Chapter 52 Hair in her eyes

Chapter 52 Hair in her eyes
After dinner, Zara quietly excused herself from the hall. As she stepped outside, she heard hurried footsteps behind her.

“Hey!” Rosey’s sharp voice sliced through the air. Zara turned, startled.

“Can we talk?” Rosey demanded.

“Sure,” Zara replied cautiously, though deep down, she already sensed this wouldn’t be a pleasant conversation.

“Do you by any chance love Mr. Adrian?” Rosey asked bluntly.

“Huh?” Zara blinked, caught off guard. “Of course not!” she said quickly, though her voice wavered in confusion.

Rosey folded her arms, smirking. “That’s what I thought. Because even if you did, you’re definitely not his type.”

“Excuse me?” Zara raised an eyebrow, her irritation rising.

“I don’t know much about his personal life he’s a very private man but I’m sure that if he had a wife or a girlfriend, she wouldn’t be your type.”

Zara almost laughed at the irony. If only she knew, she thought bitterly. She was his wife though an unhappy one. Still, she couldn’t risk revealing her secret. Her mission was simple: blend in, stay unnoticed.

Rosey leaned closer. “So, please… lower your expectations when it comes to him.”

Zara’s eyes burned. “And who are you to tell me that?”

“Whoa, whoa no need to get angry,” Rosey said mockingly, a smug smile playing on her lips. “Just remember something: I’m an ambitious woman. When I want something, I get it. And if someone stands in my way…” She gave Zara a hard shove. “I sweep them away.”

Before Zara could respond, Rosey turned on her heel and walked off, leaving her fuming.

“What’s wrong with her?” Zara muttered under her breath. “And why does she claim Adrian like she owns him?” She clenched her fists. One thing was certain she had just earned herself a new enemy.

Moments later, Claire found her. “Hey, what happened? I saw Rosey storm off. Did you two fight?”

Zara sighed and explained everything.

Claire rolled her eyes. “Seriously? As if she even has a chance with him. Don’t waste your energy on her, okay?”

Zara nodded, though the sting lingered.

Later that night, the campfire crackled under the open sky. Zara joined the group quietly. Claire had saved her a seat, but but  was across from Adrian. Her chest tightened when she noticed Rosey sitting right beside him, leaning in, laughing at something he said. Zara tried to brush it off but Rosey’s smirk told her it was all for show she wouldn’t have care anyway but Rosey was making her point clear and for some reason she didn’t want to loose to her !

Adrian’s gaze found her across the fire, and for a fleeting second, their eyes locked. Zara quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the flames. Every time she glanced up, his eyes were still on her.

Then Adrian’s phone rang. He stood and answered briefly that it was the company manager, calling about an urgent matter.

“We’re leaving tomorrow morning,” he announced afterward. The others murmured in disappointment, but no one dared question him he was the boss, after all.

Zara, however, felt relieved. This trip had brought her nothing but trouble.

Later that night, as she approached her tent, she heard someone call her name.

“Zara.”

She turned and saw Adrian walking toward her. The wind swept through her hair, a few strands falling into her eyes.

“Ouch my eyes,” she muttered, trying to brush them away.

Before she could, Adrian stepped closer, gently tucking her hair back and blowing softly to ease the irritation. For a brief moment, everything stilled. She looked up at him, and he was already staring down at her his hands still holding her face, his expression full of concern.

It felt like he might kiss her. But then, suddenly, he stepped back, clearing his throat.

“I just came to ask if you took your pills,” he said quickly, trying to sound stern. “You have work tomorrow. No excuses for lazy people.”

Zara blinked, flustered. “You came all the way from your tent just to call me lazy?”

He smirked. “Where’s the lie? You can’t even handle your own hair.”

Zara glared at him, too defeated to argue. She stormed into her tent and let out a muffled scream.

“Why does he always make good points? Ugh!”

The next morning, they left the campsite early Adrian heading straight to work, and Zara going home, her thoughts a restless storm of confusion and emotion.

Zara was completely drained. All she wanted was to collapse into her bed and sleep for a week. But just as she turned the corner toward her room, she bumped into Isabella.

As always, Isabella’s face lit up the instant she saw her like a puppy spotting its owner after a long day.

“Oh, my dear Zara!” Isabella squealed, wrapping her arms around her.

Zara smiled faintly and patted her head. “I missed you too, Isa.”

“But why are you back so soon?” Isabella asked, tilting her head in surprise.

Zara sighed. “Your brother makes the rules, so… he decided we had to return early.”

Isabella’s gaze dropped to Zara’s leg, where a small plaster peeked out beneath her skirt. Her eyes widened. “Wait what happened to your leg?”

“Oh, that.” Zara gave a sheepish laugh. “I twisted it in the forest.”

Before she could stop herself, she added, “Adrian’s the one who rescued me.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them.

Isabella gasped, her cheeks instantly turning pink. “See! I knew it! You two are totally going to fall in love someday. Why else would he save you if he hated you?”

Zara chuckled softly, trying to hide her unease. “Maybe he just didn’t want another employee dying under his watch.”

But Isabella only grinned wider, convinced. “I told you, he’s not as bad as he seems.”

Zara gave a small nod, though her mind was far from calm.