LOGINI expected Adrian to show up at my place, just like the last time.Maybe not with a peace offering this time, but something. Anger. A warning. Punishment. Anything. But nothing like that happened.One day passed. Then two.No messages. No calls. Nothing.On the morning of the third day, I finally asked Benita.“Has Adrian asked about me?”She shook her head.“Is he acting weird or anything?” I pressed.She gave me a look. “If you’re asking whether he’s affected by your absence, I’ll be honest… no.”I didn’t think it would get to me like that.“He’s actually been cool with everyone like usual,” she added. “Seems perfectly fine to me.”I frowned.Benita just laughed and walked away.I stayed home a little longer out of stubbornness, but by afternoon, I got tired of it. I missed everyone, and I wasn’t about to stop showing up just because of Adrian.Even though a quiet voice in my head kept calling me out on my own lie.Because the truth?I was going to see him.The moment I got to work
I dropped the flowers on the counter and found myself walking straight toward Adrian’s office.By the time I realized what I was doing, I was already pushing the door open. He didn’t look up. He didn’t even acknowledge that someone had walked in. Like I wasn’t worth the glance.I sighed and took a seat anyway.“Adrian… it’s not what it looks like.”He kept typing on his keyboard, completely ignoring me.“Benita and I just ran into him yesterday at the store. He asked for my number, and I didn’t give it to him, I swear. I didn’t even know he was going to send flowers.”Still nothing. It was like my words weren’t even reaching him.“Adrian,” I called again.This time, he slowly looked up. His expression gave nothing away.“Why are you explaining this to me?” he asked.That caught me off guard.“Oh…”The word slipped out because the question left me speechless. I didn’t even know why I felt like I owed him an explanation.“I just thought you’d want to know,” I muttered.“I don’t.”His to
Adrian was the one who broke the kiss, and for a second, neither of us moved.My lips were still tingling, my heart racing like I had just done something reckless… because I had.I opened my mouth to apologize, but before I could say a word, he placed a finger gently against my lips and shook his head.That single gesture shut me up completely.The rest of the show passed in a blur. I wasn’t even sure what songs were performed anymore. All I could think about was him, the way his lips had felt against mine: warm, firm, and addictive.My mind kept replaying it over and over again, and it didn’t help that Adrian was such a good kisser.I didn’t even know a kiss could feel like that.We kept stealing glances at each other for the rest of the night. Nothing was said, but everything felt… different.Even when he was driving me home, the silence between us wasn’t empty. It was heavy.Unlike the way I talked non-stop on the way there, I was completely quiet now. For once, I had nothing to sa
I talked about that concert so much that by the time the day finally came, Benita was practically thanking God.“Finally,” she threw her hands in the air, “some peace and quiet around here.”I laughed, already dressed hours ahead of time, pacing around my apartment in an attempt to contain my excitement.The moment Adrian texted that he was outside, I grabbed my bag and rushed out.He was leaning against the driver’s door, his attention on his phone. But the second he looked up, his eyes darkened slightly as they took me in.Blue rugged jeans, the kind with more rips than fabric. A black tank top that clung just enough. On my feet were clean white sneakers that tied the whole look together.He exhaled slowly. “You really like showing skin.”“It’s a concert,” I replied. “The lighter you dress, the better. There’ll be dancing, singing, jumping, and sweating.”His gaze dropped to my jeans. “It looks like you own these in different colors.”I grinned. “I do.”He took a step closer.Then a
Everyone who walked into Adrian’s office came out looking defeated. Apparently, he was in a mood, and not a quiet one. He was snapping at staff left and right.It wasn’t until George went in to update him about the new inventory and came out looking like he had just survived a storm that he walked straight up to me.“You need to go in there and fix whatever is going on with him,” he said.“Why do you think I can do that?”“Because you’re the only one here who doesn’t look afraid of him.”Marcy quickly added, “Please go. Before the day gets worse for everyone, and somehow, this becomes your fault.”I frowned. “My fault?”“Yes,” she said firmly.I sighed. “I’m not promising anything, but I’ll try.”“That’s enough,” George said immediately.When I walked into Adrian’s office, he didn’t look up.“I thought I made it clear–”He stopped mid-sentence when he realized it was me. His tone shifted instantly.“What do you want?”I leaned casually against the door.“You’re free to yell at me,” I
“You know what I’m asking,” I said, turning slightly toward him. “Like… investments you’d venture into. Things you’d buy. Maybe a trip to the Bahamas with your girlfriend. Stuff like that.”Adrian’s eyes lifted to mine slowly.“Is that you asking if I have a girlfriend?”I didn’t even hesitate. “Do you?”A quiet chuckle left him. “There are certain questions you shouldn’t be asking your boss.”I snorted. “You’re not my boss. I didn’t apply for this job. That’s how it works.”“But you work for me,” he countered.“You’re forcing me to work for you,” I corrected. “Big difference.”That corner-of-the-lips smile appeared again.“Well,” he said, “since you’re so curious… no. I don’t have a girlfriend.”I blinked, genuinely surprised. “Why? You’re too good-looking to be single.”His eyes flicked to mine. “Do you have a boyfriend?”“No,” I said quickly, then narrowed my eyes. “Wait. I know why you asked that.”“Good. Now you see how wrong that reasoning is.”“So why are you single?” I pressed
Storm fading to a distant murmur, hours passed in restless wakefulness as one memory refused to let go.The kiss.It had started as a dare. A joke between two people trying to survive the weirdest three days of their lives. But it hadn’t felt like a joke when his mouth touched mine. It felt… real.
Sophia dropped the bags with a dramatic thud in the middle of the living room and kicked off her heels like she was home.“Liam mentioned he dropped you off at home,” she added, tossing her hair as she made a beeline for the couch.I blinked at her, barefoot, still very much unprepared for the stor
The silence in Liam’s mansion was starting to mess with my brain. Without Sophia around, the house felt too big, too quiet, and way too full of thoughts I was trying not to have.Like the fact that Liam had walked in on me dancing. No twerking. On his kitchen counter. Of all the things I could’ve d
I stirred the pancake batter one last time, pretending the air in the room hadn’t just shifted. Like Liam hadn’t gone quiet the second Mason’s name lit up my screen. Like he hadn’t stiffened and disappeared behind that carefully built wall of his.We ate together anyway, side by side at the long ki







