Melanie and Adam resumed their march up the red carpet as other guests arrived behind them. The crowd ahead thinned, making it clear their course was about to bring them face-to-face with Roger and Evelyn Langford.
Adam pulled her closer, whispering in her ear, “It’s okay. Let me do the talking. For once.”
Melanie smiled, but her stomach was a restless sea. Roger could say anything he wanted in front of a ballroom of the wealthy and powerful. He could destroy her career with one well-worded sentence if he wanted to. Even though Melanie would eventually become Adam’s wife, she wasn’t about to throw away the company she had built. She would have what she’d once thought was unattainable—her career and Adam. Unless his father decided to make it all come crashing down.
“Dad. Mom,” Adam said, when they reached the entrance to the grand ballroom.
Roger’s jaw was set, as if he was biting down on a bullet. “We need to talk. Now.” The anger in his voice was thinly disguised by a smile.
“You’re right. We need to talk.” Adam looked around the room. There were an awful lot of eyes on them. “Privately.”
“There’s a smaller ballroom next to this one.” Melanie pointed to the near corner of the room. “It’s empty. The hotel had said we could use it tonight if needed.”
She led the way, her hand firmly held in Adam’s, her heart pounding away in her throat. The entire crowd whispered as they walked past. She was keenly aware of Mr. and Mrs. Langford behind them, fearing what they must be thinking. This was not the way she wanted this meeting with her future in-laws to happen.
As soon as the door was closed behind them, Roger set his sights on Melanie. “You signed a contract.” He pointed to Melanie’s and Adam’s joined hands. “And you’ve very clearly violated it. That morning I went by Adam’s apartment. You weren’t just dropping by to discuss work with Adam. You were there because you’d spent the night.” Roger shook his head in dismay. “Poor Julia. She had no idea my son would break her heart.”
Adam didn’t let go of Melanie’s hand, bringing her along as he moved closer to his father. “Dad, please don’t speak to Melanie like that. And besides, it isn’t good for you to get so riled up. Take a deep breath and listen to me.” Adam’s voice was calm and measured, but there was no mistaking his determination.
Evelyn Langford, in a midnight blue cocktail dress and lavish diamond necklace, gripped her husband’s arm. “Darling. At least allow Adam to explain.”
Roger folded his arms across his chest. “Come out with it then. And it’d better be good.”
Adam’s shoulders rose as he took a deep breath. “Dad, the Julia thing was a ruse and you knew it, but you refused to believe me. I was never anything less than completely honest with you about it.” He squeezed Melanie’s hand.
Adam’s father appeared crestfallen, but Evelyn nodded in agreement. “You have to understand, Adam. Your father became very attached to the idea of you finding a wife and doing so while he was still here to see it.”
Anna swept into the room, decked out in a black strapless dress. “There you are. Everyone’s wondering where you went.”
“We were discussing the things your brother has decided to do to make tonight more stressful,” Roger said.
Adam kept a firm grip on Melanie’s hand. “I take full responsibility if there’s any fallout from tonight, but if that’s the price of being with Melanie, then that’s the price I’ll pay. I love her too much to hide it anymore.”
Anna’s eyes lit up. “I had a feeling something was going on.”
“You knew?” Roger asked.
Anna shrugged. “I had a hunch after spending time with Melanie. I could just tell from the way she talked about him. And it’s not surprising that he’d be smitten. She’s smart, beautiful and a great businesswoman.”
It was such a relief to feel as though someone in the Langford family beyond Adam was in Melanie’s corner.
“Dad, I love Melanie. I’ve asked her to be my wife and she said yes.”
“You’re getting married? After knowing each other for a month?” Roger’s eyes were no longer filled with anger, but rather astonishment.
“You were excited to think I might marry Julia and it’s not like she and I had much history.”
“I suppose.” Roger shook his head.
Adam turned back to Melanie. “Now what?” he mouthed.
Melanie took his elbow and pulled him close, delivering the message directly into his ear. “Speak from your heart. You hit a home run every time you do.”