The office buzzed like a city in constant motion, glass walls reflecting sunlight and the endless chatter of people hurrying from one meeting to another. Alina Ross sat at her desk, fingers drumming impatiently on the polished wood surface. The Paris Expo planning had begun in earnest, and every detail demanded her attention.
Yet, despite the mountain of spreadsheets, budget projections, and design layouts before her, her mind kept wandering. One name echoed louder than anything else in her head.
AdrianVale.
---
The Morning Confrontation
Sophie slid into the office, coffee in hand, eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Morning, boss. Ready to face Mr. Vale again?"
Alina snorted, grabbing her own cup. "I'm ready to out-argue him, distract him, and then—" she paused, remembering her own pulse quickening at the thought of his calm gaze. "—I mean, just focus on work."
Sophie chuckled knowingly. "Sure, that's why you stayed up last night analyzing the entire floor layout instead of sleeping."
Alina groaned, muttering under her breath, "Don't remind me."
By the time she arrived at the conference room, Adrian was already there. His posture was as perfect as ever, shoulders relaxed, hands clasped in front of him. The faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth made her teeth grit.
"Ms. Ross," he greeted smoothly, voice low and teasing. "Nice to see you on time."
"Unlike you," she shot back, meeting his gaze evenly.
He tilted his head, eyes glinting. "I like to make an entrance."
Alina rolled her eyes, but internally, her chest skipped. Focus. Focus. He's just being infuriating, that's all.
---
The First Clash of the Day
The meeting began, papers shuffling, laptops opening, and assistants coordinating the schedule. Alina and Adrian were tasked with merging their design proposals for the expo. Every suggestion, every adjustment, every tiny disagreement felt like a battle.
"You can't place the suites that close to the balcony," Alina said firmly, pointing at the 3D model on the screen.
Adrian leaned back, calm and collected. "Actually, it increases privacy and enhances the guest experience. You might want to consider it."
"I've considered it," she snapped, "and I still don't agree."
He raised an eyebrow, faint amusement flickering across his expression. "Then we compromise. That's how professionals operate."
Compromise. Her stomach twisted at the word. For years, winning had been her only goal — beating Adrian had been her only motivation. Now, the word made her uneasy.
---
A Moment of Unintentional Teamwork
Hours passed, and the heated debates gradually softened into discussions. Slowly, unintentionally, they began working together.
When a complex layout problem threatened to derail the timeline, Adrian quietly suggested a minor adjustment to the floor flow, leaning over the table to point at the tablet screen. His hand brushed hers as he rotated the display.
Alina's pulse jumped. "That… actually works."
"Try not to look shocked," he said, smirking faintly.
"You try not to gloat," she replied, hiding a small smile.
The air between them was thick with tension — not anger, not quite attraction, but something that neither of them wanted to define just yet.
---
Assistants in the Background
Sophie and Liam were quietly taking notes on their own, sharing amused looks across the table. They had noticed the subtle flutters, the lingering glances, and the moments of accidental intimacy.
Sophie whispered to Liam: "They're like a storm waiting to happen."
Liam smirked. "At this rate, it's going to be a hurricane."
---
The Late-Night Grind
By evening, the office had emptied. Only the two of them remained, reviewing the final mockups. The soft glow of desk lamps cast long shadows across the room.
"You're quiet tonight," Adrian observed, voice calm but probing.
"I'm… focused," Alina replied, too quickly.
"Focused or flustered?"
She scowled. "I am not flustered."
He leaned back, expression unreadable, though the faintest flicker of amusement appeared in his eyes. "Interesting. You should try honesty sometime."
Her chest tightened. Why does his voice feel like it's pulling me in?
---
As they finalized the evening's work, a brief email popped into Alina's inbox — a notification from the expo committee.
> A reminder: Mr. Ethan Cross, potential investor, will be attending tomorrow's gala. Please review the guest seating plan.
Alina paused, reading the name twice. Ethan Cross… I vaguely remember him from the last business summit.
Adrian noticed her hesitation. "Thinking about your next rival?" he asked lightly, though his tone carried an undercurrent of curiosity — and something else she couldn't name.
"I'm just… noting the logistics," she replied quickly.
He nodded, but she caught the faint tightening of his jaw. Interesting… he doesn't like the idea either.
---
End of the Day: Reflection
By the time she left the office, Alina felt a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. Today had been exhausting — debates, compromises, and late-night problem-solving. Yet beneath it all, a strange awareness lingered:
The way Adrian's gaze followed her hand movements.
The calm confidence he exuded that made her chest race.
That odd flutter in her stomach when he complimented a small decision.
Walking to her car, she whispered to herself: I hate that I even notice him.
And yet, somewhere deep down, she knew that this uneasy alliance — this mix of rivalry and cooperation — was far from over.