Chapter 351 Strolling in Paris
The car wound its way through the Paris streets, the famous landmarks of the city passing by as they headed toward the iconic Eiffel Tower. Claire stared out the window, feeling a little conflicted. She knew she needed to get back to London and bury herself in work, but there was something refreshing about Adrian's carefree attitude. For once, maybe he was right-maybe she did need a break. "Adrian," she said after a moment, "you know this doesn't mean I'm going to start slacking off, right?"
He laughed, turning to her with a teasing grin. "Oh, I wouldn't dare think that. But even the toughest, most hardworking people need a little fun now and then. You're allowed to enjoy yourself."
Claire gave him a sideways glance. "You've got a point. But just so you know, I'm already mentally preparing to dive back into work the second we're back in London."
Adrian shook his head in mock disbelief. "I wouldn't expect anything less. But for now, just enjoy Paris. You deserve it."
Soon, the car pulled up near the Eiffel Tower, the iron giant looming overhead, glittering against the twilight sky. Claire gazed up at it, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She'd been to Paris plenty of times, but there was something about seeing the Eiffel Tower like this, with its golden lights twinkling, that never got old.
Adrian jumped out of the car first and extended a hand to help Claire out, his grin wide and goofy. "M'lady," he said, putting on an exaggerated posh accent.
Claire rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. "You're ridiculous," she said, taking his hand and stepping out of the car.
They walked over to a quieter spot where they could get a perfect view of the tower. Adrian stood beside her, hands in his pockets, as they both looked up at the iconic structure.
"Pretty nice, huh?" Adrian said, nudging her gently.
"Yeah," Claire admitted, her voice soft. "It is."
They stood in silence for a moment, just taking in the view. The lights of Paris stretched out beneath them, and for the first time in a long time, Claire allowed herself to feel at ease. Adrian glanced over at her and saw the tension in her shoulders start to melt away. He smiled to himself, glad his plan to cheer her up was working.
"Thanks, Adrian," Claire said quietly, not looking at him. "I didn't realize how much I needed this."
Adrian's grin widened. "See? I told you. You just needed to stop and take a breath."
Claire chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get too smug about it."
They spent a little more time at the Eiffel Tower, the conversation light and easy. For a little while, Claire forgot about the chaos back in London, about Alexander, Claudia, and all the drama. Here, it was just her and Adrian, enjoying a peaceful moment in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
The sun was just about to dip below the horizon, casting a soft orange glow over Paris. Claire and Adrian were strolling leisurely near the Eiffel Tower, the iconic structure bathed in golden light. The atmosphere was calm, almost dreamlike, and it seemed like nothing could disturb their peace.
Adrian glanced at Claire and smiled. "Since we're already in Paris," he started, casually but with a hint of mischief in his voice, "why don't we have dinner here? You know, make the most of it?"noveldrama
Claire raised an eyebrow, amused. She tilted her head, studying him for a moment. "Oh, so you planned this, didn't you? You wanted to make sure we didn't go back?" She teased, her tone playful, making Adrian chuckle.
"Maybe," he admitted, the grin on his face widening. "But come on, how often do we get to have dinner in Paris?"
Claire sighed, but a smile tugged at her lips. "Fine," she said, pretending to be reluctant, though she was clearly enjoying the idea. She nodded, and they made their way back to the car.
As soon as they slid into the backseat, Adrian leaned forward and gave the driver the address of a restaurant. Claire raised her brows, giving him a sideways glance. "You really did plan this, huh?"
Adrian winked. "I like to be prepared."
The ride wasn't long-about 20 minutes-but the whole time, the mood between them stayed light and playful. They exchanged jokes and stories, laughing easily as the city passed by outside. When they arrived at the restaurant, the golden hour was fading into twilight. The car pulled up to a beautiful, fancy-looking place. Adrian stepped out first and, with a gentlemanly flourish, offered his hand to Claire. She hesitated for a second, then took it, letting him help her out of the car.
As they walked inside, Claire couldn't help but admire the place. It had a calm, romantic ambiance, the soft glow of candles on every table adding a warm touch. The decor was luxurious without being intimidating, and despite its fancy vibe, the restaurant felt comfortable. Adrian spoke to the hostess, and soon enough, they were being led to a table near the window. Claire slid into her seat, glancing out at the sparkling Paris skyline, while Adrian took the seat across from her.
"This is... nice" Claire admitted, feeling surprisingly relaxed. The tension of the past few days seemed to melt away as she glanced around the room.
Adrian nodded, smiling. "I thought you might like it. Paris at sunset, a nice dinner-what's not to love?"
As they chatted, their conversation flowed effortlessly. They ordered their meals and continued to talk about everything and nothing, from funny stories about work to silly observations about the tourists they'd seen earlier. Claire found herself laughing more than she had in days, feeling light and at ease, a rare feeling after the drama with Claudia and the constant pressure of business.
The food arrived, and it was as delicious as expected. They took their time, savoring every bite, but it was during dessert that things began to shift. Adrian's mood, white still warm, grew a little more serious. Claire didn't notice at first-she was too busy marveling at her chocolate mousse-but then she felt it.
Adrian's hand gently touched hers across the table.
She blinked and looked up, slightly startled. "Need something?" she asked with a half-smile, her eyes questioning but still relaxed.
Adrian smiled softly, but this time there was something different in his expression-something more vulnerable. "Actually, yeah. There's something I've been wanting to tell you for a while."
Claire set her fork down and turned to face him fully, curiosity piqued. "Oh?" she said, her voice light but her eyes searching his face. "What is it?"
For a moment, Adrian seemed to
hesitate, as if gathering his thoughts. Then he took a breath, his eyes never leaving hers. "Claire, I
know we only know each other for a short time. And I've always admired you your strength, your intelligence, the way you handle things, But recently..." He paused, smiling again, this time more nervously. "Recently, I've realized that it's more than just admiration."
Claire's brow furrowed slightly, not sure where he was going with this. "Adrian, what are you saying?"
He held her gaze, his tone sincere and steady. "I'm saying I have feelings for you. More than just friendship. I've been trying to figure out the right time to tell you, and now just felt... right."
For a split second, Claire felt like her brain had short-circuited. Adrian? Adrian had feelings for her?
This was not what she had expected when they set out for dinner.
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