BRIANNA

It was Monday morning, and I woke up earlier than usual, my heart brimming with happiness and energy that I couldn’t quite contain. My mind kept replaying the events of the weekend, especially that kiss at the gala. It had been brief, but it sent a flutter through me every time I thought about it. The memory was still fresh in my mind, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever forget it.

I rolled out of bed, my thoughts still occupied by Adrian. He had looked at me differently, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. We hadn’t really talked much since the gala, but the kiss lingered in the back of my mind like a sweet secret. But I didn’t want to dwell on it for too long. There were more important things to focus on, starting with getting my day going.

I did the usual morning chores, tidying up the house and making breakfast for Mom and Mariana before they even woke up. The soft hum of the city outside, the birds singing their early morning tune, filled the air as I moved around the kitchen. By the time the sun began to peek through the curtains, I was already in the shower. After a quick bath, I slipped into one of the outfits I picked up at the mall Adrian had taken me to. The dress was black, short-sleeve, bodycon, and had a deep V-neck that accentuated my curves. I paused for a moment in front of the mirror, admiring myself. For some reason, I felt more confident today, like the kiss had given me an invisible boost. I styled my hair into a messy bun, applied a little makeup, and finished the look with matching black heels and a handbag. Satisfied with how I looked, I grabbed my things and was ready to head out.

I made my way to Mom’s room to let her know I was heading to work. I had already eaten, so there was nothing left for me to do. I didn’t want to linger too long, so I grabbed a cab from the side of the road, and in no time, I was at the company building.

As I entered the lobby, I made my way straight to the receptionist’s desk, greeted by Kristen, who was already busy with her usual morning routine. I couldn’t help but smile brightly as I approached her.

“Good morning, Kristen. How was your weekend?” I asked, my voice upbeat.

“Morning, Brianna. My weekend was good. How was yours? I can already tell it was a great one with that big smile of yours,” Kristen responded, giving me a knowing look. She had an uncanny ability to read people, and it made me smile even more.

“What do you mean? I smile every day,” I joked, though I knew exactly what she meant.

“You do,” Kristen agreed, “but today, your smile is a little different. You seem... especially happy. Want to tell me why?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her teasing. “There’s no secret to it. I’m just happy today.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly in playful suspicion. “Mmm, okay. If you say so. By the way, is the boss in?”

“Yeah, he’s in,” Kristen replied with a nod.

“Alright, I’ll go now. Let’s grab lunch if I’m free later,” I said, my thoughts already moving toward the workday ahead. Kristen waved me off as I turned toward the elevator.

The elevator ride was uneventful, until the doors were about to close and someone stepped in just in time to stop them. My gaze lifted, and I saw it was Lewis. His usual expressionless face greeted me, and the air between us immediately became heavy with an unspoken tension.

“Hey, Lewis!” I greeted, forcing my voice to remain cheerful despite the discomfort in the air.

“Hey,” he responded curtly, not looking at me.

The silence that followed was thick, uncomfortable, as if there was something he wanted to say but hadn’t found the right moment.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lewis spoke. “I saw you and Adrian together at the gala. You two went holding hands like a couple, but you’re not. You shouldn’t be so close to him. He’s just using you to pass the time.”

His words hit me like a slap across the face. How dare he say something like that? I was seething inside, my thoughts racing. Who the hell did he think he was? How was it any of his business?

I turned to face him, my eyes narrowing as I confronted him. “Listen, Lewis,” I said through gritted teeth, “You’re in no position to tell me who I can or can’t be with. I’m a grown woman, and I can make my own decisions. Who the hell do you think you are? My father? Even he doesn’t get to tell me what to do.”

He remained unfazed by my outburst, his eyes cold. “You can snap at me all you want, Brianna. I’m just trying to be a good friend, giving you some advice. I don’t want him to use you.”

“Keep your advice to yourself, then,” I snapped, my frustration boiling over. “It’s not like I’m benefitting from it anyway.”

The elevator doors dinged open, signaling my stop, and without another word, I stormed out, leaving Lewis standing behind me with his stoic expression.

I stomped down the hall to my office, my mind a whirlwind of confusion. Why was Adrian telling me to stay away from Lewis, and now Lewis was telling me to stay away from Adrian? It didn’t make any sense. What was going on between them? And why did it bother me so much?

Once I was inside my office, I dumped my bag onto the desk and sank into my chair, letting out a deep sigh. I opened my laptop, trying to focus on work, but the thoughts swirling in my head wouldn’t stop. I had a ton of emails to reply to, so I tried to throw myself into the work to distract myself from the rising tension in my chest. It didn’t help.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a post-it note on my office door. How had I missed that? I must have been too distracted earlier to see it. I stood up and walked over to it, peeling it off the door with a frown.

I recognized the handwriting instantly. It was Adrian’s.

The note read: “Come to my office when you see this.”

I couldn’t help but feel a flutter in my stomach. What was he up to now? Curiosity got the better of me, and I walked straight to his office without hesitation. I knocked once before opening the door.

Adrian was sitting behind his desk, looking casual and relaxed. His tie was loosened, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a hint of his chest. My gaze lingered there for a second, and I immediately cursed myself for letting my thoughts wander. I quickly refocused.

“Good morning, Adrian,” I greeted him, trying to sound cheerful despite the unease still gnawing at me.

“Morning, Brianna,” he replied with a smile, though there was something more serious in his eyes. “You saw my note, right?”

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t,” I joked, and he chuckled, a low, rich sound that sent a shiver down my spine.

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady on me. “Actually, I asked you to come because I have something important to tell you.”

“Oh? What is it?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

He hesitated for a moment, and I couldn’t take it any longer. “Come on, Adrian! Tell me!”

Finally, he grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. “You’re moving to my office today.”

My heart skipped a beat at his words. What did that mean?