"Because..." He paused, the word carrying weight he'd carried for twelve months. "You also know how much I love you."
The confession landed in the silence like a stone dropped into still water.
Victoria went perfectly still, her earlier amusement replaced by something that looked like horrified fascination.
Catherine's expression didn't change... not immediately.
But something flickered in her eyes that Adrian, in his desperate hope, interpreted as consideration.
'She's listening. Really listening.'
The thought gave him courage to continue, words tumbling out with desperate sincerity.
"I've loved you since the first day I took this position," Adrian said, leaning forward, his voice rough with emotion he'd suppressed for too long.
