed her eyes and let out an exhale.

"You didn't tell me he's your boss" a husky voice whispered in her ear and her eyes snapped open. Dominic was standing behind her, leaning forward slightly. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and pressed a kiss to the exposed skin of her neck.

"Do I need to be worried about him?" He asked, his hair brushing her neck.

"Dominic, if you haven't noticed, we're in my place of work. Behave yourself, will you?" She said through gritted teeth. He chuckled softly and pressed another lingering kiss on her skin.

"Stay away from him, Addie. I mean it" he whispered and walked away from her without turning to spare her a glance.

"What's going on between you two?" Jensen said from behind her, startling her. She turned around with a start, her eyes wide.

"Did you know him from somewhere?" Jensen pressed further, his expression unreadable.

"I-um-" she stuttered. The door to Jensen's office opened and Sue stepped out, completely oblivious to the fact that their boss was standing just outside his office with Adelynn.

"Addie, your husband is so good loo-" Sue froze when she realized that Adelynn was not alone. Jensen's brows knitted up and realization finally set in.

"He's your husband?" Jensen asked, incredulous.

"Yes" Adelynn sighed and he shook his head, looking disappointed.

"Out of all the men in the world, you chose that asshole?" He asked but she just stared, feeling guilty. Throwing her one more disappointed look, he entered his office and shut the door behind him.

Sue parted her lips and closed them, still confused about the drama that had just played right in front of her.

"What was that about?" Sue asked and Adelynn rubbed her temples.

"I just- I want to be alone" she said and walked away, her heart hurting. Something about the way Jensen had looked at her, disappointed, had caused a new pain to bloom in her heart.

For as long as she'd known him, he'd never looked at her like that. Maybe that was why it hurt so much. What was she supposed to do? She was married now and it was time she stopped hoping and yearning for things that she would never have.

....

    After a few more days of Jensen avoiding her, Thursday finally came, the day that was marked out for a fundraising gala. Addie desperately wanted to put an end to the tension between her and her boss, but she had no idea how to do it. She was never one for big parties and social events but she just had to deal with it. Inspecting her elegant, black cocktail dress in the full length mirror, she smiled blandly at her reflection. Then, she picked up her purse and began to make her way out of the house. She knew that Dominic would most likely attend the event and she was hoping that she wouldn't have to deal with any drama tonight. She got into the passenger seat of her new car and relaxed as her new driver began to drive. 

   On arriving at the venue of the event, she found Jensen having a conversation with some of the guests. She watched him quietly, noting how gorgeous he looked in his black tux.

"Adelynn Banks?" A masculine voice said from behind her and she turned to see who it was. A tall, dark haired young man with warm brown eyes stood there, grinning at her. He seemed vaguely familiar to her. "Don't you remember me, tomboy?" He asked and it instantly clicked.

"Pierce! Oh my God, it's been so long" she said and he beamed. Pierce was one of Jensen's old friend. They had attended the same highschool back when they were still teens.

"Look at you, you're so rocking that dress" he said and she smiled. "Thanks"

"How have you been?" He asked. "I've been doing great" she said and he nodded, his gaze resting on her wedding ring.

"You're married?" He asked with the smile still on his face. "Yeah"

"How long ago?"

"Six months?"

"Are you happy with him?"

"Yes, of course I am" she lied through her teeth and he nodded.

"You really hurt Jensen, you know. He's still not completely over you, yet. Just so you know" he said and walked away. Adelynn felt like she'd just been smacked right in the face. Was it really true?

Was Jensen still not over her yet? Or was he just saying it to make her feel guilty? She just couldn't tell. Halfway through the event, Jensen walked up to her with a twinkle in his eyes.

"You look beautiful tonight" he complemented her and she blushed, not liking the way she was easily affected by him.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Jen" she said and mentally scolded herself for calling him by his nickname.

He grinned at her and for a moment, she forgot that she was married and was no longer Jensen's girlfriend.

"I met Pierce few hours ago" she said and he raised a brow. "Oh, you did?"

"Yup"

"Dance with me?" He said, holding out a hand as he gazed at her with his alluring blue eyes that always pulled her in, each time he gazed at her like that. She bit her lower lip, conflicted.

"I won't try anything stupid, I promise" he said and she sighed before placing her hand in his. His hand felt so familiar and she could feel the sparks when his skin made contact with hers. He steered her towards the dancing floor and soon, they were swaying in accordance to the music.

"You look better with your hair down" he whispered and again, she blushed recalling how he'd said those words to her the night they had first made love.

"You know, I don't think you have changed at all, Addie. You're just as pigheaded as you've always been and I-- I'm really sorry for everything. I shouldn't have let you go that easily" he whispered and tears filled her eyes.

"I loved you so much" he whispered, trying to hide the pain in his voice.

I still love you, Addie, he thought as he gazed into her beautiful eyes.

    She slowly pulled away from him and he let his hands fall to the sides, limply.

"I can't do this, Jensen. You're only making it harder and harder. I just can't cope with all that" she choked out and he clenched his fist.

"I don't want you to keep being awkward around me, Adelynn. It makes me feel like we're strangers and you know that we're anything but strangers. I still want to be a part of your life.....as a friend" he said and she nodded.

"I know. You've always been too gentlemanly for your own good" she breathed.

"So, are we good?" He asked and she smiled, holding out a hand. "Friends, it is" she breathed and gave him a handshake while he was falling apart on the inside.

   Few metres away stood Dominic and his bestfriend, Austin. They watched Adelynn with keen eyes as she conversed with her boss.

Dominic was getting more riled up as the seconds slipped by.

"She's too fucking comfortable around that bastard" he growled and Austin frowned.

"Do you know who that guy is?" He asked and Dominic's frown deepened.

"Her boss?"

"Not just that, Dom. That guy is your major rival"

"What are you talking about?" Dominic asked, his eyes narrowed.

"That man is Jensen Jefferson, your wife's exboyfriend"

Dominic slowly processed this new information, an expression of pure fury taking over his gorgeous features. "What?!"