Chapter 7: You smell nice too

Chapter 7: You smell nice too

Cynthia

Gwen Fucken Blackwood… What is she doing here!? My heart skips another beat as she smiles at me, her hair a little messy and I notice a faint trace of lipstick on her lips, My heartbeat quickens… Please, don’t tell me…

My eyes wander further, and they land on Adrian. He’s in his shirt and sweatpants, the casualness of him somehow making my chest tighten even more, "Don't worry, he just ate, love… You can just go home," Gwen whispers as she walks past me, her heels clicking against the floor with that infuriating confidence. I can’t look away as she disappears, leaving a trail of perfume and unease behind

Gwen Blackwood… Adrian's first love, the only woman he was ever capable of loving, and as far as I know, she is engaged to his father… I only know this because I’ve spent hours researching him, piecing together the women in his life like some obsessive puzzle… I turn back to him and sigh, feeling the weight of it pressing down on me

"What was she doing here?" I ask, stepping inside his apartment, trying to sound casual, but my voice trembles slightly

"None of your business, Vale," he replies, using that infuriating surname he likes to call me, and it irks me, but I’ll admit—it’s the closest thing I get to recognition from him

"You’re fucking your father's fiancé?" I ask, slamming the door behind me for emphasis

He tenses, his movements sharp as he walks toward the kitchen, "Get out," he says almost quietly, but I catch the undercurrent of steel in his voice, I chuckle softly, barely able to contain myself, "Adrian Kingsley, you’re fucking your father's fiancé?" I repeat, savoring the way the words hang between us like a challenge

He finally looks at me over the counter, his gray eyes sharper than ice, colder than I’ve ever seen them. I feel my whole body shiver under that gaze, my pulse jumping, "I said get out," he repeats, firmer this time

I gulp, feeling nothing except the urge to push him, to irritate him even more, and I smile faintly, "Let's talk about Emily," I tease, watching him sigh and pick up his home phone

"I have a trespasser," he says into the receiver, dropping the phone to the counter, "Come on Adrian, you can’t work with her… She’s-" I try to cut in, but he silences me without a glance

"You do not have a say on who I must and must not work with, you better get out," his tone leaves no room for argument, and I clench my fists, letting my irritation simmer before I walk out. The security guards are already waiting outside, their presence confirming that this fight with Emily Carter isn’t going to be simple, getting her fired is going to take a miracle… because clearly, through him, it won’t work, or should I use what I just saw now?

Emily

One week later

My phone rings at the perfect moment, and I glance down—it’s Patrick, my new driver. I didn’t even know I had a driver yet, but I’m not complaining

I’m wearing a crisp white t-shirt and a pencil black skirt, paired with stiletto heels. My laptop bag is slung over my shoulder, holding my laptop, iPad, and my new phone. I answer the call as I lock the door behind me, "I’ll be there in a second, Patrick," I tell him, dropping the call as I start power-walking toward the gate

Then Mr Sterner appears. Always appearing when I least expect him

"Seems like you have a pretty good job, princess," he says, and I shiver visibly, trying to mask it with my composure

"Mr Sterner, good morning… Let’s talk later about the payments, okay?" I try to sidestep him, but he grabs my arm with a hiss, "I want my money by the end of today," he says, eyes raking me from head to toe, then inhales sharply, "You smell nice too"

I pull free and look him dead in the eye, "We’ll talk later about your money, Mr Sterner," I say, finally striding toward the car waiting for me

"Good morning, Patrick," I greet as I slide into the back seat

"Good morning, Ms Carter," he replies, but I correct him for the third time, "It’s Emily, Patrick… Call me Emily." He nods, probably just going to remember tomorrow

The time is 6:45. I call the chef, breakfast is already ready, thank goodness. I sigh, "Okay… what’s for dinner tonight…"

I don’t even notice when I’m in the elevator with others. My iPad is open as I go through Adrian’s schedule for the day. Brunch with Mr Willard at 12:15, golf at 15:15 with Mrs Thompson… today is simple, straightforward. A good day to organize files, check schedules, and make sure everything runs smoothly

Vero is out; her daughter is having a son, and she wants to be there for the birth, leaving me to handle everything today. I’m nervous, my eyes flicking repeatedly to my iPad, double-checking, triple-checking... I look up and smiled, will I ever get to be a grandma? Heck even a mother? People who live old enough to that age, I consider them very lucky

Finally, I’m alone in the elevator, the quiet hum of the metal walls pressing in. My chest tightens with the familiar flutter that always comes when I’m alone with my thoughts, and I step out, heading straight to my office. I follow my ritual, walk in, say a small prayer, then head out for coffee

The moment is calm, peaceful… until my phone buzzes. Mr Sterner.

x You know, we could discuss how you can pay my rent before the day ends? x

I don’t reply. I tuck the phone away and walk toward the door, I don't have time for Mr Sterner right now, in fact I don't even want to think about him because I might puke, I didn't even realise as I bump into him. Adrian Fucken Kingsley. My heart skips, my step falters, and a hand grips my arm from behind. Warm, firm, unmistakable.

He’s closer than I expected, his presence overwhelming, his gray eyes piercing into mine. I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks, my pulse doing acrobatics in my chest, my words stuck somewhere between awe and disbelief

"Didn’t think I’d see you here this early," he murmurs, voice low, deep, velvet-smooth but dangerous, and I can barely breathe. I glance up at him, unsure if I’m standing or floating, and he smirks faintly, that slight curve of his lips that makes my knees go weak

I want to speak, to say something clever, something normal, but the words fail me. My hands tremble slightly, and the room feels smaller, tighter, like it’s just the two of us in a world paused, suspended, trembling with possibility and i can't seem to be able to take my eyes off him

And then… Adrian leans just a little closer, his breath brushing the side of my face, gray eyes boring into mine, and I hear him whisper "What's my schedule for today?"

My heart freezes, my chest tightens, and I realize, I might just be in trouble