CHAPTER 3

AMARA'S POV---

Work usually helped me clear my head. But not today. Three offices away sat the man who had walked out of my life without a single explanation. Now he watched me like I was a problem he couldn't solve. I hated that it still got to me.

The soft knock on my desk broke my concentration. “Ms. Cole?” The voice said as I looked up. The man standing there was unfamiliar, tall, confident, and dressed in an expensive cream suit. His smile was easy, warm in a way that felt natural.

“I’m Adrian Cross,” he said, extending a hand. “Investment consultant. I’m working with the executive strategy division on the foreign expansion proposal.” He explained further.

I shook his hand politely. “Amara Cole,” I said with a warm smile.

“I know,” he said lightly. “Your risk report from yesterday? Impressive. I’ve been trying to convince the board that someone on the team actually understands market volatility.”

“Careful. Someone might hear you.” I said as I laughed softly.

“Someone already has.” A voice came from behind us. We both turned in surprise. Julian stood at the end of the corridor, watching us. I felt the mood in the room change instantly. Adrian noticed where I was looking and slowly straightened.

Mr. Vale,” he said smoothly. Julian approached slowly, his eyes briefly scanning the handshake that had just ended.

“Mr. Cross,” Julian replied. He wasn't angry, but the way he spoke made the room feel colder. “I didn’t realize you’d arrived early,” Julian continued.

“I thought I’d introduce myself to the team,” Adrian said easily. “Ms. Cole was kind enough to entertain my questions.” Julian’s gaze moved to me. “Ms. Cole has a lot of work to do.”

“I’m capable of deciding when I’m busy,” I said, pretending to flip the document on my desk. Julian looked at me for a long second, like he was trying to scan my emotions. Then he turned away.

“Mr. Cross, my office. Now.” A thin smile crossed his face as he spoke. Adrian gave me a small, knowing look before turning and walking away. The moment he and Julian disappeared into the office, I finally let out the breath I'd been holding. Then it hit me. Julian Vale was jealous.

ADRIAN AND JULIAN----

Inside the office, Adrian sat calmly across from Julian’s desk. “The co-investors send their regards; they couldn’t make it due to the rainy weather,” Adrian said casually.

Julian raised a brow, his expression turning serious. “Okay, so what then brings you here today?”

“We have some investors who would like to join the foreign expansion,” Adrian replied.

“Alright, get them onboard,” Julian leaned back into his chair and opens a file to go through, a few seconds Adrian clears his throat.

"By the way, your new analyst is so beautiful, she is my type of girl,” Adrian said with a little smirk on his cheeks.

“She’s not your concern.” Julian‘s look became stern.

“Really?” Adrian replied, “Because she seems interesting.” The word interesting stayed in the room. Julian rarely felt jealous about anything but the image of Adrian leaning casually against Amara’s desk, giving her a handshake with a flirty smile, replayed in his mind. For the first time, he realized another man was looking at Amara the way he once had.

AMARA'S POV-----

Later that evening, the office was nearly empty. I stayed late finishing a strategy report that I am to submit tomorrow.

The lights in most departments were off. The hall and other offices were almost empty. I didn’t notice when Julian stepped into my office doorway.

“You’re still here.” I looked up.

“You sound surprised,” I said, arranging the files on my desk.

“I’m not.” He stepped inside slowly.

“Working late isn’t healthy.” He said in a low, romantic tone.

I smirked. “Funny. Sir, your concern should be me getting the job done, not how I do it.”

We both became silent, then he moved closer to my desk like he was about to tell me a secret no one knows.

“Adrian Cross,” he said calmly. “Be careful with him.”

“Why?” I asked curiously.

“He’s ambitious.” He said as he stood with his hands in his pockets.

“So are you,” I said with a sharp tone.

“That’s different.”

“How?” I asked as I stood up. Julian face changed instantly, he couldn’t even hide. I could see anger written on him. “Because I know exactly what men like him want.” He said trying to convince me further.

“And what do they want?” I asked again, but this time in a defensive tone. His eyes locked onto mine.

“You.” I can’t lie, I was a bit shocked; I should have laughed. Instead, the tension between us increased.

“You don’t get to warn me about men,” I said still maintaining the eye contact. “You were the one who disappeared.”

“Not because I wanted to.” he stepped closer to me. At that moment I was starting to feel weak in the knees. The sight of his chest in his half opened shirt, the smell of his cologne. Everything about him at this moment almost made me wet.

“You keep saying that, but you never explain.” I whispered keeping my composure. Julian stopped only inches away, now close enough that I could feel the warmth of his presence.

“You wouldn’t believe the explanation.”

“Try me,” my tone became soft, looking for answers. For a moment, he looked like he might actually tell me. But then he shook his head.

“Not yet.” Frustration flashed across my face. I was so desperate to find answers. To find the reason I was ghosted for years without any explanation.

“You always do that,” I said with a disappointed look. But then realization kicked in, I started asking myself what I was doing, trying to find answers from a man that didn’t even find me worthy enough to end things with maturely instead of ghosting me.

“Do what?” He asked a bit confused.

“Control the conversation. You know what never mind, lets just pretend this conversation never happened.” I said setting things straight then I turned to grab my bag.

“I’m trying not to control you.” He grabbed my wrist trying to stop me.

“Then stop interfering in my life, Mr Vale.” We both stood silently. Then his hand lifted slowly, brushing a strand of hair away from my face before he seemed to realize what he was doing. My breath caught, and we became too close. This position was too familiar and too dangerous.

“You shouldn’t touch me like that,” I whispered. It was as if I had lost my powers and surrendered to him.

“But you didn’t move away.” He said as he moved his face closer to mine.

Well he was right, I didn’t move away. I was already turned on and I had not had sex in years so that touch for Julian weakened me. His eyes dropped to my lips. He then touched my lower lip softly, and a wave of goosebumps rushed through me.

I gripped the edge of the desk. My heart was beating fast.

“Julian…” His name left my lips like a warning. But his restraint finally broke. He leaned forward and kissed me.

It wasn‘t gentle. The kiss carried years of unfinished emotions and possession.

For a moment, I froze. I closed my eyes gently. His breath was fresh and minty, and his lips were so warm. Then my hands caught his jacket as if steadying myself. The world outside the office disappeared, and when we finally pulled apart, we both started breathing harder.

“This,” I said softly, still panting a little, “is a bad idea.” Julian looked at me like he already knew that.

“Yes,” he admitted, but neither of us stepped away.

Our eyes were both locked on each other. The tension and intensity between us grew. Then he leaned forward again and kissed me passionately, this time. Biting my lip gently, I wrapped my hands around his neck and rubbed his hair gently.

ADRIAN----

Across the hallway, unseen through the glass walls, Adrian Cross paused as he walked past the office and watched them. His expression turned thoughtful at first.

"Interesting, very interesting." He said to himself as he nodded his head. Then jealousy stirred up inside him. He watched carefully as they kissed each other passionately for minutes. He then looked away after a moment, unsettled by how intensely Julian Vale looked at her.

Adrian adjusted his cufflinks slowly, hiding the irritation under his calm expression. He bent to pick up the pen that had slipped from his pocket, then glanced toward the office one last time.

Julian Vale clearly thought the past still gave him a claim over her. But Adrian had spent his entire life winning things he was genuinely interested in.

And as the elevator doors opened, a decision settled inside him. He was going to pursue Amara Cole seriously, even if it started a war.