Olivia Hayes:"Forget it. Even if you sold me, it wouldn't even be enough to pay for my food."
Adrian Foster:"No problem. Let's sign a long-term contract. Work for me for a few decades."
Olivia Hayes:"Evil boss, damn vampire, exploitative capitalist!" [Sticker of someone banging on the table in anger]
Adrian Foster:"Hahaha, I'm full and ready to sleep. I'm going to bed. You should go to bed early too. Good night, Olivia."
Olivia Hayes:"Good evening, Mr. Foster!"
Adrián smiled, staring at the illuminated screen of his cell phone. Only after reading that "good night" did he feel truly at ease. Part of him wanted to keep writing her, to keep teasing her, to prolong that delicious feeling of having her on the other side a little longer. But he knew he shouldn't rush into it. A relationship, even one that moved quickly, needed breathing space, small silences that would leave room for the other person to seek it out as well.
She got up from the table, cleared the dishes, and although she could have left them for the morning, she forced herself to wash them. The sound of running water and the soap against the porcelain calmed her. Then she threw herself down onto her king-size bed, still smiling.
Elsewhere in the city, far from Riverside Hills and its multi-million dollar mansions, Olivia Hayes was also awake.
She lived in an old two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, a building that had seen better days. The stairs creaked, the plaster on the walls was cracked, and the central heating made noises as if it might collapse at any moment. It wasn't luxurious, by any means, but it was what she and her best friend, Emily Carter, with whom she shared rent and utility bills, could afford.
That night, Olivia had a couple of glasses of wine at a coworker's house. She should have been overcome with sleep as soon as she set foot in her bed, but after her conversation with Adrián, her sleepiness vanished completely.
She stood up, walked barefoot to the kitchen, and poured herself a glass of water. The cold liquid ran down her throat and restored a strange sense of clarity.
The moon filtered through the small living room window, bathing the worn wooden floor in a silvery glow. Olivia stood there, gazing at the night sky. It had been so long since she had stopped to look at something as simple as the moon. Her routine was reduced to work, coming home, and sleeping. Nothing more.
Sometimes he wondered if he wasn't getting lost in that vast, frenetic city that was New York.
And then she thought of him. Of Adrian.
She had only known him for a few weeks, and yet the confidence with which he spoke, the way he looked at her, and the simple fact that he, a young millionaire, was interested in someone as ordinary as her, had stirred something that had been buried for years.
Could it be that he…?
No, I can't think like that. I'm not worthy of someone like him.
His status, his world, his fortune, even his mere presence seemed too much for her. Olivia looked at her reflection in the window and sighed. She knew she was attractive, yes, but could she compete with the women who rubbed shoulders at Fifth Avenue parties, in Wall Street circles, at fashion shows?
A noise pulled her from her thoughts. Emily staggered out of her room, her hair a mess and her black pajamas crumpled. Her friend could barely keep her eyes open.
"Ting," Emily murmured thickly. "Why are you still awake?"
"I couldn't sleep," Olivia replied, running to support her when she saw her lose her balance.
He helped her sit on the sofa and brought her a glass of water. Emily sipped it slowly and then slumped back in exhaustion.
"You should quit that job at Horizon Media," she stammered, half asleep. "You always say you'll do it, but you never do."
"I'll do it soon," Olivia replied quietly, without much conviction.
"Soon" doesn't mean anything. I understand. You didn't want to leave when the company was in crisis because you owed your old boss so much. And you didn't accept other offers either because you dreamed of starting your own business. But now that everything's stabilized with Adrián in charge... what are you doing there?" Emily narrowed her eyes, still half-drunk, but with brutal sincerity.
Olivia didn't respond immediately. She knew her friend was right. She lacked courage. She lacked savings. And perhaps… she had an extra invisible connection to a certain young millionaire who had appeared in her life like a whirlwind.
When Emily began to snore softly, Olivia covered her with a blanket. Then she returned to the window, hugging herself. Adrian's figure appeared in her mind once more.It might be worth the risk… even if you end up hurt.
The next morning, Adrian's phone was vibrating insistently on the nightstand. He picked it up, half-asleep, and saw a dozen missed calls from Daniel Hunt. Alarmed, he thought something serious had happened, perhaps with the sports car he had lent him.
"What happened?" he asked as soon as she answered.
"Nothing, nothing. I just wanted to know if you were still alive," Daniel replied mockingly. "You slept like a rock, bro."
Adrian rolled his eyes. "I thought you crashed the car."
—No, no. That's still the case. Although, hey, was it true what you said last night about you liking a girl?
There was a silence. Adrian frowned.
"Did you forget everything you told me yesterday? I even asked you for advice, and you meant it," he replied, annoyed.
Daniel burst out laughing. "Of course I remember. That's why I'm telling you: let me work at your company as yourwingmanOfficial. I have years of dating experience. I swear I'll help you win her over.
"Get out, idiot." Adrian hung up abruptly.
He fell back into bed, even though he couldn't go back to sleep.
A couple of hours later, Adrian arrived at the offices ofHorizon Media Group, a modern building in the heart of Manhattan. He'd decided to avoid rush hour, so he had a leisurely breakfast: scrambled eggs, freshly squeezed orange juice, and strong black coffee.
As he entered, several receptionists stood up in unison.
—Good morning, Mr. Foster.
Adrian smiled with satisfaction. Being a boss had its perks.
"Good morning. How was your weekend?" she asked as she headed toward the elevator, lifting a bag of potato chips she'd grabbed from the front desk.
There he metLisa Carter, one of his most enthusiastic employees. She looked at him in surprise as he devoured the potatoes without remorse.
"Don't tell me those are my healthy fries," he protested, half-joking.
"Officially confiscated," Adrian replied with a sly smile. "Consider this my way of helping you stick to your diet."
Lisa snorted, but ended up laughing. "This weekend I went to Disney World in Orlando. It was fun, although it was so crowded that there were endless lines for everything."
—Then recommend me a less crowded place to go.
Lisa's eyes lit up immediately. She was a foodie and always looking for new places in New York.
—There are too many. A taco truck in Brooklyn, a wood-fired pizza place in Queens with a midnight wait, a seafood restaurant in the Bronx that serves incredible lobster…
Adrián listened attentively, but his mind was focused solely on Olivia. Each suggestion was mentally filed away as part of a plan: first, win her stomach in order to win her heart.