Anna sat on the plush couch in her parents' opulent sitting room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The weight of their expectations pressed heavily on her. Mr. Smith paced the room, his face etched with frustration, while Mrs. Smith leaned forward in her chair, her eyes gleaming with quiet determination.
"We've given you everything, Anna," Mr. Smith snapped, his voice low and sharp. "Your lifestyle, your influence, your position. And this is how you repay us? By letting Adrian slip further away?"
"I'm doing my best," Anna retorted, her voice cold but laced with desperation. "Do you think it's easy dealing with a man like Adrian? He's like ice—unshakable and untouchable."
"Then melt the ice," Mrs. Smith interjected smoothly, her tone deceptively calm. "You need to stop playing games and make him notice you. Properly."
Anna's lips twitched into a bitter smile. "And how exactly do you propose I do that, Mother? He doesn't even look at me."
Mrs. Smith exchanged a glance with her husband before answering. "Men like Adrian aren't swayed by words. You need to create a situation where he has no choice but to take responsibility. Something undeniable. Permanent."
"A child," Mr. Smith said bluntly. His words hung in the air, heavy with implication.
Anna blinked, momentarily stunned. "You're suggesting I—"
"You will make him believe you're carrying his child," Mrs. Smith interrupted, her voice firm. "If it means staging a moment, so be it. You're beautiful, Anna. Use it. We'll handle the rest."
Anna hesitated, her mind racing. The idea of seducing Adrian had crossed her mind before, but to actually pin a pregnancy on him? It was audacious. Risky. But the determination in her parents' eyes told her there was no room for failure.
"And if he doesn't fall for it?" Anna asked, her voice softer now, unsure.
Mrs. Smith leaned forward, her tone sharpening. "He will. Men like Adrian are obsessed with control. If you can make him think he's lost it, he'll do whatever it takes to regain it. Including taking you under his protection."
Anna frowned, leaning back in her seat. "He doesn't trust me. How do I even get close enough?"
"Subtlety," Mrs. Smith said. "We'll create opportunities for you—dinners, meetings, moments that will place you in his orbit. And when the timing is right..." Her voice trailed off, leaving the implications clear.
Later that evening, the Smiths gathered in the dining room to strategize further. They decided to use the company as a bridge to bring Anna closer to Adrian.
"He'll have to attend the charity gala next week," Mr. Smith noted, tapping his fingers on the table. "You'll be there, too. Make yourself indispensable. Charm his business associates. Remind him of the woman you once were."
"And the media?" Anna asked.
Mrs. Smith smiled faintly. "Leave that to us. A few well-placed whispers about the two of you spending time together will help reinforce the image we want. The more people believe it, the harder it will be for Adrian to deny it."
"And Joi?" Anna's voice dripped with venom. "She's the real problem."
"Don't worry about Joi," Mrs. Smith said, her voice cool and measured. "Her naivety is her weakness. She won't see you coming."
---
In his penthouse office, Adrian stared out at the city skyline, his expression unreadable. Alexander stood nearby, a tablet in hand.
"The Smiths are stirring trouble," Alexander said, his tone calm but firm. "Anna's been spotted at multiple events lately, speaking openly about her connection to you."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Let them talk. It won't change anything."
Alexander hesitated. "And Joi?"
Adrian turned slightly, his cold eyes meeting Alexander's. "What about her?"
"She's... drifting," Alexander said carefully. "Sophia has been keeping her company, but the Smiths may see her as an easier target. She's vulnerable."
Adrian's gaze darkened. He didn't respond, but the flicker of something in his eyes betrayed his thoughts. He would deal with the Smiths if necessary, but his focus remained on keeping Joi close.
---
The week of the charity gala arrived, shrouded in a tension that lingered just beneath the surface. Adrian maintained his cold, aloof demeanor as always, but even Alexander could sense the weight of his unspoken thoughts. Joi had grown quieter in the days leading up to the event, her distance palpable and piercing in a way Adrian refused to admit affected him.
