Kirana thought everything would return to normal after their conversation in Adrian's office. If she kept her distance and focused on her work, these strange feelings would disappear on their own.
But Adrian wouldn't let that happen.
Not with words, but with his actions. With the way he looked at Kirana in every meeting, with the way he always found an excuse to be near her.
And tonight, all the boundaries Kirana had worked so hard to maintain were beginning to blur.
Working late was nothing new for Kirana. But working late alone with Adrian in an almost empty office was something she had never imagined.
Kirana let out a quiet sigh as she typed her report at her desk. The clock already showed eight p.m., but Adrian was still in the room next door, just as busy.
They were the only two left. Everyone else had gone home a while ago, leaving the office wrapped in silence. The only sounds were the tapping of keyboards and the occasional ring of a phone.
Kirana tried to focus. She really did.
But then Adrian's office door opened, and he stepped out with a relaxed expression, his tie slightly loosened and his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
"Still hanging in there?" His voice was heavy with exhaustion, but there was a teasing note in it.
Kirana swallowed, quickly turning her eyes back to her laptop screen. "I'm just finishing the last report."
Adrian walked over and leaned against the desk beside hers. "You're too hardworking, Kirana."
Kirana ignored him. She kept typing, pretending not to be affected by the man's presence so close to her.
Adrian chuckled softly, as if he could read her thoughts. "I'm going to order some coffee. Want one?"
Kirana hesitated for a moment, then nodded without looking at him. "Black."
Adrian didn't leave right away. He kept staring at her, making Kirana even more uneasy.
"Don't be so tense," he said at last before walking toward the pantry.
Kirana let out a long breath. It was easy for him to say that when he was the one creating all this tension.
A few minutes later, Adrian returned with two cups of coffee and placed one on Kirana's desk.
"Thank you," Kirana murmured without looking at him.
Adrian only nodded, then sat at the desk across from her, sipping his coffee as he stared at his laptop.
Silence settled over the room again. And yet, somehow, the atmosphere felt even more dangerous.
Kirana tried to focus, but her thoughts kept getting distracted. Adrian's gaze felt so intense, even though he appeared busy with his work.
When she finally dared to raise her head, her eyes met Adrian's sharp gaze. Kirana's heart began to pound.
Adrian didn't look away. On the contrary, he leaned back in his chair, as if watching Kirana's reaction with keen interest.
"Is there something you want to ask?" he asked in a low voice.
Kirana froze. "No."
Adrian smiled faintly. "Really?"
Kirana clenched her hands beneath the desk. She knew this was Adrian's game. She knew he wanted to see how long she could hold out.
And even more troubling, Kirana was beginning to feel that she was losing this game.
Kirana tried to ignore the way Adrian looked at her. The way he assessed her every movement, as if he were reading her mind.
She turned her focus back to her laptop screen and tried to continue working. But her thoughts refused to settle completely.
'Damn it. Why does that man always have to make me feel this way?'