Back Better Than Before

[4] New Looks and Friends

A little while later...

After sending Adrianna and Caroline shopping, Stephen left the house to go to his office. He had to check up on his hotels and start finding Adrianna's biological parents. It would take a while but Stephen promised Adrianna that he would help her and he intended to fulfil his promise by any means.
He called for his trusted assistant, Alberto, into his office. Alberto was of Stephen's father's age and had been working for Stephen's father and now Stephen. If anyone could help him find Adrianna's parents, it would be Alberto. "Alberto, I need a favor from you." Stephen asked as soon as Alberto closed the door to his office.
"What is it,sir?" Alberto asked, curious to why his boss was asking a favor from him. Alberto had seen Stephen grow up and make mistakes. He had seen him fix those mistakes and take over his father's business but never had Alberto seen Stephen ask for a favor. Nobody could really blame him for being curious.
"I need you to do a background check on someone. Adrianna Montclair. I need to know everything about her. Especially her past before she was adopted by the Montclairs. Think you can do it?" Stephen asked Alberto even though he knew that Alberto could do it.
"Yes but can I ask why?" Alberto asked. Stephen didn't say anything for a minute. He wasn't sure what to say. He couldn't just say that 'oh I saw a girl sleeping on a bench in the park and took her home because I was curious about her. Then I find out she's Adrianna Montclair and she wants to leave my house but I didn't want her to so I made a deal with her and part of the deal is to find her biological parents. That's why I need your help.' Alberto would surely have something to say about that.
Stephen cleared his throat, feeling a bit ashamed for lying to someone who was a father figure to him. "A friend asked me to do it for him." It wasn't the complete truth but wasn't a complete lie either. Although, he felt that Adrianna would have something to say about them being friends.
"Adrian sir, I presume?" Alberto asked. Adrian was Stephen's best friends since they were young kids. They had grown up together causing trouble wherever they went. Especially during their school days. They played pranks on teachers and even the principal. Stephen wondered what Adrian would say when he found out about Adrianna.  He would be shocked for sure!
Realizing that he had not replied to Alberto, Stephen nodded satisfying Alberto. "It will take a while to find out everything." Alberto said.
"That's okay. Take as much time as you need." That was what Stephen wanted. He wanted Adrianna to stay with him as long as she could so he could know her better. Alberto nodded and left the office to finish up his work while Stephen finished up his.
***
Stephen got home 2 hours later. He had finished up most of his work and had brought some home with him. He had felt anxious in his office and left as soon as he could. Truthfully, his anxiety had to do with Adrianna but Stephen did not want to believe that. He had known her for less than a day and already he was thinking about her all the time. That was dangerous. Stephen had just gotten out of a bad relationship and did not want to jump into another, no matter how gorgeous the girl was.
Stephen walks into his penthouse thinking he was alone. He took off his jacket and loosened his tie. A coffee was what he needed right now.Along with the chocolate cake that he was smelling right now. Wait... what?
Stephen walked into the kitchen to find a girl cooking in the kitchen. For a moment, he thought that Adrianna arrived but the girl couldn't be Adrianna. She was wearing a blue dress. The back was low and showed more than half her back. The dress ended at the girl's knees and showed off her slender, long, milky white legs. Stephen was staring at the girl's legs and did not notice her turning around.
The girl cleared her throat and Stephen's eyes slowly traveled up to the girl's face. He was taken aback to see that the girl standing in his kitchen was actually Adrianna. A more beautiful Adrianna. The ends of her hair was now black and in waves. Adrianna also now had bangs with black highlights. She was also wearing make up.
Adrianna's eyes were lined with black eyeliner and her plump lips were coated in dark red lipstick. She gave off a dark, dangerous look. Stephen had not realized he was still staring at her until Adrianna cleared her throat again.
"I- um- hi?" Stephen stuttered out.
Adrianna couldn't help but giggle. "Hi." Adrianna smiled at him and Stephen's heart started beating faster. She had a beautiful smile. "How do I look?"
"Gorgeous." That one word had Adrianna blushing no matter how much she tried to not let it affect her.
"Uh thanks." Adrianna said softly. "I'm going to pay you back." Adrianna said more loudly and clearly.
"But, I told you that you don't need to."
"I know. I just have to help you." Help with who? Stephen thought before remembering about his deal.
He forced a smile. "Yeah. That will be a great help. So what's cooking?"  Stephen asked, changing the topic.
If Adrianna noticed the sudden change, she did not say anything. "A chocolate cake. Caroline asked for it but then she got a call and left. She said you liked it so I thought that I'll make it for you as a way to say thank you." Adrianna said.
A genuine smile came on Stephen's face. "I love chocolate cake. I'll just go take a shower while the cake is baking." Stephen walked out of the kitchen only to walk back in. "Can you make coffee as well? I'm tired and need caffeine in my body."
Adrianna smiled and nodded. Stephen left the kitchen and Arianna started looking around the kitchen. Adrianna was glad that she had gone grocery shopping as well. She took out the coffee beans and started grounding them.
She had lots of fun shopping with Caroline. Caroline's bubbly personality made Adrianna smile more than once. Caroline had not questioned Adrianna why she wanted to keep her identity a secret until... Caroline barged into the changing room while she was changing. Caroline had seen the scar that was on Adrianna's stomach. Caroline had questioned Adrianna over and over again until she broke down and told Caroline about her abusive adoptive family. The scar was from a belt whipping that Michael had given her. He had only whipped her once before Eleanor had stopped him saying that they would be caught if someone saw the scars.
Adrianna smiled as she remembered how angry Caroline was hearing Adrianna's story. She was glad that she had found a friend in Caroline. The bell rang interrupting Adrianna's thoughts. She opened the door to find a pretty brunette standing. She was wearing a tight dress that left little to imagination. "Hi, who are you?" Adrianna asked politely. She wasn't going to judge a person without talking to them.
The woman looked at Adrianna in a snobby way. "I am Katherine, Stephen's girlfriend."
***
So, hi guys! I actually updated earlier than I thought I would. What do you guys think about Adrian? Katherine? Adrian isn't coming into the story until a while later but I want to hear who you guys think Adrian is and what you think about Katherine.
This story is almost at 1k! I was going to wait until it does reach 1k but that was too long so I updated! Thanks to everyone who read, added this story to their reading list, voted, and commented. Your comments and messages made me smile! So please vote and comment to tell me what you guys thought!
Keep reading ~ R