: Adrian didn't answer right away. There was a tightness in his chest as he remembered the coffee incident. He didn't even know why he was thinking about it so much. "She's just… doing her job."
His father didn't buy it. "You know the rule, Adrian. Keep emotions out of the equation. Don't let *anyone* get too close."
Adrian clenched his jaw. He knew what his father meant — the same advice he had heard since childhood: *Never let anyone into your inner circle. Love makes you weak. Weak men don't survive.*
"I know," Adrian replied stiffly. "I'm not letting anyone close."
---
*Adrian's Internal Struggle*
As the days passed, the moments with Amara started to linger longer in his mind. Her presence was like a quiet storm, unsettling in a way that made him question the very walls he'd spent so long building around himself.
And yet, he couldn't stop noticing her — the way her smile reached her eyes, the way she carried herself with quiet confidence, the way she refused to back down in the face of challenges.
Adrian had made sure to keep his distance. He kept his interactions with her strictly professional. But deep down, he knew: He was beginning to see something in her. Something real.
And that was exactly what scared him.
---
: As Adrian wiped himself off and walked back to his desk, he kept thinking about Amara. He couldn't shake the way she had looked when she'd spilled that coffee — genuinely sorry, but with an intensity in her eyes that made him feel oddly… understood. No one had ever seemed to *care* about his comfort, his preferences, the small details, or the impact they had on him.
He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to focus back on work, but his thoughts kept wandering back to her. He didn't even know much about her. She was just an intern, a bright, eager intern who, up until now, had blended into the background. Nothing special, nothing noteworthy.
But now… there was something about her. Something that made him *pay attention*.
when Amara came to his office again on Monday with more files, she gave him a small, hesitant smile, as if she was still carrying the weight of the coffee mishap. Her hair had been pulled back in a neat ponytail, and she looked… different. Less flustered, more determined. Like she was trying to make up for the incident.
As she placed the papers down, her fingers brushed his briefly. Adrian felt the spark — a small jolt of something unexpected.
"Everything okay?" she asked, looking up at him.
Adrian paused. He wasn't used to people asking him that, at least not with any real concern.
"Fine," he replied, his voice almost too quiet. "Everything's fine."
Amara nodded, but she lingered a moment longer than usual. Adrian couldn't help but notice the way her eyes studied him, like she was seeing through the walls he'd carefully built around himself.
Then, she turned to leave, but not before offering, "If you need anything — any help at all — just let me know."
Adrian watched her walk out. The door clicked shut, but the feeling didn't go away.
---
*Adrian and His Parents – A Stark Contrast*
That night, as usual, Adrian called his parents — a ritual he had long since grown accustomed to.
"Adrian," his father Richard's voice came through, harsh and expectant. "Any updates on the merger?"
Adrian sighed. "It's in the final stages. Everything's under control."
"Good," his father responded, before shifting the topic. Come for dinner later , we missed you "
Got it! Let's create this scene where Adrian invites Amara to dinner in his cold, distant manner and the surprise package with a dress appears at her place. It adds to the tension, leaving her unsure of what's really going on between them. Here's how it could unfold:
*Adrian's Cold Invitation*
The night to the dinner with his parents, Adrian's mood was as sharp as ever. He'd barely slept, too wrapped up in the clash between his parents' expectations and his growing curiosity about Amara. It gnawed at him like a relentless itch.
When Amara entered his office, she was as cheerful and unassuming as always, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside him. She handed him a folder and started to leave, but he stopped her.
"Amara," he said, his voice clipped, his eyes not meeting hers. "I need you to be ready by seven tonight. We're going to dinner."
She blinked in confusion, unsure of what he was saying. "Dinner?" Her voice betrayed a little hesitation. "With you?"
"Yeah." Adrian's gaze was cold, distant, not offering any explanation. "My parents want to meet you. Be ready. I'll pick you up at seven."
Amara opened her mouth to protest, but the look in his eyes told her he wasn't asking. This wasn't an invitation; it was an order. Before she could say anything else, he had already turned back to his work, dismissing her with the quiet click of his pen.
"Fine," she said softly, not really knowing what else to do. She didn't want to go, didn't know why Adrian was dragging her into this, but he didn't leave her a choice.
She left his office with a sinking feeling in her chest, her head swirling with questions, but no answers.
*The Package – A Surprise*
As Amara made her way back to her desk, she spotted something unusual on her chair. It was a small, neatly wrapped *package*, sitting there as if it had been waiting for her. She looked around the office, but no one seemed to be paying attention.
She sat down slowly, picking up the package. The label had no name — just her initials, *"A.M."* Amara frowned and carefully untied the ribbon, her curiosity piqued. Inside was a *beautiful dress*, a silky, form-fitting black number. She ran her fingers over the smooth fabric, surprised by the quality.
Her colleague *Tessa*, who'd been observing from a nearby desk, raised an eyebrow. "Okay, what's this about? Looks like someone has plans for you."