She Saved a Freezing Stranger in Her Bakery—Not Knowing He Owned Half the City
Chapter 3
Mara opened the door only halfway.
A tall man stood outside wearing a black overcoat.
“Miss Bennett?”
“Yes.”
“We’re looking for someone.”
“I figured.”
The man glanced through the narrow opening.
“Mr. Cole.”
Mara froze.
The stranger behind her said nothing.
The security man continued.
“Is he here?”
Mara looked back.
He was standing in the shadows.
“Who?”
The man’s expression hardened.
“Adrian Cole.”
The name meant nothing to Mara.
“Sorry.”
The man held out a photograph.
Mara glanced at it.
The photograph showed the same man sitting in her office.
Clean.
Confident.
Wearing a tailored suit.
Mara looked from the photograph to the stranger.
Then back to the security man.
“Why didn’t you tell me your name?”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Because I didn’t know who I could trust.”
The security man immediately moved.
Two other men appeared behind him.
“Sir.”
Adrian raised a hand.
“Stay outside.”
“Sir, we have been searching for you for four hours.”
“I’m aware.”
“We thought you were dead.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
Mara looked at him.
“Dead?”
He didn’t answer.
She suddenly understood that this wasn’t a normal situation.
“Everybody out.”
The security men looked confused.
Mara pointed toward the street.
“You can take your mysterious rich-person emergency somewhere else.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You should let them take me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re injured.”
One of the security men spoke.
“Miss Bennett, Mr. Cole was attacked last night.”
Mara’s expression changed.
Adrian closed his eyes briefly.
“Enough.”
The man stopped.
Mara turned toward Adrian.
“Who attacked you?”
“People who wanted something.”
“What?”
“My company.”
Mara stared at him.
“You own a company?”
“Several.”
That answer should have warned her.
Instead, she simply looked annoyed.
“Then you can afford a hospital.”
Adrian gave a faint laugh.
“Probably.”
“Good. Go.”
He took a step toward the door.
Then stopped.
He swayed.
Mara caught his arm.
“Absolutely not.”
The security men rushed forward.
Adrian pushed them away.
“I’m fine.”
Mara looked at the men.
“Does he always do this?”
One of them sighed.
“Yes.”
She shook her head.
“Then he needs a doctor.”
The security chief nodded.
“Agreed.”
Adrian looked at Mara.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.”
“Why?”
Mara pointed at the tray of cinnamon rolls.
“You ate three.”
He looked toward the kitchen.
“I was hungry.”
“You owe me.”
“How much?”
“Six dollars.”
He stared at her.
Mara stared back.
Then, surprisingly, he laughed.
It was quiet.
Tired.
Real.
Neither of them knew that this tiny exchange would later become one of the memories Adrian would treasure most.
Because by the end of that day, Mara would discover that six dollars was the smallest amount Adrian Cole had ever owed anyone.
