*Authors pov:*
*BACK IN THE OFFICE*
Adrian sat across from Stella in her office, his eyes captivated by the way her pencil moved deftly across the paper. Her brow was furrowed, a hint of anger flashing in her eyes, but Adrian found it endearing. She was even more beautiful when she was focused, her intensity infectious.
As the hours ticked by, the silence between them grew thicker, until finally, the clock on the wall read 8 pm. The office was bathed in the soft glow of the evening lights, casting a warm ambiance over the space. Stella was immersed in her work, her hands moving swiftly as she tried to finish up quickly. She could feel Adrian's eyes on her, sense his gaze lingering on her skin, but she refused to acknowledge it. She just wanted to focus on her job, to get it done as fast as possible.
Adrian, on the other hand, was in no hurry. He kept his eyes locked on Stella, drinking in the sight of her perfect jawline, the two loose curls that framed her face, and the gentle sway of her hair as she worked. His gaze lingered on her collarbone, and he couldn't help but gulp. She was stunning, and he couldn't get enough of her.
The silence was broken by Stella's stomach growling, a soft rumble that echoed through the office. Adrian's eyes flicked up to hers, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. He swiftly ordered food from his phone.
When the food arrived, Adrian told Stella to take a break, to leave the rest of the work for tomorrow. But Stella refused, her eyes flashing with determination.
"I want to finish this tonight," she said, her jaw set.
Adrian raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "You're stubborn, aren't you?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
Stella's cheeks flushed deeper, but she refused to back down. The two of them argued, their voices rising and falling in a gentle cadence. Finally, Adrian decided to take matters into his own hands. He reached out, his fingers brushing against Stella's as he took the food from her.
"Eat," he said, his voice firm but gentle.
Stella's eyes flashed with anger, but she finally relented, grabbing the food and eating it herself.
As they finished their meal, Adrian glanced at his watch, his eyes narrowing. "It's late," he said, his voice low. "I'll drop you off."
Stella shook her head, her eyes flashing with determination. "I can take a cab."
But Adrian was insistent. "I'll drop you off," he repeated, his voice firm.
Stella finally relented, her shoulders sagging in defeat. As they walked out of the office, Adrian offered his arm, and Stella took it, feeling a strange sense of comfort in his presence.
As they rode, the silence between them grew thicker, until finally, Stella's eyelids drooped, and she fell asleep. Adrian's eyes flicked to hers, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. He glanced at the rearview mirror, his eyes narrowing as he realized he didn't know her specific address.
Since she was asleep, Adrian decided to take her to his place, figuring it was better than leaving her stranded in the car. As they pulled up to the entrance of his grand mansion, Adrian felt a pang of guilt for purposely stressing her out. He looked over at Stella, her face peaceful in sleep, and his heart skipped a beat....