Chapter 136 No Expectations
The conference room felt colder than usual. Rebecca wasn’t sure if it was the air conditioning or just her own nerves, but she found herself rubbing her fingers together lightly as she stood near the table, reviewing the documents she had already gone through twice.
She didn’t need to check them again. Everything was in order. Everything had been prepared and it was all perfect.
Still, she kept looking. It was easier than thinking because she knew if she let herself think, it would lead her somewhere she wasn’t ready to go.
The door opened quietly behind her. Rebecca didn’t turn immediately since she already knew who it was.
There was something about the way he entered a room, calm, unhurried, deliberate and that had become familiar to her over the past few days.
Her chest tightened slightly before she forced herself to relax and stay professional. She needed to stay professional. She told herself.
“Good morning,” Adrian’s voice came, steady and composed.
Rebecca turned then, her expression already arranged into something polite and controlled.
“Good morning, Mr. Cole.”
Adrian’s eyes lingered on her for a second longer than necessary. It wasn't in a way that felt inappropriate but in a way that felt intentional like he was noticing something again with that same quiet observation that had unsettled her from the very beginning.
“You’re early,” he said, and Rebecca nodded slightly.
“Well, I like to be prepared,” she said with a shrug.
“I noticed,” Adrian replied.
There was something in his tone that sounded almost like a faint hint of amusement although it wasn’t mocking. If anything, it sounded… impressed.
Rebecca looked away briefly, walking toward the table as she began laying out the files.
“We can start with the revised layout,” she said, keeping her voice steady. “I made a few adjustments based on your previous feedback.”
Adrian moved closer, his attention shifting to the documents. For the next few minutes, they spoke strictly about work.
Measurements, design changes, budget considerations and timelines. Everything was exactly how it should be. Clear, professional and safe.
But even within that structure, Rebecca could feel it his presence, close.
Every time she explained something, she could feel his gaze on her, not just on the papers, but on her and somehow, that made it harder to focus.
She flipped a page, pointing to a section of the plan.
“This section,” she said, redirecting his gaze, “needs your approval before we proceed.”
Adrian didn’t push. He simply nodded and leaned slightly closer to look at the document.
The meeting ended sooner than Rebecca expected. Or maybe she had just lost track of time.
Either way, the files were closed, the discussions were done, and there was nothing left to review. Rebecca gathered the documents neatly, stacking them with practiced precision.
She was just about to step away when Adrian spoke again.
“Rebecca,” he called and she paused.
Something in the way he said her name made her look up. “Yes?”
There was a brief silence that didn't feel.any bit awkward but rather deliberate, like he was choosing his next words carefully.
“I want to take you to dinner,” he said, making Rebecca's heart skip a beat.
The sentence was simple, and direct with no hesitation. Rebecca blinked.
For a second, she wasn’t sure she had heard him correctly.
“You want to take me to Dinner?” she asked back, wanting to be sure she heard right.
Adrian nodded once. “Yes. A proper one.”
Her fingers tightened slightly around the files in her hands. Her first instinct was to deflect, to turn it into something light and keep things where they belonged, within the safe boundaries of work.
But something stopped her. Maybe it was the way he was looking at her. His expression was calm and certain. Not playful or casual. He meant it.
“This isn’t about the project,” she said slowly.
“No,” he answered, his gaze fixed on hers.
“Then why?” The question came out before she could stop it, and for a moment, Adrian didn’t answer.
He studied her instead. Like he was trying to decide how honest to be.
Then finally, he said, “Because I want to.”
Rebecca’s breath caught slightly. There was something about that answer. It was simple, but intentional and it made it harder to dismiss.
She looked away briefly, her mind racing. This was different. Adrian wasn’t like the others. He didn’t hide behind charm or jokes. He didn’t blur his intentions. He said things plainly, and somehow, that made it more dangerous.
“I’ve already had lunch with you,” she said, trying to regain control of the moment.
“That was lunch and well... convenient,” Adrian replied. “It wasn't intentional.”
Rebecca looked back at him. “So, this.... is intentional?”
“Yes,” he replied, keeping his eyes on hers.
Her heart skipped slightly and somehow, she hated that it did. Because she wasn’t supposed to feel like this. Not now. Not when everything in her life was still so… complicated.
The thought came uninvited and unsettling but she pushed it down immediately. Not now. She couldn’t deal with that right now.
Adrian was still watching her and waiting patiently for her and that, somehow, that made it harder to say no.
Rebecca exhaled slowly. “You’re very persistent,” she said quietly.
“I’ve been told that too.”
Despite herself, a small smile touched her lips. This man… He didn’t make things easy.
She looked down at the files in her hands, then back up at him.
“This is just dinner,” she said, almost like she was reminding herself.
“Yes,” Adrian nodded.
“No expectations,” she said again and Adrian nodded.
“No expectations,” he repeated.
She studied him for another moment. Searching for some kind of hidden meaning or something she could use to refuse.
But she found none. Just calm certainty and something else. Something she wasn’t ready to name yet.
Rebecca let out a quiet breath. “....Okay.”
The word surprised even her, but once it left her mouth, she didn’t take it back.
Adrian nodded once, not overly pleased or smug. Just satisfied.
“Friday,” he said. “I’ll send you the details.”
Rebecca nodded slowly. “Alright.”
Silence settled between them again but after a moment, Rebecca cleared her throat.
She gathered her things quickly after that, needing to leave since she also needed space.
“I’ll finalize the remaining documents and send them over,” she said.
“I’ll be expecting them.”
She gave a small nod and turned toward the door. But just before she reached it, Adrian stopped her.
“Rebecca,” he called and she turned to him.
Her hand resting lightly on the handle. “Yes?” she answered, raising a brow.
There was a brief pause. Then Adrian said,
“Get some rest tonight.”
Her chest tightened slightly. That same quiet concern. That same awareness. It shouldn’t affect her but then it did.
“I will,” she said and then she left.
But even as she walked away, she could feel it. That quiet shift inside her, something she hadn’t planned. Something she wasn’t ready for and something that felt dangerously close to… wanting.
And for the first time since everything started falling apart, Rebecca wasn’t sure if she should stop it. Or let it happen.