C5 Chapter 5

"Good morning," I said, stepping into the living room with a light stretch. The smell of coffee hung in the air, but what caught my attention was Adrian sitting at the dining table, already immersed in work. His laptop screen cast a soft glow on his sharp features, and even in the casual light of morning, he looked annoyingly flawless.

"Morning," he replied without lifting his head, his focus entirely on whatever he was typing.

I hesitated for a moment, watching him, before heading toward the kitchen. "Coffee or tea?"

"Coffee," he answered curtly.

"Coffee it is," I mumbled under my breath, grabbing the kettle. A part of me wanted to make tea just to spite him, but I refrained, deciding to save my energy for more significant battles.

When I returned to the dining table with two steaming mugs, I set one down in front of him and took the seat across from him. Adrian gave a brief nod, his attention still on his laptop. I sipped my coffee, letting the warmth seep into me, before breaking the silence.

"So," I started, trying to sound casual, "last night was... dramatic, don’t you think?"

Adrian finally looked up, his expression unreadable. "Nobody expected your ex-boyfriend to appear out of the blue."

I flinched slightly, heat rising to my cheeks. "Yeah, about that..." I hesitated, swirling the coffee in my mug. "I had no idea he’d be there, I swear. The day before this whole charade started, I broke up with him. I caught him cheating on me with some girl in my own house. I didn’t even want to think about him, let alone see him again."

Adrian raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. He simply nodded as if filing the information away and returned his attention to his laptop.

I waited a moment, expecting him to say something, but when he didn’t, I sighed and leaned forward. "You know, a normal person would at least say, ‘Wow, that sucks’ or ‘I’m sorry you went through that.’ Something human."

"You seem fine," he said without looking at me, his voice calm and detached.

"Wow. Thanks, Dr. Adrian," I muttered sarcastically. "Glad to know I passed the emotional stability test."

He didn’t even crack a smile, which only annoyed me further. I decided to try a different approach. "So, what’s your favorite movie? Or are you one of those people who doesn’t have time for things like that?"

He paused his typing and looked at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Mia."

"Yes?" I said innocently, sipping my coffee.

"We don’t need to do this."

"Do what?"

"This." He gestured vaguely between us. "Small talk. Getting to know each other. It’s unnecessary."

I blinked, taken aback. "Unnecessary? We’re living together. What else are we supposed to do, sit in silence and pretend the other doesn’t exist?"

He leaned back in his chair, his expression hardening. "In this house, we don’t need to act like we’re friends. Outside, we keep up appearances—smile for the cameras, hold hands, play the perfect couple. But inside? Boundaries are necessary."

"Boundaries?" I repeated, my irritation rising. "You make it sound like we’re in some corporate negotiation, not a marriage."

"Exactly," he said smoothly. "And clear boundaries prevent complications."

I stared at him, dumbfounded. "You’re serious?"

"Completely." He stood, picking up his laptop. "This arrangement works because it’s professional. Let’s keep it that way."

"Unbelievable," I muttered, watching as he walked away.

---

That evening, I found myself alone in the living room, still replaying Adrian’s words in my head. "Boundaries," I scoffed to myself. "We’ll see about that."

When Adrian returned from his study, I was lounging on the couch with my legs propped up on the armrest, flipping through a magazine.

"Comfortable?" he asked, his tone dry.

"Very," I said with a grin, tilting my head to look at him. "Is this within the boundaries, or should I sit upright and fold my hands neatly?"

He didn’t respond, but the slight twitch of his jaw told me I was testing his patience.

"What about this?" I said, deliberately stretching out further. "Am I infringing on your invisible rules, Mr. Professional?"

"Mia." His tone was a warning, but I ignored it.

"Relax," I teased, sitting up slightly. "You’re so uptight. I’m just trying to make this house feel a little less like a corporate office and a little more like, I don’t know, a home?"

"This isn’t a home," Adrian said firmly, his gaze locking onto mine. "It’s a temporary arrangement. Don’t mistake it for anything more."

I scoffed, shaking my head. "You really know how to kill the mood, don’t you?"

"I’m not here to entertain you, Mia," he replied, stepping closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over me. "You can test my patience all you want, but remember, this is a two-way street. Don’t push too far."

"Push too far?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "What are you going to do, write me up for insubordination?"

His jaw tightened, and for a second, I thought he was going to walk away. But then, to my surprise, he stepped closer. I barely had time to react before his hand was on the back of the couch, his face just inches from mine.

