Chapter 21 - The Midday Respite
By noon, the frantic energy of the morning had settled into a steady, manageable rhythm.
Instead of dining at a crowded power restaurant in the Loop, Adrian and I stayed in the private suite, sharing lunch by the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the brilliant expanse of Lake Michigan. The autumn foliage along the lakefront formed a vibrant quilt of crimson and gold against the gray concrete of the metropolis.
"Owen called from the downstairs solarium a few minutes ago," Adrian remarked between bites of a light salad. "He’s asking when we're going to let him take a Porsche out for a spin along Sheridan Road."
I couldn't help laughing, shaking my head as I took a sip of sparkling water. "Tell him that until his physical therapy is completely finished and his doctor signs off, the only vehicle he's driving is the estate golf cart. He’s already pushed his luck enough this year."
"I'll pass along the message, though I suspect he'll accuse me of running a maximum-security prison rather than a home," Adrian smiled warmly. "Speaking of maximum security, my mother called from Paris. She’s officially booked the ballroom at the Blackstone Hotel for our formal introduction gala next month."
I raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing at my lips. "Seventy elite guests in a historic Chicago landmark? Should I start reviewing the catering contracts, or are you going to let your mother turn it into a royal coronation?"
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"Caterina is currently managing the floral arrangements," Adrian deadpanned. "Which means if anyone is going to prevent my mother from inviting half the federal judiciary, it's going to have to be you."
"Consider it audited," I replied playfully.
