ADRIAN

I watched Brianna as she descended the steps of her less-than-glamorous house. She was breathtaking—her dress clung to her figure in all the right ways, accentuating her curves. The makeup was on point, enhancing her features without being overdone. Simply put, she looked like a goddess.

I almost spoke my admiration out loud, but she ruined the moment with her usual sharp tongue. I was probably a little out of line for honking the horn to get her attention, but I wasn’t going to apologize. She was already on my case, as usual.

“Took you long enough. I was about to march up there and drag you out myself,” I said as she approached.

“Oh, please. You didn’t even have the decency to come up and knock on my door,” she snapped.

“Are you calling me mannerless?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Of course not, you just said that yourself,” she retorted with a smirk.

“Whatever. Just get in the limo and don’t push me any further,” I said, a tired edge to my voice. She climbed into the car.

Once we were settled inside, the driver started the engine, and the silence between us stretched. Then, unexpectedly, I blurted it out.

“You look stunning, by the way.”

She turned to look at me, her wide eyes betraying her surprise. Then her face flushed, and she whispered a small “thank you.”

“You look good, too,” she added so quietly I almost didn’t catch it.

“Good, eh? That’s it? Just good?” I teased, my tone light despite the tension.

“Actually, you look really hot in that suit,” she said, and for a moment, I couldn’t quite believe my ears. Was this really Brianna saying something nice about me? I felt a strange sense of pride.

“Oh, really? I wear suits all the time. What makes this one special?” I pressed, unable to resist teasing her further.

“I don’t know… this one just fits you better than the ones you wear to work,” she shrugged, clearly trying to downplay her compliment.

“Is that so?” I asked, a small smile playing on my lips. Her honesty was refreshing, in a way.

“Yeah, that’s what I think,” she said, and the conversation fell into a brief silence. I decided to keep it light.

“You know, this might be the first time we’ve actually had a conversation without arguing,” I mused. “I think we should take a moment to appreciate this rare moment of peace.”

“Well, that’s true, but it’s not my fault we argue all the time,” she defended herself.

“Whose fault is it, then?” I asked, enjoying the playful back-and-forth.

“Yours, obviously,” she said with an exaggerated eye roll, as if the answer was clear.

“Me? How do I cause all our arguments?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Promise me you won’t get angry if I tell you?” she asked, a hint of hesitation in her voice.

“I won’t be angry. Just say what’s on your mind,” I replied, intrigued.

“Alright,” she said, taking a deep breath. “You’re bossy, arrogant, egocentric, and you act like you know everything. And to top it off, you never even acknowledge when someone greets you. Oh, and you’re crazy.”

Her words hit me harder than I expected. Normally, I wouldn’t care what anyone thought of me, but hearing Brianna say all that—especially in such a blunt way—left me momentarily speechless. Was this really how she saw me? I had to admit, it stung a little.

“Are you mad? You promised you wouldn’t be angry,” she said when she noticed how quiet I’d gone, studying her without blinking.

I snapped out of my thoughts. “I’m not angry. Just surprised, honestly. I didn’t realize you thought so lowly of me.”

“Well, there you have it,” she said awkwardly, fiddling with her fingers. “Now, it’s your turn. What do you think of me?”

“You really want to know?” I asked, my tone a mix of amusement and curiosity.

“Yeah,” she said, sounding unsure but still eager. She bit her bottom lip, and for some reason, I suddenly felt the urge to kiss it. What was going on with me tonight?

“You asked for it,” I said, before pausing to collect my thoughts. “You’re obnoxious, sassy, disobedient, and you love arguing with me. You don’t listen to anything I say unless I threaten you with firing you.”

“You’re not wrong,” she admitted with a shrug. “But you’re the one who makes me act that way. You’re always so arrogant and bossy.”

I couldn’t argue with that. She had a point.

“I’ve noticed you’re not like that with other people. Especially Lewis. You two seem pretty close,” I added, a hint of jealousy creeping into my tone. I wasn’t sure if she’d catch it, but it was there.

“There’s nothing between me and Lewis,” she said quickly, dismissing the idea. “We’re just work friends.”

“There might not be anything now,” I said, my voice growing more serious, “but Lewis is interested in you. I know him, and I want you to tell me if he tries anything.”

“Okay, Mr. Adrian,” she said, but I couldn’t tell if she was being serious or sarcastic.

“Oh, and Brianna?” I called.

“Yeah?”

“You can call me Adrian. ‘Mr.’ isn’t part of my name,” I said, joking to lighten the mood, though I meant it.

“Really? What would people at work say if I just called you by your name? They’d think we were having an affair,” she said, raising an eyebrow.

“They can think whatever they want. I don’t care. Just call me Adrian,” I replied.

“Okay, Mr. Adrian,” she teased.

I shot her a look. “What did I just tell you?”

“Oops, sorry,” she said, clearly testing the name. “Adrian.”

“That’s better, isn’t it?” I asked with a grin.

“It actually is,” she said with a smile.

As we shared this rare moment of light-hearted banter, the chauffeur pulled up to the gala venue. The place was swarming with reporters and flashing cameras. Brianna shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“Are you nervous?” I asked, though it was pretty obvious.

“Yes,” she answered quietly, her nerves palpable.

“There’s no need to be. I’ll be with you the whole time,” I reassured her, watching her slowly relax.

“Ready?” I asked, seeing her calm a little.

“Yes,” she nodded. “Let’s get this gala started, even though I have no idea what to expect.”

I laughed softly. “Let’s go.”