Chapter 71

Chapter 71
The alarm went off, loud enough to make Lucia jolt awake.

For a split second, she didn’t recognize where she was. The room felt too big, yet too quiet to belong to her. Then she blinked and rubbed her eyes, and everything came rushing back.

Adrian’s mansion.
Last night.
The hug.

She sat up slowly, pressing her palm to her forehead. “Oh my God… how did I even fall asleep after all that?”

She honestly couldn’t remember. The last thing she recalled clearly was standing behind her bedroom door after leaving Adrian in the sitting room, her heart beating too fast. Then pacing around her room. Then at some point, her body had simply shut down.

She dragged herself out of bed and headed for a quick bath. The warm water helped clear her head a little, but not completely. There were too many thoughts swirling under the surface, none of them settling long enough for her to make sense of anything.

By the time she stepped out, wrapped in a towel, she felt slightly more awake—but the moment she remembered the feel of Adrian’s arms around her, a fresh wave of emotion hit her.

What was she supposed to even do with that memory?

She dressed for the morning in a simple but neat work outfit—a blouse and slacks, nothing special—and stepped out of her room. The hallway felt warmer now that the sun was up, and she walked toward the dining area, hoping a good meal might help ground her.

The maids had already set her breakfast on the table.

Lucia paused, staring at the perfectly arranged plate—eggs, toast, fruit, and a cup of tea still steaming gently. “Wow…”

She smiled to herself. Adrian was her employer, yes, but he always made sure she was taken care of. And she couldn’t lie—she liked it. More than she wanted to admit.

She sat and ate quietly, trying not to overthink. When she was done, she returned to the bathroom to floss and brush her teeth again, wanting to feel extra fresh. She chewed a mint gum, fixed her blouse, and stared at herself in the mirror.

“You’re fine,” she whispered. “It’s just another day.”

Her reflection didn’t look convinced.

She grabbed her bag and stepped into the hallway—

—and froze.

Adrian was right there.

Dressed. Sharp. Composed. Like last night never even happened.

He wore a fitted black suit with a charcoal shirt beneath, no tie. The kind of look that made half the city press label him “dangerously attractive” every time he showed up on business magazines.

He was adjusting his cuffs when he heard her bag slip from her hand and hit the floor. His head turned immediately.

Their eyes met.

For a heartbeat, Lucia forgot how to breathe.

Adrian’s expression softened. He gave a small smile—tiny, subtle, but enough to hit her like a punch—and then he walked past her with effortless calmness, heading toward the front door.

Lucia blinked, heat rising to her cheeks. She bent quickly, picked up her bag, and followed him.

The morning was crisp outside, and the driver already had the car waiting at the entrance. Adrian opened the back door without looking at her, but something about the gesture felt… gentle.

She slipped inside after him, taking her seat beside him. They weren’t touching, but the closeness was enough to make her hyperaware of every breath she took.

For a moment, silence filled the car. She fidgeted with her hands, then finally whispered, “I… I’m sorry for yesterday. I didn’t mean to—”

Adrian cut her short.

“You don’t have to apologize,” he said, his tone firm but calm. “I needed that hug. Don’t bother worrying about it.”

Lucia felt her face warm instantly. She looked down, hoping he wouldn’t notice the blush creeping into her cheeks.

Silence settled again—but a different kind this time. Not uncomfortable though.

Adrian glanced toward the front and tapped a small button near his seat. A soft mechanical sound followed, and the divider between the back seat and the driver quietly slid up, blocking them off from view.

Lucia stared at him. “Why did you close it?”

Adrian didn’t answer right away. His breathing grew slightly heavier, almost like he was preparing himself. He leaned forward a little, his elbows resting on his knees.

“There’s no need to deny it anymore,” he said.

Lucia blinked. “Deny what?”

He looked up, and for the first time since she had known him, Adrian seemed… nervous.

Not visibly. Not dramatically. Just a tiny shift in his voice, a faint tremor he couldn’t fully hide.

“This…” he said quietly. “Whatever is happening between us.”

