The Tycoon's Gutsy Wife

Chapter 26: Construction Site

It had already been two days since the assassination attempt at Hazel’s party at the Donovan mansion.

It had also been two days since Adeline visited Darien at the hospital.

She had already given him the details about the assassin, so her work there was done. Today she planned to negotiate the deal he had offered.

She knocked before entering, her heart slipping in her chest as anxiety gnawed at her.

"I thought you would never visit me again. Did you miss me, Adeline?" Darien asked, his bush-green eyes settling on her so softly that her heart skipped.

"I’ve been busy," she replied, keeping her voice stiff.

Darien scanned her from head to toe, taking in her appearance. She hadn’t bothered to put too much effort today in her appearance. She was simply clad in baggy jeans and a top that hugged her waist. Nothing out of the ordinary.

"You’re dressed perfectly for the day. Let’s go," he said, stepping out of bed.

"Wait, what?" Adeline snapped, alarmed as she rushed to his side. He had been shot only two days ago, and although the bullet had missed a vital spot, that did not mean he could leave the hospital already. "You can’t leave. You need to rest."

"I’ve rested enough," he said deadpan, cutting off the words she was about to say. "Give me a second."

He walked toward the bathroom and Adeline watched him straighten to his full height. She usually wore heels around him, but today she felt the difference more sharply.

Her stomach flipped as she bit her lip.

’What’s wrong with me? He’s only a little bit taller than Theodore,’ she thought.

The VIP hospital bathroom was large enough for a proper shower and a full change. Darien emerged dressed casually in jeans and a simple top; somehow they seemed to match, like a couple. The scent of his cologne filled the air and her shoulders relaxed against her will.

"Let’s go," he said, grabbing his keys and heading for the door.

"Wait, where are we going?" she asked, confusion marred on her face. He always had somewhere to take her to.

The last time he had surprised her like this, she had run into Theodore at a party and had nearly been hurt.

"You’ll see," Darien said, his stride lengthening.

Adeline measured his pace. She was five foot nine, but keeping up with him felt like a struggle.

Because of Darien’s hand that still hadn’t healed yet, and Adeline who cared so much for her life, she decided to drive while he gave her directions.

After a few minutes on the road, they arrived at a construction site.

The building was massive, and it did not take Adeline more than a second to realize it was the hotel he had under construction. Dust hovered in the sun; men in hard hats moved purposefully, lifting bags of cement and arranging scaffolds. The structure rose several stories, though the top floors were still skeletal.

The location was prime, in the heart of New York, ideal for tourists and the wealthy. It was exactly the sort of place that would attract guests and socialites.

"Are you waiting for a bell or something?" Darien’s question pulled her out of her thoughts.

She fell in step beside him as construction workers greeted Darien with obvious respect.

"How much longer is this going to take?" he asked the contractor when they entered the unfinished building.

"It should take about three more months, sir," the contractor answered, his voice trembling despite his attempt at steadiness.

Adeline trailed behind them, scanning beams and rooms. She had never been on a construction site before and she felt a small spark of awe at the skeletal architecture rising around her.

"That’s what you told me three months ago," Darien said, his tone sharp, making goosebumps lift on her skin. "You have the materials and manpower. Why are you postponing the completion date?"

The contractor began to sweat. "There’s been delays, sir—"

"No excuses," Darien interrupted, not unkind but fierce. He had come unannounced to oversee progress because he did not trust the reports he had been given. When no one was watching, people slack off. They go to clubs, they waste time. He would not tolerate it.

"I’ll give you two months," he said. "If you cannot finish by then, consider yourself fired."

The contractor paled and offered no protest. He nodded and excused himself.

Darien glanced at Adeline and their eyes met.

"Why did you bring me along?" she asked, curiosity clear in her voice.

"Why not?" he replied. "If things work out, I might sign partnership papers and your team could be hired to finish the tiling. Better for you to know what’s needed."

Adeline suspected he was using the partnership as an excuse to take her wherever he wanted like she was a ragdoll. She did not refuse because she needed him too.

She adjusted her hard hat and tried not to wince at the dust that snuck down her collar.

"Come with me," he said.

They climbed the stairs toward the top floors where only a few workers labored. He explained the number of rooms while she suggested tile designs the mine team had produced recently. Darien dismissed them one by one—too shiny, too marble-looking, too small.

"He’s so difficult," Adeline muttered under her breath.

"Did you say something, Adeline?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. She was pissed off and he loved her reaction.

She shook her head quickly. "I think we should get going," she said, turning to leave. Irritation clouded her vision and, distracted, she did not see where she stepped.

Darien heard the metallic creak before she did. A long metal beam had loosened above them, swinging precariously.

He moved faster than he’d expected. He pulled her back and planted her against a concrete wall, shielding her as dust and debris rained down. The beam hit the floor with a deafening crash less than an arm’s length from where her head had been.