Adrian's office had always been his world — quiet, precise, and painfully organized. Every file, every pen, every clock tick existed under his control. It was the only way he knew how to live — to keep chaos out, to keep feelings buried.
But since Ivy came into his life, that perfect rhythm had changed.
The silence that once comforted him now felt heavy… loud even.
She had been working for only three days, yet her presence lingered long after she left the room. It wasn't just her voice — soft and polite — but the warmth that followed her wherever she went. He'd catch himself watching her reflection in the glass wall, wondering why she smiled so easily in a world that had only taught him pain.
And maybe that was the problem — her ease, her lightness, her kindness.
Because they reminded him of the one thing he swore he'd never feel again.
Love.
---
That night, Adrian couldn't sleep. The city outside glowed with its usual chaos, but inside his penthouse, there was nothing but darkness — the kind of darkness that whispered old memories.
He saw himself as a boy again — eleven, standing in the hallway of their mansion, watching his stepmother break a porcelain vase on the floor.
His mother's voice had been soft even when she screamed.
His father's silence had been the loudest sound in the house.
His mother died when he was twelve. His father died a year earlier. His stepmother had raised him and his older brother — or at least pretended to. Her cruelty was the reason he stopped believing in love.
He remembered her words clearly, like poison dripping slowly:
"Love makes you weak, Adrian. Look what it did to your mother."
He clenched his fists at the memory, his heart tightening until it hurt to breathe. That was the day he promised himself he'd never love.
He would build walls instead. Walls of wealth, walls of power — walls no one could break.
But lately… those walls had started to crack.
Because of her.
Because of Ivy.
---
The next morning, Adrian arrived at work earlier than usual, trying to bury himself in numbers and meetings. Yet, the moment Ivy walked in, holding two steaming cups of coffee, he knew he'd already lost his focus.
"Good morning, sir," she greeted, setting one cup gently on his desk.
He looked up, slightly surprised. "I didn't ask for coffee."
"I know," she said with a small, shy smile. "But you've skipped breakfast three days in a row. I figured caffeine might help."
He blinked, unsure how to respond. People didn't notice things like that about him. They never did.
"Thank you," he said finally, his tone quieter than usual.
"You're welcome," she replied, her smile softening before she turned to leave.
He found himself stopping her. "Miss Ivy."
She paused and turned back. "Yes, Mr. Adrian?"
"You did well with the presentation files yesterday. The investors were pleased."
Her face lit up slightly — not with pride, but with gratitude. "That means a lot, sir. I'll keep doing my best."
When she left, Adrian stared at the cup of coffee she'd brought. It was his favorite blend — black, no sugar. He never told her that. How did she know?
He didn't drink it right away. He just stared at it, feeling something strange stir in his chest. Something he hadn't felt in years.
---
Later that day, Adrian had a meeting with one of his oldest family friends — the country's President, who also happened to be a major investor in his company. The meeting was full of high-level executives and tension.
Ivy was there too, quiet and efficient, her eyes focused as she took notes beside him.
Even in the crowded room, she stood out — not because she tried to, but because she didn't.
After the meeting, the President clapped Adrian on the shoulder. "You've built an empire, son. Your father would've been proud. And your secretary—" he smiled warmly, glancing at Ivy, "—she's a gem. Keep her close. I see something special in that girl."
Adrian didn't reply. But something in his chest shifted again — the ache of old memories colliding with the warmth of new ones.
When everyone left, he stayed behind, watching Ivy gather papers. Her hair slipped across her face, and she brushed it aside gently. That simple motion stirred something deep within him — something dangerous.
He shouldn't feel this way.
Not again.
But when she turned and their eyes met, time seemed to pause. For a single heartbeat, it was as though the world had gone quiet — leaving only the sound of her breathing, steady and calm.
---
By evening, the office was empty. Rain tapped softly against the glass walls. Ivy stood by the door, staring out at the storm.
"Are you still here?" Adrian's voice came from behind her.
She turned quickly. "Oh, I was just waiting for the rain to stop. I didn't bring an umbrella."
He walked past her, grabbed one from the rack, and opened it. "Come on. I'll take you home."
"That's kind, but—"
"No arguments, Miss Ivy," he said, his tone gentler than usual. "You'll catch a cold."
She hesitated, then smiled. "Alright, sir."
They walked out together, the umbrella barely big enough for both. The rain was cold, but somehow, the air between them felt warm.
Inside the car, silence filled the space. The rhythmic sound of rain hitting the windshield seemed to echo their unspoken thoughts.
"You don't talk much, do you?" Ivy said softly, glancing at him.
Adrian smirked faintly. "Talking isn't really my strongest skill."
"Then what is?"
He looked at her — really looked at her — and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. "Avoiding things I shouldn't feel," he said quietly.
She tilted her head, confused. "That sounds… lonely."
He didn't answer. He couldn't.
When they reached her apartment, she turned to him, smiling gently. "Thank you, Mr. Adrian. For the ride—and for being kind."
He wanted to tell her not to thank him. That he wasn't kind. That he didn't deserve her gratitude or her smile. But her eyes… her eyes silenced every warning in his mind.
"Goodnight, Ivy," he said instead, his voice low.
She waved lightly and ran through the rain. He watched her disappear under the streetlight — the same light that reflected in his eyes long after she was gone.
As the rain poured harder, he whispered under his breath,
"She's dangerous… because she makes my heart remember what love feels like."
And for the first time in years, Adrian realized —
the walls he built to protect himself were slowly breaking.
And Ivy was the one holding the hammer.