bADRIAN’S /bPOV

The sound of the toilet flushing echoed through the quiet room bas /bbI /bstepped out of the bathroom, a towel draped over my shoulders and a few beads of water still trailing down my arms. My eyes scanned the lit bspace/b, briefly pausing on therge mirror mounted on the wall. I looked tired— nob, /bexhausted. Not just physically, but mentally. Work had been hell today, but not because of meetings or deals falling through. My mind hadn’t been in the right ce ball /bday.

No matter how many papers bI /bsigned or how many assistants came in to brief me, it stayed at the forefront of my thoughts. It all started this morning. A nagging feeling I couldn’t quite exin, but one I wasn’t going to let fester any longer. I had to bget /bsomething off my chest. Today.

bI /bwalked over to the wardrobe and stared at the rows of arranged clothing–custom–tailored suits, luxury dress shirts, designer sweaters, all aligned like soldiers on parade. Normally, I wouldn’t give it much thought, as she would have already gotten me an outfit whenever we had somewhere important to go. But she bwasn’t /bhere to do that nowb, /band I found myself stuck between dressing up or keeping bit /bsimple; picking your own clothing bwas /bvery hard

Casual or sharp?

I nced over at the clock on the nightstand. The minute hand bwas /bcreeping dangerously close to the time I’d given Olivia to be back. One hour. That’s all I’d given her. And she knew better than to keep me waiting.

I bit my lower lip, still thinking. A ck trench bcoat /bcaught my eyeb–/belegant but not itoo /ishy. I grabbed it along with a in ck hoodie and a pair of fitted jeans. Simple, but it made a statement. That was all I needed tonight.

Once dressed, I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my cor and smoothing out the coat. My reflection looked collected, but inside, my mind was rehearsing every word I nned to say to her. This bwasn’t /bgoing to be just another cold conversation. Tonight was different.

Then I heard it–the soft murmur of a female voice downstairs. The front door clicked shut, followed by the familiar voice of the maid greeting Olivia. My pulse spiked a little. Right on time. Good.

Her footsteps echoed against the marble bas /bshe made her way upstairs. I could tell by the cadence of her steps that she was in no mood for nonsenseb. /bShe stopped at the door for a brief second, and then it swung open.

I nced at her through the mirrorb, /bonly for a moment, before I refocused on adjusting my watch.

“Good thing you came on time,” I said, my voice calm but clipped. “At least you remember I hate being kept waiting.”

Her beyes /bnarrowed slightly, and she crossed her arms. “Well, I’m here now. So what bwas /bbso /bimportant that it couldn’t wait until I

bgot /b

backb?/bb” /b

Instead of answering, I turned baway /band walked toward the wardrobe. I reached inside and pulled out one of her bcoats/bb–/bba /bsleek bgray /bone she’d worn only onceb–/band tossed it to her.

“We’re going bout/b,” I said without turning.

“To where bexactly/b?” she asked, her tone growing firmer bas /bshe caught the bcoat /bmid–air.

“I’ll let byou /bknow on our bway /bthere.b” /b

She didn’t moveb. /b“I’m not leaving until you tell me where we’re goingb./bb” /b

I rolled my eyesb. /bCouldn’t she bjust /bbagree /bwith me bfor /bonce? Why must she always bgo /bagainst everything I bsay/bb? /bbIt’s /blike she takes pride in challenging me bat /bbevery /bbturn/bb, /bbeven /bwhen there’s no need toi. /i

Fine. I might as well tell her since she’s so bdesperate /bto know.

With a sigh, I turned and walked closer to herb, /bclosing the space bbetween /bus. My eyes locked onto hers bas /bI stepped in, watching the bway /bher expression subtly shifted. She adjusted, straightening her posture the moment she realized how close I was standing. The bair /bbetween us shifted- thick, awkward, tense, but not in a hostile bway/b. I knew she could feel it too.

b“/bWhen was thest time you bwent /bto bthe /bcinemab?/bb” /bbI /baskedb, /btilting my head bslightly /bas I studied her reaction.

She cleared her throat and took ba /bbsmall /bstep bback/bb. /bJust that one hesitant motion told me everything I needed to know. It had bclearly /bbeen a long time.

b“/bbI/bb, /buhmmb../b” she stammered, rubbing the back of her neck and avoiding my bgaze/b.

bA /bsmirk tugged at the corner of my lips as I folded my arms. b“/bbSo/bb, /bball /bthis time you’ve been going bout/bb, /bbwhere /bbexactly /bhave you been bgoing/b? I mean, I at least assured you’d be doing something fun, like going to the movies–bespecially /bbsince /bbyou /bdon’t have any friends.” I said thest part with a teasing tone, raising my brow.

Her head snapped bup/b, and she shot bme /ba bre/bb. /b“Wherever I’ve been going is a hundred times better than spending a whole day trapped in this 1/2

house with you,” she snapped back.

I chuckled under my breath, amused by her fire. “Am I really that annoying to you?” I asked,yering my voice with sarcastic disbelief.

She took a bold step forward, going on her toes just to try and match my height. “Very annoying,” she said with narrowed eyes, her voice sharp.

“Well, that’s too bad for you,” I whispered, leaning down slightly so my lips were near her ear. “Because you’re going to be spending the entire day with me.”

Her brows lifted. “That has to be one of your jokes, right?” she asked, clearly hoping it was.

“Do I look like I’m joking? I’m already dressed up,” I said, gesturing to my ck trench coat and hoodie. “You think I did all this just for fun?”

She opened her mouth to protest–of course, she did. I could practically hear the argument forming in her head. But before she could even say a word, I raised my index finger and gently pressed it to her lips. “Shhhhh,” I murmured.

She blinked, caught off guard.

“I’ll be waiting for you in the car,” I added, stepping away without another nce. My voice was final. Whether she liked it or not, she wasing with me.

As I made my way out of the house, a strange feeling washed over me. This wasn’t just about getting out of the house. No. This had been on my mind all day–this one idea I couldn’t shake. I wanted to take Olivia out. Not for any reason tied to power or control, but simply because… I wantedollito./li/ol

The car door closed with a quiet thud as I slid into the back seat. I leaned back, running a hand through my hair while my thoughts swirled. Guess like I was doing something even I wouldn’t believe I’ll do.

This was the first time I was taking her out since we met, and it wasn’t a bad idea, as I don’t see her with so much hatred as I used to before.