Sophia, meanwhile, moved through the penthouse with calculated ease, slipping seamlessly into moments where Adrian's attention was divided, all the while keeping a warm, false front toward Joi. The Smiths' plan was already underway, and Sophia, though unaware of the details, could sense an opportunity of her own forming.
The charity gala was hosted by the Smiths at a grand, glittering hotel in the city. It was an event Adrian couldn't avoid attending, given the stakes it held for his business and public image. His icy reputation made him a spectacle at such gatherings, and he used it to his advantage.
Adrian arrived in his tailored black tuxedo, his sharp features and piercing gaze turning heads as he entered the opulent ballroom. The chandeliers overhead cast a soft glow over the sea of elites, their laughter and chatter mingling with the sound of a live orchestra.
Anna spotted him immediately, her red silk dress clinging to her figure in a way that was designed to catch his attention. She gave him a soft, practiced smile as she approached, her heels clicking against the marble floor.
"Adrian," she greeted, her voice sweet and lilting. "I was wondering if you'd make it."
Adrian's gaze barely flickered in her direction. "Why wouldn't I?"
Anna's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "It's good to see you here. I know how busy you've been."
He offered her nothing but a curt nod before moving past her, his attention drawn toward the far corner of the room where Joi had just entered.
Joi wasn't supposed to be here—at least, not in Adrian's mind. But Sophia had convinced her that attending would show strength and confidence, and Joi, eager to reclaim a sense of independence, had reluctantly agreed. She wore a simple yet elegant midnight blue dress, her hair falling in soft waves.
Adrian's gaze lingered on her for a moment too long, his cold exterior unable to mask the flicker of something more. Sophia noticed from across the room, her own plans beginning to shift.
Joi didn't see Adrian watching her. Her attention was pulled toward Shane Dawson, who had just entered the gala with the easy confidence of someone who belonged. Dressed in a dark gray suit, Shane's charm lit up the room as he made his way toward Joi, his smile warm and genuine.
"Joi," Shane greeted, his voice smooth. "You look stunning tonight."
Joi blushed lightly, returning his smile. "Thank you, Shane. I didn't expect to see you here."
"I couldn't miss this," he replied. "Especially if you're attending."
Their conversation flowed naturally, the warmth between them a stark contrast to the icy tension that followed Adrian everywhere he went. From his position at the edge of the room, Adrian watched them with a growing storm behind his cold eyes.
Shane leaned in slightly, his tone dropping to something more intimate. "I've been thinking about our last conversation. About... what you said regarding your plans."
Joi hesitated, glancing down at the flute of champagne in her hand. "I'm still figuring things out, Shane. It's complicated."
"It doesn't have to be," Shane said softly. "You know you have options. You don't have to stay in a situation that doesn't make you happy."
Adrian's grip on his glass tightened as he eavesdropped from a distance. The words were like daggers, each one piercing his composure.
Later, after Joi had stepped away from Shane to retrieve another drink, Adrian found her near the edge of the ballroom. She didn't see him approach until he was standing beside her, his cold presence impossible to ignore.
"You've been smiling a lot lately," Adrian said, his voice low but sharp.
Joi blinked, startled by his sudden appearance. "Is that a problem?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed, the storm in them barely contained. "Depends on the reason."
Her gaze hardened, her patience wearing thin. "If it is, then maybe you should stop watching me."
Adrian didn't respond immediately, his silence more unnerving than any retort. Instead, he leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping even further. "Be careful who you trust, Joi. Not everyone has your best interests at heart."
She bristled at his words, unsure whether they were a warning or a veiled threat. Before she could respond, he straightened and walked away, leaving her with the weight of his words lingering heavily in the air.
Meanwhile, Anna had been working the room, subtly ingratiating herself with Adrian's business associates and planting seeds of doubt about his focus. When she finally cornered him near the bar, she placed a delicate hand on his arm.
"Adrian," she said softly, her voice laced with feigned vulnerability. "I need to talk to you. Privately."
He regarded her with his usual detached expression. "What is it?"
"It's about the company," she lied smoothly, her eyes wide and earnest. "There's something you need to know."
Adrian sighed, clearly uninterested, but he allowed her to lead him to a quieter corner of the room.