Chapter 91 Ninety one
Lunch hour came, and Izzy was just shutting down her computer when the front desk buzzed.
“Miss Hart, there’s someone here to see you.”
She frowned slightly. “Who?”
Before the receptionist could answer, a familiar voice cut in behind her.
“Hello, Iz..”
She turned…and froze.
Adrian.
He stood there like he owned the place, tall, relaxed, dressed too well for a casual lunch stop. A crooked smile curved his lips when he saw her, eyes lighting up like he’d found exactly what he was looking for.
“Adrian?” she said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“Picking you up for lunch,” he said easily. “Thought I’d surprise you.”
Before she could react, he stepped closer, pulled her into a warm hug, and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
“Oh, my God! Isn’t that Adrian Cross?” one of her colleagues squealed from across the room.
“Is she dating Adrian Cross?!” another whispered loudly.
Izzy stiffened for half a second… then relaxed.
She didn’t pull away.
From the glass walls of the corner office, Dominic saw everything.
He had been mid-email when the noise caught his attention. He looked up just in time to see Adrian’s hand settle at Izzy’s waist, casual, familiar. Too familiar. Izzy was smiling…
Dominic’s jaw clenched.
Adrian.
Of all people.
His ex–best friend.
The man he had cut out of his life years ago. The man who knew him too well. The man Dominic absolutely did not want anywhere near Izzy.
And yet…. There he was. Touching her. Holding her. Claiming space Dominic had always assumed was his.
Dominic stood up slowly, anger flashing through his eyes. He watched, unmoving, as Adrian leaned closer to Izzy, saying something that made her laugh softly.
That laugh felt like a punch.
Adrian glanced up… and saw Dominic watching.
A slow, knowing smile spread across his face.
He tightened his arm around Izzy’s waist just a little, deliberately, then looked back at Dominic like he was daring him to say something.
Izzy felt the shift. She knew Dominic was watching.
She didn’t turn.
Instead, she picked up her bag calmly. “I’m ready,” she said to Adrian, her tone cool, composed.
As they walked past Dominic’s office, he stepped out.
“Izzy,” he said sharply.
She stopped… but didn’t look at him.
“Yes sir? ” Her voice was professional. Distant.
Dominic’s eyes flicked to Adrian’s hand still resting on her waist. His voice dropped. “Can I have a word?”
She finally turned, meeting his gaze with a calm he didn’t recognize. “Not right now. I’m on lunch.”
Adrian smiled, polite but smug. “We’ll bring her back in one piece, Grumpy.. it’s good to see you it’s been a while,” he said lightly.
Izzy didn’t correct him.
She walked away with Adrian, heels clicking against the floor, posture straight, head high.
Behind them, Dominic stood frozen, hands clenched at his sides, watching the two of them leave together…rage, jealousy, and regret twisting hard in his chest.
Adrian led her to a quiet bistro a few blocks from the office. It was calm compared to the noise of work… soft music, warm light, people talking in low voices. Izzy felt her shoulders loosen a little as they sat down.
“You okay?” Adrian asked, studying her face. “I could sense some tension between you and Grumpy?”
She forced a small smile. “It’s nothing.. you know how he is.. demanding with work.”
“That’s Dominic for you,” he said with a grin. “Such a boring guy.”
She laughed softly, then fell quiet again, staring at the menu without really reading it.
Adrian noticed.
“You don’t have to pretend with me, Iz,” he said gently. “Something’s eating you.”
She hesitated, then sighed. “Things are messy. That’s all.”
He nodded, not pushing. “Fair enough. Messy I can handle.”
They ordered…. pasta for her, grilled chicken for him, sparkling water for both. When the food arrived, Izzy picked at her plate at first, her appetite slow to wake up.
Adrian leaned back in his chair, watching her. “You know,” he said lightly, “Dominic looked like he wanted to murder me.”
Her fork paused mid-air. “You noticed.”
“How could I not?” he chuckled. “Man was burning holes through the glass.”
