KISS'S POV
The kitchen smelled faintly of coffee and toasted bread.
It felt surreal—standing barefoot in my own apartment, sunlight spilling through the curtains, while Adrian Goodwill leaned against my counter like he belonged there. His jacket was gone, his shirt sleeves rolled up, dark hair slightly disheveled in a way that made my chest tighten.
Last night felt like a dream I hadn't fully woken up from.
Neither of us spoke at first.
The silence wasn't awkward—it was heavy. Like we were both waiting for something to crack.
I placed two mugs on the table and finally turned to face him. My heart hammered so loudly I was sure he could hear it.
"Adrian," I said quietly.
He looked up immediately, attention sharp, unreadable.
"We need to talk",I said seriously.
"I know," he replied.
I swallowed and said, "About… what happened."
His jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't interrupt.
"What are we now?" I asked. "Because I can't pretend this didn't change anything between us."
For a moment, he didn't answer. He stepped closer instead, stopping just short of touching me. The air between us hummed with tension.
"I don't do uncertainty," Adrian said slowly. "And I don't share what's mine."
The words sent a strange mix of warmth and fear through me.
"I want you," he continued. "Not secretly. Not temporarily."
I searched his face. "You're saying…?", I muttered under my breath.
"I want you as my partner," he said firmly. "And I want you away from Chris Blackwood."
There it was.
My shoulders stiffened. "You don't get to dictate who I talk to."
His eyes darkened—but he didn't raise his voice.
"I know," he said. "That's why I'm asking, not ordering."
That surprised me.
I exhaled slowly. "Then I'll be honest too."
He waited.
"If you want me," I said, "you need to give Ashley the same warning you're giving Chris."
Something unreadable flickered across his expression.
"She's part of my past," he said.
"So is Chris to me," I countered. "And if we're doing this—really doing this—there can't be double standards."
Silence stretched.
Finally, Adrian nodded once. "Fair."
Relief loosened something in my chest.
Before either of us could say more, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, then sighed softly. "My grandmother."
I raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound optional."
"It never is," he admitted, answering the call.
"Yes, Nana."
His posture changed instantly—less steel, more patience.
"I'll come by the mansion later," he said.
Pause.
He glanced at me.
"Yes," he added, tone casual. "I'll bring her."
My heart skipped.
He ended the call and shrugged. "She wants to see you."
"Why?" I asked, alarmed.
"She likes you," he said simply.
I stared at him. "She doesn't even know me much."
Adrian's lips curved faintly. "My grandmother knows people."
I should've been nervous.
Instead, a strange warmth bloomed in my chest.
---
CHRIS'S POV
Something was wrong.
I knew it the moment I walked into the office.
Adrian's schedule was cleared. Kiss's desk was empty.
Again.
I stood there longer than necessary, staring at her chair like it might explain everything.
"They're not in today," Oscar said casually as he passed by.
I clenched my jaw. "Both of them?"
Oscar hesitated—just long enough.
"Yes."
That hesitation told me more than words ever could.
I walked away before my expression betrayed me, my thoughts spiraling.
It wasn't just jealousy.
It was realization.
I cared.
Somewhere between our coffee conversations and her quiet smiles, between the way she listened and challenged me without fear, Kiss Hilson had become more than a friend.
And now—
Adrian Goodwill was ahead of me.
I stopped by the window, the city sprawling below like a battlefield.
So this is how it starts.
I'd underestimated Adrian's feelings. Mistaken possession for indifference.
That was my mistake.
I straightened slowly.
"I won't back down," I murmured to myself.
Not now.
Not when she was worth fighting for.
---
KISS'S POV
The drive to the mansion was quiet—but not uncomfortable.
Adrian kept one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually between us. Not touching, but close enough that I felt the warmth.
"You're quiet," he said.
"I'm thinking," I replied.
"Dangerous habit," he teased lightly.
I smiled despite trying not to.
The mansion loomed ahead—grand, intimidating, steeped in legacy.
I took a deep breath.
"Ready?" he asked.
"As I'll ever be."
Inside, the air was warm and familiar.
Then—
"Kiss!"
The old woman I'd met at the market appeared, eyes lighting up with genuine joy.
"My dear," she exclaimed, reaching for my hands. "You came."
I froze.
This wasn't just Adrian's grandmother.
This was her.
"You two know each other, other than meeting at the gala?" Adrian asked, stunned.
"She helped me at the market and also at the gala," his grandmother said fondly. "Kind heart. Rare these days."
She glanced between us, eyes sharp with knowing amusement.
"Well," she said, smiling. "It seems fate has a sense of humor."
My heart pounded.
Adrian looked at me then—really looked at me—and for the first time, I realized something terrifying and beautiful.
This wasn't just attraction.
This was a collision of worlds.
And none of us would walk away unchanged.
---
CHRIS'S POV
By evening, the truth had settled fully.
I was in love.
And Adrian Goodwill was standing in my way.
I poured myself a drink, eyes narrowing.
"If he thinks I'll walk away quietly," I said aloud, "he doesn't know me at all."
The game wasn't over.
It had just begun.