BRIANNA

It was Thursday, and Adrian and I were at our desks, engrossed in work. The silence in the office was so profound, you could almost hear a pin drop. I was so deep into my work, I didn’t notice Adrian calling me until he walked over and stood in front of me, blocking my view.

Raising my head, I took in his tall frame, his face as handsome as ever. His lips were moving, but I couldn’t catch a word until I pulled my earphones out. I’d been listening to music for the past hour, the volume cranked up to help me focus.

“What did you say?” I asked with a sheepish smile.

Adrian raised an eyebrow, a mix of annoyance and amusement on his face. “So, you had earphones in this whole time?” he asked, his tone a little sharper than usual.

“Yes, I did. Sorry, I didn’t hear you,” I said with a little giggle, attempting to lighten the mood.

“You’re something else, you know that?” he scoffed, though I could tell he was holding back a grin.

I leaned back, smiling mischievously. “I’ll take that as a compliment. It means I’m unique.”

Rolling his eyes, Adrian sighed, but a small smile played on his lips. “Alright, special creature, we have something to discuss.” His face grew serious, and I sat up, feeling a change in the atmosphere.

“What is it?” I asked, curious.

He hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Have you ever been to Spain?”

“Spain?” I echoed, confused. “No, I haven’t. Why?”

Adrian’s expression softened a bit. “I’ll be going on a business trip to Spain on Friday,” he announced casually, though his gaze never left mine.

“Spain? This Friday?” I blurted out, trying to process the news. “When will you be back?”

He shrugged, his expression now unreadable. “We’ll be there for about a week. I thought, maybe, after the work part’s done, we could... have some fun, explore the city. Make a few memories while we’re there.”

“Did you just say we?” I quirked an eyebrow, my voice laced with surprise.

“Yes, you’re coming with me. I always need my personal assistant by my side, remember?” He smirked, his tone cheeky, but I couldn’t help the warmth spreading across my face.

“Ouch!” he complained when I playfully smacked his arm. “What was that for?”

“For not telling me sooner!” I exclaimed, exasperated. “Tomorrow’s Friday, Adrian! I have to pack, prepare—there’s so much to do!”

Adrian raised his hands in a defensive gesture, though a hint of mischief sparkled in his eyes. “Hey, I only found out last night. It was way too late to call you, and besides... I still don’t have your phone number.”

I could feel my cheeks warming. “Still...” I mumbled, slightly embarrassed.

He chuckled, the sound warm and familiar. “Packing isn’t a big deal. You can handle it, right?”

“I don’t even have a travel bag,” I groaned, trying to wrap my mind around the sudden trip.

“That’s no problem. We’ll pick one up together. In fact, we’ll leave work a bit early so you can pack comfortably. I’ve booked the flight, and we’ll be taking off at 7 a.m. tomorrow.”

The realization hit me, and I scrambled to my feet. “Okay, so I need a list. I’ll need formal outfits... and a few casual ones in case we go out. And... oh! This is going to take forever.”

“Relax.” Adrian chuckled, grabbing my shoulders gently to stop my frantic pacing. “Just pack what you need. And trust me, I want this trip to be memorable for you. It’s your first time, after all.”

“That’s sweet of you,” I replied, trying not to smile too broadly.

He looked down, then pulled something out of his wallet, offering it to me with a slight smile. “Here, take my credit card. You can get whatever you need—bag, clothes, anything.”

“There’s no need for that,” I protested, shaking my head. “I just need a travel bag. I can get it myself.”

“I insist,” he said, trying to push the card into my hand.

I stepped back, crossing my arms defiantly. “If we weren’t so close now, I’d be using my own money for this trip. Besides, I know how to be budget-friendly!”

Adrian’s shoulders slumped, and he sighed in defeat. “Alright, alright. But if you change your mind, let me know.”

“Good,” I said, flashing him a smile as I returned to my desk, feeling a bit more prepared.

“I’ll quickly finish up here and head home,” I told him, mentally running through a packing list. “I’ll also need to tell my mom and sister about the trip. They’re going to freak out if I don’t warn them.”

“Take your time,” he replied, bobbing his head. “But I’ll be here if you need anything.” He slid onto the edge of my desk, looking like he had no intention of going anywhere.

“Don’t you have work to get back to?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Adrian smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I’m the boss. I can work whenever I want, remember?”

“Whatever, boss,” I mimicked his tone, which earned me a laugh.

“Alright, alright. I’ll let you work,” he said, but as I focused on my laptop, he continued to distract me—playing with my hair, teasing my ear, even brushing his hand over mine when he thought I wasn’t looking. It was impossible to concentrate, yet I found myself finishing the last of my work with a smile on my face.

After forty-five minutes, I gathered my things, standing up with a satisfied sigh. Adrian rose too, like he’d been waiting.

“I’ll be off now. I need all the time I can get to prepare,” I said.

“Yeah, you go on ahead. Packing seems to be an art form for you girls.” He grinned, adding with a smirk, “Men have it easy.”

“Oh, whatever.” I rolled my eyes.

“A hug before you leave?” he asked, spreading his arms, his expression unusually soft.

I stepped closer, wrapping my arms around his torso. He was warm and solid, like a comforting anchor. His chin rested on the top of my head, and for a moment, I simply basked in the peacefulness of the hug.

“I’ll stop if you don’t like it,” he murmured.

“Don’t!” I whispered, my words muffled against his chest. “I like it. You’re like my big, fluffy bear.”

He chuckled, a deep, soothing sound. “Guess I’ll have to keep up my bear duties, then.”

After a moment, I pulled away reluctantly. “Alright, I really should go or I’ll never get everything packed.”

Adrian’s expression softened. “Go on, then. Before I decide to keep you here longer.”

Blushing, I gave him a quick wave and darted out of the office, my heart racing. Once outside, I hailed a cab and headed straight to a store to pick up a travel bag and a few essentials. It was starting to sink in: tomorrow, I’d be on my way to Spain with Adrian.

When I got home, I explained the situation to my mom and sister. My mother looked nervous, but she ultimately smiled and gave her approval. Mariana, on the other hand, was enthusiastic, already listing things I should take with me.

Finally, I went up to my room, excitement and anticipation swirling through me as I started packing for the adventure that awaited.