ROSES & THORNS

- 7 7 -

"Adam." I approach him carefully, wrapping my arms around him and resting my head on his tense back.

I feel him relax under my touch immediately, turning around in my arms and burying his face in my hair.

"God, why is everything going so fucking wrong?" He mumbles as I pull away and look into his eyes.

"What's wrong baby?" I ask cupping his face as he leans into my touch.

"Another big transaction." He sighs and I close my eyes, pursing my lips.

"That means there must have been one in Lance's as well." I whisper and he nods just as Adam's phone starts ringing.

He pulls it out of his pocket and mumbles something incoherent under his breath as Lance's name flashes on the screen.

"I need to take this, baby. Stay here." He kisses my forehead before leaving the office. I pace around the room for about five minutes before I can't take it anymore.

"Oh fuck it." I say and step out of the room, looking around in confusion at the empty floor.

I see no one in sight as I make my way down using the stairs, stopping right in front George Williams' office, I knock on the door and the man himself opens it.

Surprise is evident in his eyes as a slow smile stretches across his face, his eyes raking me over before he steps aside to let me in.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Ms. Edward?" He asks, closing the door behind me as I wring my hands together nervously.

"Do you now about the money being transferred illegally?" I ask suddenly and he narrows his eyes at me a bit before nodding slowly as he sits back in his seat.

"I do, yes. Why?" 

"Well, there was another transaction just now and Adam left to take a call, but he hasn't returned yet. Do you have any idea of who it could be?" I ask, judging his facial expressions carefully but he doesn't give anything away.

Damn it.

"I don't, unfortunately. But why come to me, of all people?" He asks a little suspiciously when I shift in my seat.

"Well, you're one of Adam's most trusted employees, I thought maybe you might have an idea." I shrugged indifferently when he nodded.

"Yes, but unfortunately, I can't think of anyone who might want to betray Adam." He said just as got up from my seat and he did the same.

"Oh. I should get going then. It was nice seeing you, Mr. Williams." I said and he nodded.

"Please, call me George." He said and I smiled a bit forcefully but just before I could turn around to leave, he spoke, knocking the air out of my lungs.

"And do I call you Isabelle? Or Jenna?" He spoke and my blood froze over, eyes widening before I composed myself and turned to face him.

"I-I'm sorry?" I asked a bit confused when he smirked, fiddling with some papers before slowly walking over to me.

"I think I'll go with Jenna, isn't that right?" He asked as I cocked my head to a side, feigning confusion but my heart beat a little too fast for my liking.

Shit, what now?

"I-I don't understand what you mean." I said weakly when his grin grew wider and he chuckled.

"Oh stop with the nonsense. You can stop pretending now. I know it was you at the club spying on us." He said, anger evident in his tone as I took a step back.

"I'm sorry, George, but I think you're mistaking me for someone else." I said and he scoffed.

"Cut the bullshit, Ms. Edward. You can stop acting now, we both know very well what and who I'm talking about." He gritted out and I stood up straighter.

"Then you'll know you won't get away with this either." I said furiously and he chuckled darkly, stopping me from leaving the room.

"Oh I have, dear Isabelle. And you know what? I actually can think of someone who can betray Adam. The woman he loves." He sneered at me and I took a step back in defence, frowning.

"He would never believe you. And besides, I have done nothing wrong." I stated confidently when he shook his head.

"And what if he has proof?"

"Where on earth will you get proof when I haven't even done anything wrong?" I spat and he grinned.

"You'll see." He said wickedly.

"I'm telling Adam. He'll get you behind bars." I stated and just as I was about to leave, he stopped me with a vice grip on my arm.

"You won't be telling him anything, because the moment you do, your brothers and Adam, all go... well, six feet under." He said and I paled at the thought.

"You wouldn't want murder on your conscience." I said, trying to pull my arm free but he smirked sinisterly.

"If it means I can get the Thorne empire, then yes, I would want it." He said darkly when I gulped as he showed me something on his phone screen.

"You speak a word, my man shoots him." He said and my lips parted in shock when I saw Adam step out of the building and sure enough, a red target was placed on his back as he spoke furiously into his phone.

"S-Stop!" I yelled, tearing my arm from his and running out of the office.

I ignored all the looks being thrown my way as I ran down the stairs and out the building, crashing into Adam who wrapped his arms around me and kept me from falling face first into the pavement as he looked at me worried.

"Love, what's wrong, are you okay?" He cupped my face in his hands.

I looked around like a mad woman, and sure enough, I saw the shooter in the front building just before he disappeared.

"Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?" I asked scanning him while he looked at me confused before I threw my arms around his neck and pressed my lips to his.

He seemed shocked at first but kissed me back nonetheless, his arms firmly wrapping around me.

That was a close call.

He pulled away first, still confused as I rest my forehead against his.

"You're okay." I whispered and he nodded slowly.

"I'm okay baby, are you...?" He asked and I nodded furiously, hugging him tightly.

"I'm okay, I'll be okay." I whispered as he led us back inside, ignoring the numerous looks thrown towards us by his employees.

Just as we entered his office, he walked over to his seat as my phone buzzed and I glanced at it briefly, my soul dropping out of my body.

"Speak one word and he's done for."