WINNER OR LOSER

ADELINE'S POV

It's signing day. It's finally signing day and I'm shaking. I didn't even think I would be able to come this far when I first came up with my plan but the day I finally here and I'm trembling. There's still time for Adrian to find out what I'm up to. There's still time for this entire thing to blow up in my face.

If it does, Adrian will act purely on anger and despite how obsessed he might seem with me now, I have a feeling that nothing will save me from his wrath.

I wear a pencil skirt and a white shirt, tying my hair up in a pony tail with light make up to give myself a more professional look, and then Adrian and I sit at the back of his limo and ride towards his office. From what he explained, there's a special lawyer who has the finalized contracts.

This became a major issue because it's more difficult to have the copies switched when a special lawyer is in possession of the originals. Dante and I had to have a change of plans. He said he would stick around the parking lot of Liam's office and wait for his lawyer to pull up. I have no idea how Dante was able to find out who Liam's lawyer is but I just assumed he found out from the photos I sent to him.

Originally, I was the one who was supposed to do the switch but Dante was able to hop right in when matters became more complicated. Now all I have to do is wait for his signal and make sure everything is set. Dante also mentioned to me that from the images I sent to him, he was able to find Adrian's account details. He said he'll be able to wire Adrian's money to my account without it being tracked. Adrian won't know how he lost so much money.

Dante will wire the necessary amount of money that my parents' need for their company and all will be right in the world. it's complicated but I'm putting all my trust in Dante. I always knew Dante was smart but I had no idea he was such a clean hacker. It makes me start thinking again that I really do know nothing about him.

When this is all over, I intend to have a very serious conversation with him. He has to tell me how he knows how to do all these things and assure me that I didn't fall in love with some criminal. I know I love him but I have to be realistic because ever since I started with my plan, Dante has done some pretty questionable things.

But we'll deal with all that once we're done with Adrian. As I sit in the office with my parents and Adrian, I get a text from Dante saying he switched the contract papers. I breathe out a sigh of relief and compose myself as I sit steadily in place.

"I can't wait for us to finally be partners Adrian. I can't wait for us to finally be a family." My father says with glee.

"Likewise, Mr. Fitz. I can't wait for your daughter to finally be my wife. Together we will be one for the strongest families in New York city. I can feel it." Adrian says triumphantly.

"Your lawyer is running quite late now, isn't he?" My mother says and like clockwork a short man walks into the office with an apologetic look on his face that he manages to still make look professional.

"Excuse me for keeping you all waiting. This will only take a few seconds. I presume you all have read the terms of the contract already? You always have the liberty to read it again to be sure that all the details are in tact." The lawyer says taking a seat.

Sweat immediately starts forming on my forehead. The things Dante changed on the contract are almost unnoticeable but if Adrian or my parents decide to take their time and read, then they'll find out something is wrong. My heart starts beating frantically in my chest and I start opening my mouth to make some kind of objection before Adrian beats me to it.

"There's no need for that." Adrian says dismissively and I let out a sigh of relief. That was really close.

"We've been over this a thousand times. Unless of course you two want to reread it." Adrian gazes at my parents. My father contemplates for a bit before breaking out in a smile.

"There'll be no need for that." My father says. Even if he wanted to go through the contract one more time, he couldn't. Because doing that would mean he doesn't trust Adrian and my father would rather die than put a strain on the relationship he has with his top investor.

"Perfect." Adrian sits up right. "Let's get on with it then."

The lawyer shares two copies and the only copies of the contract that would ever exist. He hands one to Adrian first and the other to my father. They sign the copies in seconds and without reading as promised. Within seconds, the contracts have been signed and the lawyer leaves with a smiling face.

It's hard to believe that one of the most intense moments of my life has passed by so easily but I did it. I actually did it. After weeks and months, my plan is finally over. I can be free of Adrian. It all went by so easily. Almost too easily.

And although I've basically won, although Adrian will soon come to find out that he has all but nothing in his bank account, I still feel like something bad will happen. I feel like I played with fire and now I just have to sit tight and wait for it to burn me.

I may have stolen all the money from his bank but he still has assets and I'm pretty sure he has back up. Plus, we still have to file a case against him and win. This is far from over. I only attained a small objective out of a bigger one.

I have no idea how the next phases will look like, but I know I will either come out of this as a winner or a loser.

As my parents stand to leave the office, the look on Adrian's face immediately shifts from happy to sinister in a second as he answers a phone call. I suppose Dante has carried out the next phase of the plan already. All the money from Adrian's account must be gone by now but my parents' account will only be filled later, so that Adrian doesn't see them as a suspect.

"What the actual fuck do you mean all of it is gone!!?" Adrian yells into his phone.