The meeting room felt colder than it should have. Or maybe it was only Kirana's feelings freezing the moment she saw the man who had just walked in.
Adrian.
The man who had been with her last night.
The man she should never have to see again.
Now he stood at the front of the room, wearing a crisp white shirt beneath a gray suit jacket. His gaze was sharp and commanding. There was no trace of the man who had sat casually at the bar the night before, speaking to her in a warm tone.
Kirana swallowed, trying to calm herself. This had to be a nightmare.
Meanwhile, Adrian stood straight, one hand tucked into his pants pocket while the other rested on the long table.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice calm, deep, and firm. “I’m Adrian Rahardian, the CEO here.”
Kirana’s ears began to ring. The CEO?
“There are several new faces in this room. Before we begin, I’d like to get to know you first,” Adrian continued in a professional tone. “Let’s start with… you.”
Kirana jolted slightly when she realized Adrian’s finger was pointing at her.
Damn it.
She stood a little stiffly, feeling everyone’s eyes turn toward her. Her heart pounded—not only because of the introduction, but because of the man in front of her who was supposed to be a stranger, yet somehow felt far too familiar.
Kirana cleared her throat, trying to steady her voice. “Kirana Putri. I recently joined the strategy team as a business analyst.”
Adrian gave a small nod. “Do you have any prior experience in this field?”
“Yes. I worked at a consulting firm for two years.”
Adrian looked at her for a moment, then smiled faintly—a professional smile that gave Kirana no clue what he was thinking. “Good. Welcome aboard, Kirana.”
She quickly sat back down, trying to keep her expression neutral. But inside? She was a mess.
Adrian reintroduced himself more generally, explaining his vision and expectations for his team. All the while, Kirana tried not to look at him for too long, even though she felt his gaze turn toward her from time to time.
Was this a coincidence? Or… something more?
The meeting ended after an hour. Kirana hurriedly gathered her notes, hoping she could leave the room without any trouble.
But just as she was about to reach the door, that baritone voice stopped her.
“Kirana.”
She froze in place.
Slowly, she turned around. Adrian stood behind her, his hands tucked into his pockets, his expression still calm.
“Could you come to my office for a moment?”
Several coworkers who were still in the room exchanged glances. Kirana could feel them starting to speculate.
Carefully, she nodded. “Of course, sir.”
Adrian said nothing more and walked straight out. Kirana exhaled, then followed him.
As soon as she entered Adrian’s office, Kirana immediately felt oppressed by the atmosphere inside. The room was spacious, with large windows overlooking the city.
Adrian stood in front of his desk, arms crossed over his chest.
Kirana stood stiffly near the door. “Is there something I can help you with, sir?”
Adrian raised an eyebrow, then let out a small sigh. “You don’t have to be so stiff, Kirana.”
Kirana swallowed. “I’m just trying to be professional.”
Adrian looked at her for a long moment, as if evaluating something. “So am I.”
Silence.
Kirana didn’t know what to say. How was she supposed to act? Last night, they had been two strangers sharing a one-night encounter that shouldn’t have had any consequences. But now, that man was her boss.
“So…” Adrian finally spoke again. “What do you think of your first day?”