The night drew closer to its end, but the gala still buzzed with the clinking of glasses and soft, refined laughter. Adrian had been by Joi's side for most of the evening, his presence an unyielding barrier against the probing gazes and whispered speculations surrounding them. Yet, his gaze kept flickering toward Shane, whose casual demeanor barely masked the tension in his eyes each time they landed on Joi.
Shane didn't shy away from lingering near her. "Joi, I was wondering if you'd like to visit my new showroom sometime," Shane suggested smoothly during a moment when Adrian had briefly stepped away to speak with a prominent investor.
Joi hesitated, feeling the weight of the offer but also appreciating Shane's consistent kindness toward her. Before she could respond, Adrian's return disrupted the moment.
"Joi," Adrian's voice cut through the air like a blade. "It's getting late. Let's head home."
There was no room for argument in his tone, but Joi gave Shane an apologetic smile. "Thank you for the offer, Shane. I'll think about it."
Adrian's icy demeanor didn't falter, but his jaw tightened as Shane offered Joi a subtle nod, his smirk suggesting he wasn't giving up easily.
As Adrian led Joi toward the exit, Sophia caught sight of them. Her polished smile hid the storm of thoughts swirling behind her eyes. To the onlookers, Adrian seemed every bit the composed and attentive fiancé escorting Joi home. But Sophia knew him better—knew where his gaze wandered and how quickly his mask slipped when Joi was near.
Inside the car, the tension between Adrian and Joi was palpable. Adrian's silence was heavier than usual, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. Joi didn't attempt to fill the void, her own thoughts swirling with Shane's offer and the subtle discomfort she felt under Adrian's cold watch.
When they arrived at the penthouse, Isabella was already asleep, and Mrs. Catlin greeted them with her usual warm smile.
"Welcome back. I'll bring up some tea if you'd like," Mrs. Catlin offered.
"No need," Adrian replied curtly, brushing past her and heading to his office. Joi lingered for a moment before retreating to her room, her heart feeling heavier than it should.
Sophia, still in her evening gown, leaned against the kitchen counter, her expression thoughtful as she poured herself a glass of wine. She sipped it slowly, her eyes following Adrian's retreating figure with quiet intent.
The next morning, Joi stood in the kitchen, the aroma of fresh coffee filling the air as she prepared breakfast for herself and Isabella. She was still a little weary from the gala but was determined to carry on with her usual routine. Isabella was chatting away beside her, her smile a constant reminder of the tenderness Joi felt for the girl.
As she poured herself a cup of coffee, her phone buzzed, breaking her focus. A glance at the screen revealed a message from Shane. "Good morning, beautiful. Hope you're feeling better today."
Joi smiled despite herself, her heart warming at the kind words. It wasn't the first time Shane had checked in on her since the gala, and despite her conflicted feelings about him, she couldn't help but appreciate his attention. She took a sip of her coffee, debating whether to respond right away.
Before she could type a reply, Isabella tugged on her sleeve, her wide eyes filled with excitement. "Joi, can we go to the park today?"
Joi chuckled softly. "Of course, sweetheart. We'll go after breakfast."
As Joi continued preparing the meal, her mind wandered back to Shane's message. There was something comforting about his presence in her life, something she hadn't felt with Adrian. Adrian had been distant, cold even, especially after everything with Sophia. The more Joi thought about it, the more she realized how much she had been retreating into her own thoughts, trying to make sense of her emotions and the growing feelings for both Adrian and Shane.
Just as she was about to reply to Shane, a knock at the door interrupted her. She opened it to find Debbie standing there, her eyes narrowing with a flicker of irritation.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Debbie asked, her tone clipped.
Joi stepped aside, allowing her inside. "Sure, what's going on?"
Debbie crossed her arms, glancing at Isabella before fixing her gaze on Joi. "I saw you smiling in that picture with Shane last night. You've been talking to him a lot lately."
Joi blinked in surprise. "We're friends, Debbie. There's nothing wrong with that."
Debbie's expression hardened. "You know, I've been trying to help you see that Shane's not the right man for you. You're too focused on him. What about Adrian? He's been there for you, and you're throwing it all away."
Joi's breath caught in her throat, her mind racing. She hadn't expected this confrontation, especially not from Debbie. "I'm not throwing anything away, Debbie. I'm just... trying to figure things out."
Debbie scoffed. "By spending time with another man? You're hurting Adrian. I can see it in his eyes when he looks at you."
Joi felt a wave of guilt wash over her, but she quickly masked it. "Adrian is complicated, Debbie. I can't keep up with him sometimes."
Debbie shook her head. "Don't kid yourself. You're falling for him, but you don't even realize it."
Joi's heart pounded in her chest, but she remained silent. What was there to say? She couldn't deny that she had feelings for Adrian, but those feelings were tangled up with the confusion of everything that had happened. She was scared, unsure of what she truly wanted.
Before she could respond, Isabella tugged on her sleeve again. "Joi, can we go now?"
Joi smiled softly at the little girl, trying to push aside the tension with Debbie. "Of course, sweetie. Let me just grab my things."
As they left the house and walked toward the park, Joi's mind was still swirling with emotions. She didn't want to fight with Debbie, but it seemed like the jealousy was consuming her friend. It wasn't the first time Debbie had shown this side of her, and it wouldn't be the last. But as much as Joi wanted to push it all aside, she couldn't deny the discomfort it caused.
Meanwhile, Adrian was in his office, the weight of the day's responsibilities pressing down on him. He was scanning over reports when he received a message from his assistant. "Joi is with Isabella at the park. Should we send someone to keep an eye on her?"
Adrian paused, the words sinking in. His first instinct was to dismiss the suggestion, but something in his chest tightened. He wasn't sure why, but the idea of Joi spending time with Shane made him uneasy.
"No," he replied curtly. "Let them be."
But his mind couldn't shake the thought of Joi, her smile, and the way Shane seemed to fit so easily into her life. The jealousy he was feeling was unfamiliar, and it gnawed at him more than he cared to admit.