Lucia felt her mouth go dry. Her heart thudded against her ribs so loudly she swore he must’ve heard it.

Adrian continued, slower this time. “I’ve tried to ignore it. To pretend it’s nothing. You’re my employee. You work under me. I shouldn’t feel this way.”

She swallowed, unsure what to do with her hands, or her eyes, or her breathing.

“But I’m tired of acting like it’s not there,” Adrian said, his gaze steady. “It’s gotten too strong to ignore.”

Lucia parted her lips, but no words came out.

Adrian forced a small breath. “I know this puts me in a position where I have to be careful. I don’t want you thinking this is… pressure. Or something you owe me. I don’t ever want you to feel like I’m using my position over you.”

She shook her head quickly. “You’re not. I don’t feel that.”

He studied her again, almost searching for any sign of discomfort.

Then he shifted closer.

Very slowly.

“Lucia…” he whispered.

“Yes?” her voice barely came out.

“You said I’m your boss,” he murmured. “But right now… I want you to forget about that. Just for this moment.”

Her breath caught.

“From now on,” he whispered, lifting his hand, “I want you to see me as Adrian. Not Mr. anything.”

He gently touched her chin, lifting her gaze to his. His thumb drifted over her lower lip in a careful, deliberate motion—slow enough for her to pull away if she wanted to.

She didn’t.

“I’ve fallen for you,” he said quietly.

Her eyes widened. This wasn’t a dream. He wasn’t teasing. He wasn’t emotional because of stress or exhaustion.

He meant it.

A wave of emotion washed over her—fear, joy, disbelief, longing—all tangled so tightly she wasn’t sure which one hit hardest.

She finally exhaled the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “Mr Adrian adrian… I don’t even know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” he murmured.

His hand slid behind her jaw, warm against her skin. He leaned in—slowly, too slowly—and brushed his lips against hers.

A soft kiss. Gentle at first, almost hesitant.

But the tension underneath it was unmistakable.

Adrian’s body twitched slightly, like he was fighting to stay controlled, to keep the kiss light. And Lucia… she was frozen for a heartbeat before a warm rush spread through her, like her entire body had been waiting for this without realizing it.

She kissed him back.

Not dramatically, not boldly—just enough to show she wanted it too.

Adrian inhaled sharply, his fingers tightening ever so slightly on her waist as the kiss deepened for a second. His lips were firm but careful, like he was afraid of overwhelming her.

They pulled apart slowly, both breathing a little harder.

Lucia’s eyes were wide. Her lips tingled. She tried, desperately, not to smile like an idiot.

She failed.

Every time she tried to suppress the smile, it pushed back harder. She turned away, biting her lip, hiding her face behind her hair.

Adrian noticed. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, the first real smirk she’d ever seen him give.

The rest of the ride was silent—sweetly, awkwardly silent. Lucia kept replaying the kiss in her mind. Adrian kept looking out of the window, but every now and then, he’d steal a glance at her and look away quickly, almost like a teenager caught staring.

When the car finally pulled up at the destination—a corporate building crowded with reporters—Lucia grabbed her bag with trembling fingers and stepped out before she embarrassed herself further.

She barely made it out before Adrian stepped out on the other side, immediately swarmed by media.

Questions hit him from every direction:

“Mr. Adrian, is it true your warehouse fire was deliberate?”
“What’s the latest update on the investigation?”
“Are you planning to speak publicly about the losses?”
“Sir! One more thing—when are you getting a girlfriend? People online are speculating you might be gay!”

Lucia stopped dead.

She shouldn’t have been amused. She really shouldn’t have.

But the timing was too perfect.

Adrian didn’t react. Not a flinch. Not a pause. He just walked through the crowd,with his jaw tight, and his eyes forward, letting his security clear a path. Lucia stood by the car for a moment, her heart still fluttering, watching him handle the press like he handled everything else—cold, controlled, unreadable.

But now, she knew what was beneath that mask.

She finally exhaled and walked into the building behind him—still dazed, still trying not to smile, still wondering how in the world her life had changed this much in just one night.

And even more, what was going to happen next.