Chapter 6:”Back to square one, again”

Amber’s POV

Hearing him address me like that did something to me and I wasn’t sure why especially when he put his arms over my shoulders. He never behaved that friendly with me since I have known him so why now.

Even after I explained how I knew him, it still felt like he wasn’t satisfied, more like he doubted me and that was when I remembered. Vee mentioned that they were rivals and my boss just saw me being friendly with his rival.

Great, just great Amber.

Back home, I tried to shake off the tension. Cooking was my comfort, my way of moving past everything. If not that I needed a stable income, I would have opened a restaurant but I didn’t have a sponsor so I settled for the available.

Making my way to his study, “Dinner’s ready,” I called.

“I don’t remember asking you to cook, Amber.” He said with raised brows.

“I just thought you needed something to eat since you haven’t had any and don’t worry, it’s not poisoned.”

“You think am scared of poison?” He scoffed. “I just don’t like favors, I don’t want to owe you anything,” he said, refusing.

“It’s my way of saying thank you for the clothes” I countered lightly.

Sighing in defeat, he joined me at the dining table.

He ate in silence at first, then finally said, “Thank you.”

His eyes lingered on me longer than necessary.

I could feel the tension between us, all of a sudden the air changed and it felt heavy. But before it could go further, his phone rang, he answered much to my dismay.

He stood up almost immediately after the call, his expression going cold again like he didn’t also feel the tension.

“I have work to finish,” he said flatly, already walking away.

Of course. Back to this version of him.

I cleared the table quietly, trying not to overthink the way he had looked at me earlier, the way his voice had softened when he said thank you.

Hours later, I woke up, my throat dry. The house was silent. I slipped out of bed, careful not to make any noise as I made my way to the kitchen.

After drinking water, I was heading back when I noticed his door slightly open.

At first, I wanted to ignore it. It wasn’t my business. Nothing about Adrian ever was.

But then I heard a low muffled groan

“…Mom…”

I froze.

Another restless movement followed, the sheets rustling. He sounded, scared.

Not his usual arrogance, who would have thought that the great Adrain Volkov could have nightmares.

At that moment, he looked vulnerable.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I pushed the door open gently.

He was tossing on the bed, his face tense, brows furrowed, like he was fighting something in his sleep.

“Don’t go” he muttered.

Seeing him that way made me feel some type of way that I didn’t understand.

I hesitated for a second, then stepped closer.

“Adrian” I called softly.

No response.

I swallowed, sitting carefully at the edge of the bed. My hand hovered before I finally placed it lightly on his arm.

“Adrian,” I whispered again, softer this time.

Without thinking, I started humming a soft tune my mother used to sing to me when I had nightmares.

It felt silly at first but slowly his movements eased, his breathing steadied and the tension in his face softened.

I reached for the duvet and pulled it over him properly, tucking it slightly like someone who cared.

Realizing myself, I stood up quietly, ready to leave when he suddenly wrapped his hands around my wrist.

“Don’t go.” he murmured, eyes still closed.

For a moment, I considered pulling away but something in his voice or was it because I know how it feels to have nightmares with no one around to bring you out of it. Eventually, I settled for the latter.

Carefully, I sat back down, gently tapping on his chest while resting my head on the headboard and before I knew it, the exhaustion pulled me under too.

Adrian’s POV

The darkness came again, it always did but this time, something was different.

There was a voice soft and familiar, a melody I hadn’t heard in years.

My mother’s song, the one she used to sing when the nightmares got too much. The one that always made everything feel safe.

I smiled slightly in my sleep, trying to hold onto it.

Because for the first time in a long time, the darkness didn’t win.

****

Morning came slower than usual and this time, I had a peaceful night.

I opened my eyes, already expecting the usual tension in my chest, the lingering frustration but it wasn’t there.

Instead something warm rested against me, my gaze dropped to my chest and it was Amber sleeping in my bed. My jaw tightened instantly.

“What the hell”?

I pulled away sharply, the movement waking her.

Her eyes fluttered open, confusion settling in before realization hit.

“I…” she started.

“Get out.”

My voice was cold and sharp.

I could tell she was shocked but I didn’t care.

“I said get out, Amber.”

She quickly got off the bed, clearly flustered. “You were having a nightmare and your door was open, I just…”

“And that gave you the right to crawl into my bed?” I cut in, my tone laced with accusation.

Her expression fell.

“That’s not what happened.”

“Oh really?” I scoffed, standing up. “Because it looks exactly like what it is.”

Her brows furrowed, hurt flashing across her face. “I was helping you.”

“I didn’t ask for your help,” I snapped. “And I definitely don’t need whatever this is.”

The room was silent and the silence was suffocating.

She stared at me, disbelief written all over her face.

“You’re just like the rest of them.”

She blinked. “What do you mean?”

I gave her a cold look not caring if my words hurt her.

“A slut looking for an opportunity.”

The moment the words left my mouth, the look on her face changed, she was hurt but I couldn’t bother.

“Understood,” she said softly.

No argument, no defense, just that then she walked out.

The rest of the day was formal.

“Your schedule for today, sir,” she said without looking at me.

I took the file. “Reschedule the 2PM meeting.”

“Noted.”

Nothing more, no extra conversations,not her trying to start up a conversation with me or catch my eyes.

No eye contact, no warmth, just a cold attitude.

Good, That’s how it should be.

So why did it bother me?