CHAPTER 50: SECRET ADMIRER

"I just found out you actually use Instagram too," Bianca said, looking at Adrian with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

Well, it wasn’t that surprising. For Adrian, a company leader, CEO, and billionaire, having a few social media accounts was necessary. Besides keeping in touch with his contacts and colleagues, he also used social media to expand and grow his network.

"Sweetheart, there’s still a lot you don’t know about me. But don’t worry, over time, you’ll learn more," Adrian said with a meaningful smile. Then he added, "But I’m a little disappointed because I already know a lot about you."

"Like what?" Bianca raised an eyebrow, waiting for his answer.

"Hmm... like your favorite color is white. Your shoe size is 38. When you get angry, your nose flares. When you smile or laugh, little wrinkles appear at the corners of your eyes. You like spicy food. You prefer cats over dogs. You love romantic movies so much that you sometimes cry because you get totally caught up in the story. And you’re actually pretty clumsy," Adrian said proudly. "And there’s so much more I know about you," he added with meaning.

Bianca had been silent from the moment Adrian started talking until he finished, her jaw dropping in surprise. She didn’t expect her former boss to know so much about her. She even wondered how Adrian knew her shoe size.

Still processing everything he said, Bianca asked, a mix of surprise and curiosity in her voice, "Where did you learn all that from?"

"Want to know how I found out all that?"

"Don’t tell me you’re secretly my admirer?" Bianca joked with a sly smile.

"If I am, what’s wrong with that?" Adrian challenged, playing along.

"Wow. I’m so honored. It’s such a big honor to have a secret admirer like you," Bianca teased, pretending to be flattered as she placed one hand on her chest and bowed slightly in thanks.

Adrian chuckled but wanted to keep their playful game going. "So, how do you feel knowing you have a secret admirer like me?" He tilted his head slightly, looking at Bianca intently.

"Of course, I feel proud. Happy, too. But also a little curious. How did you end up being my secret admirer? What did you see in me that made you quietly become one?"

"Well, that’s what secret admirers are for, right? The reason is simply because I admire you so much that I became your secret admirer," Adrian said with a proud chuckle.

Bianca rolled her eyes at his answer.

"Ah, you... not funny," she said, pouting.

Unknowingly, Bianca had just joked with Adrian. She even showed a side of herself, playful and a little spoiled, that she never showed Rafael. Without realizing it, she was starting to feel comfortable with Adrian around.

Seeing Bianca sulk, Adrian chuckled and said, "I’m pretty observant, so I notice little things like that." Then he added seriously and honestly from the bottom of his heart, "From what I’ve seen, you’re genuine. Real. Not like other women who pretend. You know what you want. You never have an agenda when you do something."

Since he got to know Bianca, his former secretary, he realized she was a sincere woman. Bianca was kind to everyone. If someone asked for help, she always helped. And that made him admire Bianca even more.

Adrian just didn’t know his praise made Bianca let out a heavy sigh.

Not pretending, huh? You don’t know, Adrian, that I’m not what you imagine me to be. Bianca thought quietly, feeling sad.

Adrian then changed the subject and asked Bianca curiously, "If you don’t use social media, what do you do in your free time?"

Because nowadays, almost everyone uses social media, whether it’s their real account or just a fake one to browse around. So when Adrian heard Bianca didn’t use any, he was a little surprised. Even he, a guy, uses Instagram. Aren’t women usually into posting everything on their Instagram?

"I like reading books," Bianca replied quietly.

"Oh, you like reading? What’s the last book you read?"

Bianca suddenly felt a little shy. The books she read weren’t the usual self-improvement or business ones. She actually enjoyed reading steamy romance novels, full of explicit scenes between men and women that made her imagine and feel like she was right there, experiencing it herself.

"I mean, I like reading novels," she said, but didn’t elaborate on what kind.

"What kind of novels? Romance novels?"

"Yeah, that kind." She hoped Adrian wouldn’t ask any more questions.

"Why do most women like reading romance novels? What is it about them that draws you in?" Adrian asked, genuinely curious.

What baffled Adrian was how utterly ridiculous most romance novels were. He once read some because an ex-girlfriend made him, saying they would teach him how to treat a woman properly.

But as he flipped through the pages, he just wanted to scream. Who in real life would put up with a woman who dumped them and just take her back like nothing happened? Were these guys total idiots? And even worse, the male leads acted like they cared about their girlfriends more than anything else, ignoring everything else in their lives. It was beyond absurd.

"Most women want to experience a love story that’s unforgettable, one that makes their hearts race and fills them with passion when they fall in love," Bianca said, her eyes shining brightly, clearly longing to feel that too.

Adrian frowned. In the novels he read, some guys turned into total pushovers, chasing like dogs, calling their girlfriends over, obeying every demand—while the women acted all coy and played hard to get. Was that really what women wanted to feel?

If Adrian ever saw that in real life, he felt like he’d need to wake that guy up. He’d say, "There are plenty of fish in the sea. Why chase just one fish that might not even suit your taste? There are bigger and prettier fish out there, you can chase two or three, and choose the best one that fits you."

If Bianca knew what Adrian was thinking right now, she’d be seriously shocked, especially since she’d started to believe he was changing.

***