The next morning, the office atmosphere felt strangely electric. Elara arrived early, hoping to avoid any awkwardness. Her heartbeat was loud enough to drown out her footsteps.
As she reached her desk, she took a deep breath. She would pretend nothing happened. She would be professional and she would act as though the kiss never touched her.
She sat down, turned on her computer…
But the moment she heard his footsteps approaching from down the hall, her fingers froze on the keyboard.
She didn't have to look to know it was him.
Her entire body recognized the rhythm instantly.
Then—
"Elara."
His voice was quiet, low, too controlled.
She slowly turned her head.
Adrian stood beside her desk, expression unreadable, but something in his eyes flickered with the memory of last night.
"Good morning, Mr. Vale," she said, forcing her voice steady.
He watched her for a moment longer than necessary.
"Come to my office. We need to discuss today's schedule."
She stood and followed him. Inside his office, he closed the door. Elara's breath hitched because he rarely closed the door. Adrian turned to face her, hands in his pockets, jaw tense.
"We need to talk about last night."
Her pulse pounded loudly in her ears.
"I am sorry," she blurted out. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have—"
"No."
His voice cut through her apology sharply.
"If anyone should apologize, it's me."
She blinked, stunned.
He stepped closer, but not too close, just enough that she felt the weight of his presence.
"I crossed a line," he continued. "I should not have kissed you without thinking."
Her heart twisted.
But his next words made her breath stop entirely.
"I don't regret it," he said softly. "But I want to understand it."
She stared at him, unable to move.
"Understand what?" she whispered.
Adrian searched her face, eyes dark, conflicted, and sincere.
"Why," he said, "I felt like I've kissed you before."
The world seemed to tilt. Her knees almost buckled.
And then he took another step toward her.
"Elara," he murmured, voice low and warm,
"why do you feel so familiar to me?"
Her breath broke.
Because you loved me once.
Because I loved you too.
Because you kissed me almost every night for months.
But she whispered the only safe answer she could give.
"I… I don't know."
Adrian looked at her for a long, silent moment.
And it was clear that he didn't believe her, not even a little.
She opened her mouth—
"I—"
His eyes locked onto hers, intense, searching.
She felt everything rushing up at once, the memories of his home, the warmth of his hands, the sound of his laugh, the night he whispered that he loved her.
Her chest constricted painfully.
If she told him now…
If he remembered…
If he learned she left him…
He would hate her.
"I…" Her breath trembled. "Mr. Vale, I…"
She bit her lip hard, shaking her head.
"I can't," she whispered, voice breaking.
Adrian's brows knit, hurt flickering in his eyes.
"Elara," he said softly, "tell me."
She looked away, blinking back tears.
"I don't want to confuse you further," she forced out. "I shouldn't have let last night happen. I crossed a line. Please forget it."
"I don't want to forget it," he said immediately, stepping closer, so close her back brushed the edge of his desk. "I want to understand you. Understand this."
His hand lifted with hestiation and gently touched her wrist. It felt warm, familiar and right.
"Elara…" he murmured, his voice roughening. "Tell me who you were to me."
Her breath hitched—
But before she could respond, a asharp knock cut through the air.
"Adrian? You inside?"
Rowen's voice.
Elara jerked back as if burned. Adrian's hand fell away, jaw tightening with frustration.
The door opened half a second later.
"Hey—oh." Rowen stopped short, eyes flicking between them. The air in the room was thick with tension, and he knew instantly he had walked in on something.
Elara stepped aside quickly, trying to compose herself.
Rowen raised an eyebrow at Adrian. "I thought you said you were free to go over the Q3 numbers with me?"
Adrian's gaze lingered on Elara, sharp and unreadable.
Then he tore his eyes away.
"Yes," he said curtly. "I'll be there."
Rowen could practically feel the heat still humming in the room. He cleared his throat.
"Elara," he said gently, "do you mind printing the figures for the meeting?"
"Of course," she replied, her voice too soft, too fragile.
As she walked past Rowen toward the door, she avoided Adrian's gaze entirely.
Adrian, however, didn't take his eyes off her, not until she disappeared down the hallway.
Rowen waited until the door closed before turning to Adrian.
"Okay," he said slowly. "What exactly did I just interrupt?"
Adrian stared at the door one more beat, the conflict in his eyes unmistakable.
"I don't know," he said quietly. "But I'm going to find out."
Rowen watched his friend for a long moment with thoughts and unreadable expression.
And finally, Rowen exhaled. "Adrian," he said carefully, "can we talk honestly for a minute?"
Adrian didn't look away from the door. "Go ahead."
Rowen crossed his arms, leaning lightly against the desk. "You're acting like a man who's chasing answers. But sometimes… answers don't come because someone is hiding them. Sometimes they don't come because that person is afraid."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "What do you mean?"
Rowen stepped closer, voice lowering. "Elara isn't avoiding you because she doesn't care. She's avoiding you because she does."
Adrian's eyes flickered. He didn't deny it.
"So what do I do?" he asked quietly.
Rowen hesitated, choosing his words. "Be patient. Give her room. Let her speak when she's ready. If you push too hard, she'll leave again and this time, you might lose her for good."
Adrian's hands curled into fists at his sides. "I don't want to lose her."
"Then don't corner her," Rowen said. "Don't demand the truth. Earn it."
Adrian stared at the floor for a long beat, swallowing down frustration. "I just feel helpless and frustrated when everyone knows what's happening and I don't."
"We all understand and I know it's hard for you," Rowen replied softly. "But whatever it is… it isn't easy for Elara as well."
A muscle in Adrian's jaw twitched. "I just don't understand why Elara is so afraid of me knowing the truth. I really care for her."
"I know," Rowen said. "But caring about her also means waiting. You rush her, you scare her. And you'll never get her back."
Adrian closed his eyes briefly.
"I'll wait," he said at last with a sigh
"Good. Because she's worth it."
Rowen gave Adrian's shoulder one last reassuring pat before straightening. "Come on," he said lightly, shifting back into work mode. "We still have a meeting to finish, remember?"
Adrian let out a slow breath, grounding himself. "Right."
They stepped out of the office together.
A few minutes later, Elara returned with the printed figures, her hands steady even though her heart felt anything but. She slipped into the meeting room quietly and placed the documents before Adrian without meeting his eyes. He didn't glance at her either. His expression remained composed, sharp, completely professional.