Mia rubbed her temples as she walked out of the meeting room, exhausted.
The entire day had been a storm—CEO Adrian's mood, the never-ending tasks, and the office full of eyes on her every move.
She simply wanted to breathe. Only for a moment.
When she saw the elevator, she quickened her pace.
Allow me to have a quiet ride down. Even for 30 seconds.
She arrived as the doors were already closing.
Mia stretched out her hand instinctively.
"W-Wait—!"
The doors slowed and slid open for her.
She sighed with relief and stepped inside.
She wasn't aware she wasn't alone.
Not until she looked up.
And froze.
Adrian, the man who had turned her life upside down in less than a week, stood in the opposite corner.
Her heart rate spiked.
Among all people.
At all times.
His gaze slowly lifted, meeting hers with the cool, unreadable intensity she had learned against her will.
Her chest tensed.
"President… I didn't realize you were inside.
"You were in a hurry," Adrian said, his voice steady but deep enough to shake her nerves. "I assumed you were going to walk in anyway."
She gulped.
As the doors closed, the small space became silent.
Mia moved to the far side, keeping her distance. She clasped her hands in front of her and refused to look at him.
Just take a breath. It's only a few stories. You are capable of surviving this.
But Adrian had different plans.
"You have been avoiding me."
Her breath caught.
She inhaled quickly and looked down.
"I have not been—"
"Lying does not suit you," he interrupted, his tone calm but firm.
Her fingers tightened around the file.
He took note of every detail. Each small retreat. She avoided his gaze at all times.
She felt exposed standing there, as if he could see right through her excuses.
Her chest tensed.
She remembered the moment vividly: him approaching too closely, his voice sharp, his eyes intense.
Her fear had slipped out before she could conceal it.
She assumed he hadn't noticed.
Of course he did.
"I didn't think you cared," she said quietly before she could stop herself.
In the dark, she couldn't see his expression, but she could feel his hand tighten around her.
"I always care," he replied quietly.
Her breath stopped.
"So why are you always cold?"
He exhaled slowly, as if debating something within himself.
"Mia… I'm not sure how to be around you."
Her eyes grew wider.
She didn't expect that answer.
He continued, his voice low and raw in a way she had never heard.
"You make me lose control. Of myself. Regarding my thoughts. And I dislike losing control.
Her heart was pounding wildly.
He took a step closer, and she could feel his warmth before his breath touched her forehead.
"In the dark," he murmured, "it's more difficult to hide."
What are you hiding?
Hide who he was when he wasn't CEO?
Hide how he felt?
Before she could talk—
The elevator vibrated.
The lights flickered back on.
Mia blinked quickly, eyes adjusting.
What she saw caused her heart to stop.
Adrian was standing inches away from her...
Still holding her hand.
His eyes—dark and intense—were nothing like the cold CEO she knew.
He appeared almost devastated as the light revealed him.
He abruptly released her hand and stepped back, as if he had touched fire.
He clenched his jaw.
"You should forget what happened."
Her heart sinks.
Forget?
How could she forget the warmth of his hand?
What were the words he whispered?
How had he held her as if she were important?
A soft ding signaled the doors' opening.
Adrian left without saying anything else.
Mia remained motionless inside the elevator, her fingers tingling where his hand had been.
She breathed shakily.
Forget?
Not in our lifetime.
Adrian shifted slightly towards her. "Have I done anything?"
The question stung her.
There was something in his voice.
Somewhat quiet. Nearly gentle.
It caused her stomach to twist.
She whispered, "No." "It's just..." "I did not want to bother you."
His gaze narrowed.
"You never bothered me."
Her heart slammed into her ribs.
She opened her mouth to answer, but—
CRACK—
The elevator shook violently.
"Ah—!" Mia stumbled and lost her balance.
Adrian moved quickly—faster than she could think—and grabbed her wrist, pulling her into his firm grip just as the lights flickered.
Then—
Darkness.
The complete, suffocating darkness swallowed them whole.
Mia froze, her breath trembling.
Her chest constricted painfully.
Fear gripped her throat and she whispered, "N-No…not this..." "Adrian…?"
His hand found hers in the darkness.
Warm. Certain, unmoving.
"Mia," he said softly, "I am right here."
Her knees almost gave out from his tone.
He was not the ruthless CEO that the office feared.
Not now.
Not in this dark, enclosed environment.
He was a human.
Present.
Real.
That made her more nervous.
She grabbed his hand again before she could stop herself.
Adrian inhaled sharply—not loudly, but enough to let her know he felt it.
"Are you scared?" he inquired.
She despised that he could hear the tremor in her breath.
"Just a little."
His thumb brushed against her knuckles, slowly and deliberately.
"I will not let anything happen to you," he murmured.
Her entire body became warm.
Minutes stretched on indefinitely.
In the darkness, every sound was amplified—their breaths, her heartbeat, the soft rustle of his sleeve whenever he shifted.
She was painfully aware of how near he was.
Adrian spoke again, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it.
"Mia, I raised my voice earlier today..." I did not mean to scare you.