Nancy wasn't sure what was more suspicious—Adrian driving himself, or the fact that he actually found a 24/7 diner in the middle of nowhere that didn't look like a murder scene.
"Are you sure this place isn't just a front for shady business deals?" she asked, eyeing the neon sign that buzzed Pancake Palace with one flickering "a."
Adrian held the door open with a mock bow. "Only deal happening tonight is syrup and sarcasm."
She snorted. "Wow. Look at you. Almost charming."
"I've been saving it for a special occasion."
They stepped inside, greeted by warm lights and the smell of butter and coffee. No paparazzi, no boardrooms—just scratched booths, tired waitresses, and a jukebox playing '80s hits at half volume.
It felt… oddly safe.
---
Booth 7 – 12:42 AM
The waitress set down their plates with the speed and accuracy of a woman who'd seen it all and didn't care.
Nancy stared at the mountain of pancakes stacked in front of her.
"This is either a peace treaty or a trap," she said.
Adrian grinned. "Depends how much syrup you use."
They ate in quiet for a while. The kind of silence that wasn't awkward—but comfortable. Like they'd finally stopped fighting everything for a minute.
Then Adrian said, "You scare me."
Nancy blinked, mid-syrup-pour. "Come again?"
"You're fierce. Relentless. And smarter than I ever gave you credit for. I thought I had control when this started. But you—" He shook his head. "You flipped the game without blinking."
Nancy set down her fork. "You think being underestimated is new to me?"
He met her eyes. "I don't anymore."
---
1:17 AM – Parking Lot
They stood outside under the dull glow of a flickering streetlight.
Nancy wrapped her arms around herself. "So what now?"
Adrian leaned against the car. "We take Dominic down completely. Clean up the company. And... figure out what this is."
She gave him a look. "This?"
"You and me. The marriage. The partnership. The part where I'm weirdly invested in your happiness now."
Nancy laughed, soft and surprised.
"Maybe we don't label it tonight," she said. "Maybe we just let it… exist."
Adrian nodded, then suddenly pulled something from his coat pocket.
A tiny bottle of maple syrup.
Nancy blinked. "Seriously?"
He smirked. "Just in case you wanted a souvenir."
She shook her head, but took it.