She swallowed. “He doesn’t like you.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow. “That’s putting it nicely… Grumpy never did like me”
There was a brief silence.
“I’m not trying to cause trouble for you,” Adrian added, his tone softer now. “I just wanted to see you. Take you out. I missed you.”
Izzy looked at him then… really looked. He wasn’t as intense as Dominic. There was no sharp edge, no tension that made her feel like she was constantly bracing herself. Adrian felt… easy. Safe.
“Thank you,” she said quietly. “I needed something normal today.”
He smiled. “Anytime.”
They talked about small things after that… work gossip, travel plans, a conference he was preparing for. Slowly, Izzy relaxed. She even laughed a few times, the tight knot in her chest easing just a little.
But now and then, her mind drifted back…to the way Dominic’s eyes had darkened, the way his voice had sounded when he called her name.
Adrian noticed her distance again and reached across the table, touching her hand lightly.
“Hey,” he said softly. “I don't know what the problem is. But remember nobody matters more than you. Your happiness counts.”
She nodded, squeezing his fingers once. “Thank you.”
When lunch ended, he walked her back toward the office.
“I’ve got a conference later this evening,” Adrian said as they stopped outside. “But if you’re free this week, dinner?”
She smiled, genuine this time. “Sure. Just text me.”
He leaned in and kissed her cheek again… gentle, unhurried. “I will.”
As she watched him walk away, Izzy felt something unfamiliar settle in her chest.
Not love.
But the possibility of starting afresh
And somewhere, several floors above, Dominic stood at his office window… still watching… knowing, with a sharp twist of dread, that he was losing control of the one thing he never thought would slip from his hands.
Back at her desk, Izzy tried to focus, but her hands felt shaky on the keyboard. The office noise faded into the background as she replayed lunch in her head… Adrian’s easy smile, the way he listened, the way he didn’t demand anything from her.
She glanced toward Dominic’s office without meaning to.
The blinds were half open.
She could feel him watching.
A few minutes later, her phone lit up with an internal message.
Dominic: Come to my office.
Her stomach tightened.
She stared at the screen for a long moment, then straightened her shoulders and stood. Maya’s words echoed in her head… cold and distant. She knocked once and stepped inside without waiting.
Dominic was standing by the window, his back to her. He didn’t turn right away. When he did, his face was calm, but his eyes were not. They were dark, sharp, wounded in a way that made her chest ache.
“You didn’t answer my calls,” he said.
Izzy folded her arms, keeping her voice even. “I was busy.”
“Ten times ?” His jaw clenched. “I thought I told you to stay away from Adrian now you mingle with like..”
“Like what?” she cut in, surprising herself with the steadiness of her tone. “Like someone who’s allowed to have her own life.””
He took a step closer. “You did that to get my attention.”
She met his gaze. “Oh please. You must really think high about yourself.. I did that because I wanted to.”
Silence stretched between them.
Dominic exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his face. “You know what he is to me.”
“And you know what you said to me,” she replied quietly. “You said you didn’t want love. You said you only wanted sex.”
His eyes flickered.
“So I listened,” she continued. “I stopped expecting more.”
“That’s not…” He stopped himself, swallowing. “It’s not that simple.”
“It is for me,” Izzy said. “Adrian is gentle and I want that.
Another long pause. The air felt heavy, charged with everything neither of them wanted to say out loud.
Dominic stepped back, putting distance between them. His voice dropped, colder now. “This is a workplace. Whatever you’re doing outside of it… keep it professional.”
A small, sad smile touched her lips. “Yes, boss.. and boss stay the fuck out of my business. Keep it professional take your advice.
She turned and walked out before he could stop her.
At her desk, her hands still trembled, but she kept working. Around her, the office buzzed as if nothing had changed. Emails came in. Phones rang. Life goes on.
Inside Dominic’s office, he stood alone, staring at the door she’d just closed.. realizing too late that the rules he’d set were the very ones pushing her away.