"Let me make one thing clear," he said softly, his voice low and controlled. "I don’t play games, Mia. So, unless you want to find out what happens when you cross that line, I suggest you stop testing me."

For a moment, neither of us moved. The air between us felt charged, the tension crackling like a live wire. I could feel his breath, warm and steady, brushing against my skin. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I hated how flustered I felt under his intense gaze.

But I wasn’t about to back down.

"Maybe I want to find out," I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Adrian’s eyes darkened, and for a split second, I thought he might actually... what? Kiss me? I didn’t know what I expected, but when he suddenly straightened and stepped back, the absence of his presence left me breathless.

"Don’t," he said, his tone colder now, as though he’d regained full control. "We have a public appearance tomorrow. A gala. Be ready."

And just like that, he turned and left the room, leaving me sitting there, my cheeks flushed and my mind racing.

---

The next morning, I woke up feeling a strange mix of excitement and dread. A gala. I’d never been to one before. Sure, I’d seen them in movies and on social media, but attending one? That was a whole new level of intimidating.

After showering and pulling on a dress I thought looked both elegant and comfortable, I stepped out of my room to find Adrian waiting for me near the stairs. His gaze swept over me, and I could tell immediately from the slight crease in his brow that he wasn’t impressed.

"That’s not going to work," he said flatly.

I glanced down at my dress, confused. "What’s wrong with it?"

"It’s fine for a casual dinner, but not for a gala," he replied, already heading toward a nearby closet.

"I like this one," I argued, crossing my arms as he rifled through the hangers. "It’s classy and comfortable."

"And completely unsuitable for tonight," he countered, pulling out a sleek, floor-length gown in deep emerald green. He held it out to me. "Wear this."

I hesitated, glaring at the dress like it was the enemy. "Why do you get to decide what I wear?"

"Because appearances matter," he said simply. "And what I want is what you’ll wear."

My jaw dropped. "Excuse me? You don’t get to—"

"Mia," he interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "This isn’t up for discussion. Change."

I grabbed the dress from his hands, muttering under my breath as I stomped back to my room. "Control freak," I grumbled, slamming the door behind me.

When I finally emerged in the gown, Adrian gave me a quick once-over and nodded in approval. "Better. Let’s go."

---

The gala venue was breathtaking. As our car pulled up to the grand building, its massive pillars and glittering chandeliers visible even from outside, I couldn’t help but gape.

"Wow," I whispered, my eyes wide. "This place is... enormous."

Adrian glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "Stick close to me," he said.

I nodded, suddenly feeling nervous. "I’ve lived in this city for years and never imagined I’d be at something like this," I admitted softly.

"Don’t worry," he said, his voice unexpectedly gentle. "I’ll be right by your side."

The car door opened, and the sound of cameras clicking filled the air. Reporters were everywhere, their questions coming rapid-fire as we stepped out together.

"Congratulations on your marriage!"

"How did you two meet?"

"Are you planning on starting a family soon?"

I forced a smile, clinging to Adrian’s arm as we made our way through the chaos. His composure never faltered, and I tried to draw strength from his calm demeanor.

Once inside, the dazzling lights and opulence of the gala took my breath away. The room was filled with influential families, their laughter and chatter echoing off the high ceilings. I felt a pang of insecurity as I glanced around.

"You okay?" Adrian asked, leaning in slightly.

I nodded quickly. "Yeah, just... trying to take it all in."

"You’ll be fine," he said, his tone reassuring.

As we moved through the crowd, Adrian introduced me to various people, each interaction more overwhelming than the last. I did my best to smile and nod, but the endless questions and polished smiles started to wear on me.

At one point, Adrian seemed to sense my unease. "Let’s dance," he said suddenly, taking my hand and leading me to the dance floor.

"Dance?" I echoed, startled.

"Trust me," he murmured, his hand resting lightly on my waist as the music swelled.

The world seemed to fade as we moved in sync, his steady presence grounding me. For the first time that evening, I felt like I could breathe.

But just as I started to relax, a reporter approached the edge of the dance floor, their camera flashing. "Mia, can you tell us what inspired your whirlwind romance with Adrian?"

I froze, my mind going blank. The words caught in my throat, and I could feel the weight of the crowd’s eyes on me.

Before I could respond, my heel caught on the hem of my dress, and I stumbled, barely catching myself before falling.

Adrian’s grip tightened on me, his voice low in my ear. "Smile, Mia. Don’t let them see you falter."

But as I straightened, the reporter’s probing question hung in the air, and I felt my carefully constructed facade begin to crack.