A couple in love

Chapter 11

"Good morning, boss," some of my staff greeted as I walked into my office. After my unexpected and nerve-racking clash with Adrian earlier, I felt a sense of relief to finally be in the comfort of my own space.

At least I don't have to see his face until the evening, I thought. But I was really hoping Peter would give me a ride there. I mean, there’s no way I’d ask Adri—

I caught myself mid-thought and slapped my cheek gently, trying to bring my mind back to the present. Shaking off the lingering thoughts, I sat down and opened my laptop to continue working on the documents I had left unfinished.

Hours passed. I had been glued to my screen for over three hours, still deeply immersed in my work. To be honest, I’ve always been the type of girl who throws herself into her job. It’s a form of therapy, really. It takes my mind off things and gives me a fulfilling sense of accomplishment when tasks are completed. I discovered this about myself a year after Adrian was taken away from me. Work became my escape—a distraction from pain—and over time, it turned into a habit I couldn't shake.

“Excuse me, Miss,” a voice called out, followed by a gentle knock on the door.

“Come in,” I responded, not bothering to look up. My fingers continued to dance across the keyboard.

“Yes, do you want something?” I asked, still not making eye contact as she stepped in.

“Well, ma’am... the boss would like to see you in his office right now. He’s given you six minutes to be there—no more, or you’re fired,” she said nervously, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as if trying to calm herself.

I paused, finally lifting my eyes. I could tell she felt awkward delivering such a threatening message, especially since I was higher in position. I didn’t blame her; I mean, who would enjoy being told to threaten a superior?

Suddenly, my heart sank. The mention of Adrian's office sent a wave of tension through my body. But I took a deep breath and nodded calmly, dismissing her with a polite smile.

"What could be so important?" I muttered under my breath. Still, I knew it didn’t matter. This job had been my life since I was nineteen. I loved it. The pay was great, the people were kind, and many had become my close friends. If I could help it, I wasn’t going to lose this job.

I gathered a few files and headed out. Standing in front of Adrian’s door, I checked the time to make sure I wasn’t late. I took one final deep breath before pushing the door open.

Adrian was behind his desk, eyes locked on his laptop. He didn’t acknowledge my presence right away. I stood there awkwardly for over a minute as he leaned back, staring at the screen, lost in thought.

“Is this really the man who once cried for me?” I murmured quietly to myself. “Can a man like this even cry?”

His eyes shot up suddenly, as if he’d heard me. Embarrassed, I quickly looked down.

“Good afternoon, boss,” I said softly, directing my eyes toward the screen again.

“You didn’t knock, and I didn’t ask you to come in,” he said coldly, his voice distant and unreadable.

“I… I’m sorry,” I stammered, taken aback by the iciness in his tone. My heart pounded rapidly, like I was standing before a divine being. The air felt thick, almost stifling. Yet, even through the discomfort, I couldn’t help but notice how handsome he looked… and his cologne—it was intoxicating. I needed to get one of those for myself.

“It’s Roderick, right?” he asked suddenly.

“What do you mean?” I replied, confused.

“Roderick is the man you’re marrying,” he said flatly, still staring at his screen.

I hesitated. “Yes… Roderick will be my husband,” I whispered, unsure why we were even talking about this.

Adrian swallowed hard, nodding slowly. “Well, it doesn’t matter. Get ready—we’re leaving soon. My dad wants you to meet some of his friends, and since you don’t have a car, you’re going with me.”

“Wait, is it really that necessary? I mean, I can just take a cab—”

“There’s no way you’re taking a cab. Wrap things up and let’s go, okay?” he cut me off, giving no room for discussion.

“Okay, sir. But I really don’t want to be a bother. I was planning to go home and change—it’s important I look my best, right?” I said, knowing full well traffic would be horrible today. It had been announced on the news two days ago.

Now I’ve really dodged this one, Adrian. What a way to play smart, I thought, forgetting momentarily that he was Roderick’s elder brother.

“Then we’ll go shopping. Meet me outside,” he said, shutting his laptop and standing up to leave.

He stopped at the door. “You know, Camila… you don’t look like someone ready to marry. It’s just too obvious—you really haven’t changed.”

And with that, he walked out.

Changed? What does he mean by that?

I glanced around his office, my eyes landing on the table where he had forgotten his wristwatch. I walked over and picked it up. It was a high-end piece—of course, it would be. It was Adrian’s.

I took it with me and returned to my office, purposely delaying a little. After grabbing my bag, I handed Kim instructions to handle any important documents while I was away, and headed to the parking lot.

“What took you so long?” Adrian asked as I entered his car, his voice surprisingly calm.

I thought he’d have driven off without me, considering how impatient he usually was. Maybe I was wrong about him.

“Sorry, boss,” I apologized quietly, my eyes glued to my lap.

Without saying another word, he started the car. We drove in silence until we arrived at one of the most prestigious malls in the city—Quantum Beauty. Famous for its luxury fashion, premium makeup, and celebrity-favored style transformations, it was a dreamland. I had always longed to visit.

“You seem excited,” Adrian said, watching my reaction as I stepped out of the car.

“Yes, boss. I’ve always wanted to come here,” I admitted, admiring the surroundings.

“Camila, wait,” he said suddenly.

I turned around. “Yes, boss?”

He looked directly into my eyes, his expression serious. “When we’re in the office, you can call me boss. But outside of it… I’m not. So stop calling me that, okay?”

I nodded slowly. “Okay… Adrian,” I said softly. The moment suddenly felt… intimate.

He reached for my hand, gently lacing his fingers with mine. My heart skipped a beat as my fingers instinctively tightened around his.

As we walked into the mall together, I could feel the stares. Even couples turned to look. It made me feel shy… but also strangely thrilled.

The excitement was real, but so was the confusion. I wasn’t sure what I felt anymore.

But all those emotions faded into the background when Adrian squeezed my hand tighter, pulling me closer to his side. Without thinking, I wrapped my other arm around his as we walked together like a couple in love.