جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 20

Emily I stayed at the company far longer than I had intended. At first, it was just reluctance—an unwillingness to return home and face the familiar weight of that house. The sharp looks. Lily’s thinly veiled contempt. My stepmother’s polite indifference that always felt like judgment wrapped in silk. But as the hours passed, I realized it was more than that. I didn’t want to leave. The building itself felt different from anywhere I’d been before. Not just expensive—though it was undeniably that—but purposeful. People moved with intent, voices low and focused, heels clicking in steady rhythm against polished floors. No one hovered. No one lingered pointlessly. It felt… alive. I wandered through the lower floors first, careful not to intrude, letting myself be guided by curiosity rather than any real destination. Open-plan offices buzzed softly with conversation and keyboard taps. Glass-walled meeting rooms held intense discussions I couldn’t hear but could somehow feel.

Emily I barely noticed the murmurs around me as I walked out of the building. My head was buzzing from the day—the office politics, the unnecessary lectures, and the quiet, simmering frustration that refused to leave my chest. I tried to calm myself, telling myself it wasn’t that bad, that I was only starting, that I’d learn. Then I saw Adrian’s car parked in front. The familiar sleek black vehicle gleamed under the late afternoon sun. The window rolled down, and he leaned his arm on the frame, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. He gestured for me to hop in. I hesitated for a fraction of a second, but before anyone could notice, I was in. The door shut, the engine roared to life, and we were moving immediately. “Adrian,” I said, voice low, trying to keep my composure, “this is risky. Meeting me here—at work—people are already gossiping. It’s better to keep a professional distance.” He didn’t promise. He never did. I glared at him, letting my frustration settle into a warning. “I

AdrianAfter a little more prodding, she finally admitted it.“Alright, yes, I am sulking,” she muttered, crossing her arms, cheeks flushed, eyes darting away. "I know I said something wrong, but you also ignored me. You gave the silent treatment"I almost laughed.She had sulked all this time, and now she had the audacity to admit it while acting annoyed at me for refusing to speak to her in the car.I tried to suppress the smile curling at the corners of my lips, but I couldn’t. Not this time.She was angry because I hadn’t spoken to her. Angry at me for… ignoring her.My Emily.The thought alone made my chest tighten. I was supposed to be the one in control, the stoic, unshakable Adrian, but the truth was painfully obvious—I could never ignore her. I could never pretend that her small annoyances, her stubbornness, her mood swings meant nothing to me. I was too far gone. Too consumed by her to act rationally.And she had no idea how much effect she had on me. No clue what I would do

EmilyThe rest of the week was brutal.There was no other word for it.After the night I spent at Adrian’s place, I didn’t see him again—not even once. No stolen glances. No quiet conversations. No unexpected appearances.That didn't mean I didn't here from him,My phone buzzed constantly.Did you eat?How was work today?Don’t forget to rest.Aren’t you replying because you’re busy or because you’re mad?Sometimes I smiled when I read them. Other times, I barely had the energy to register the notifications before slipping my phone back into my pocket.Most days, I was too exhausted to reply properly.Work swallowed me whole.I arrived early every morning, my heels clicking against polished floors as I joined the stream of employees who all looked like they knew exactly where they were going. I, on the other hand, still felt like an intruder—someone who had wandered into the wrong building and stayed too long.Printing documents.Making photocopies.Brewing coffee that was either too

Adrian She dragged me into the room the second she saw me and closed the door behind her with a click. Her fingers curled around my wrist with surprising strength, panic flickering across her face as she pressed her back against the door as if afraid someone would follow. For a split second, I just stared at her. Emily. In that dress. Breathing a little too fast. All coherent thought abandoned me. The only reason I was at this gala tonight was because I knew she would be there. I’d told myself I’d just watch. That I’d keep my distance. That seeing her across the room would be enough to quiet the ache that had been gnawing at me for days. I’d lied to myself. The way the dress clung to her, elegant and soft and deceptive, the way her smile was practiced—perfect for the world, not for me. And now she was here. Alone. Mine. The door hadn’t even finished clicking shut before my hands were on her. My mouth claimed hers with all the hunger I’d been holding back, days of restra