Chapter 12 - THE MAFIA BOSS WHO COULDN'T BUY HER HEART
Adrian invited Elise to dinner.
She refused.
He asked again a week later.
She refused again.
Finally, he called her.
"Am I doing something wrong?"
Elise laughed softly.
"You're asking a nurse who works twelve-hour shifts to dinner at nine o'clock."
Adrian paused.
"Ah."
She smiled.
"Try breakfast."
He laughed.
"Breakfast?"
"Seven-thirty. Coffee. Somewhere ordinary."
Adrian considered.
"I can do ordinary."
Elise wasn't entirely convinced.
But she agreed.
They met at a small diner near the hospital.
Adrian arrived without bodyguards inside the restaurant.
He wore jeans.
A dark sweater.
And an expression of mild discomfort.
Elise grinned.
"You look nervous."
"I've negotiated contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars."
"And?"
"This is worse."
She laughed.
They talked for two hours.
About childhood.
Work.
Family.
Regrets.
Adrian told her about growing up in a household where affection was rare and loyalty was everything.
Elise told him about becoming a nurse after losing her younger sister to an illness when they were children.
For the first time, Adrian understood why she cared so deeply about pediatric patients.
And Elise began to understand the loneliness beneath his reputation.
When breakfast ended, Adrian walked her to her car.
"Can I see you again?"
She smiled.
"Ask me after my next shift."
He nodded.
"I will."
Then he added:
"And Elise?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for not being afraid to tell me no."
She looked at him.
"Get used to it."
May you like
He laughed.
And she drove away smiling.
