The soft hum of the car's engine filled the luxurious interior, but silence reigned between Adrian and Joi. The extravagant shopping trip had been a whirlwind of teasing smiles, stolen glances, and indulgent purchases, but now, as the night stretched over the city, Joi stared out the window, her thoughts swirling.
Adrian, seated beside her, watched her from the corner of his eye. His mood had remained unusually light since earlier—Joi's antics back at the penthouse had clearly amused him. More than that, she had unknowingly rekindled something dormant in him: a spark of possessiveness, a hunger he wasn't used to acknowledging.
Joi broke the silence first, her voice soft but deliberate. "You didn't have to spoil me that much."
Adrian's fingers tapped idly on the steering wheel, his gaze fixed ahead. "I don't do things halfway."
She turned to face him fully, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "And here I thought you just enjoyed showing off your billions."
Adrian glanced at her, his cool expression betraying the slightest curve of a smile. "Maybe I do."
Joi laughed softly, the sound filling the cabin, and for a fleeting moment, Adrian's chest tightened. It was rare for him to hear such genuine lightness, and rarer still for it to come from someone who had become so deeply entangled in his life.
As they pulled up to the house, Joi's mood shifted, the weight of the day's revelations creeping back into her mind. Sophia's manipulation, Anna's fury, and the secrets she'd overheard—everything threatened to unravel the carefully constructed image Sophia had built.
Adrian exited the car, coming around to open her door. His gentlemanly gesture caught Joi off guard, but before she could comment, he extended his hand. "Let's go."
She took it, her pulse quickening slightly at the contact, and together they made their way inside. The atmosphere in the penthouse was different—charged and tense. Sophia and Anna were nowhere to be seen, but the lingering echoes of their earlier argument clung to the air like a storm waiting to break.
Joi didn't miss the subtle way Adrian's eyes scanned the room, his instincts sharp as ever. "Are they still here?" she asked quietly, referring to Sophia and Anna.
"They'll show themselves when they're ready," Adrian replied dismissively. He loosened his tie, his demeanor shifting back to one of cool indifference. "Don't let their drama bother you."
Joi watched him for a long moment, her gaze searching. "You make it sound easy."
He met her eyes, his tone soft but firm. "Because it is. They don't matter—not to me."
Joi swallowed, her heart skipping at the conviction in his voice. Before she could respond, a noise from the hallway broke their moment. The sound of heels clicking against the marble floor grew louder, and moments later, Sophia appeared.
She looked flawless as always, though her expression betrayed her fraying composure. "Back so soon?" she said, her tone icy but laced with forced sweetness.
Joi raised a brow, stepping slightly closer to Adrian as if staking her claim. "Missed us already?"
Sophia's eyes narrowed, flickering between Joi and Adrian. "I see you had quite the evening. The entire internet seems to think so too."
Adrian said nothing, but his jaw tightened slightly, his patience thinning.
Joi smirked, her voice dripping with mock innocence. "It's hard not to enjoy yourself when you're being treated like a queen."
Sophia's smile faltered, her carefully maintained mask slipping for just a second. "Adrian," she said, turning to him, "a word in private."
Adrian didn't move. "Anything you have to say, say it here."
Sophia's eyes flashed with anger, but she quickly concealed it, her voice cooling. "Fine. Since you're so willing to let your… company hear everything, I'll say it plainly. The rumors are spreading, Adrian. We need to address this—together."
Joi, standing confidently beside Adrian, tilted her head. "You mean the rumors you started?"
Sophia's gaze snapped to Joi, venom flaring in her eyes. "I'm speaking to Adrian."
"And I'm standing right here," Joi shot back, folding her arms. "Why don't you try speaking a little louder so I can hear all the lies clearly?"
Adrian's lips quirked into the faintest smirk as he watched Joi. She wasn't backing down, and it was clear Sophia hadn't expected it.
Sophia straightened, her cold demeanor settling back into place. "You're playing a dangerous game, Joi. I'd be careful if I were you."
Joi stepped forward, meeting Sophia's glare without hesitation. "Funny, I was just about to tell you the same thing."
Adrian let the tension hang for a moment before finally speaking, his voice cool and commanding. "Sophia, go to bed. I'm not in the mood to entertain your games tonight."
Sophia's mouth opened as if to argue, but one look at Adrian's icy stare made her think better of it. She turned sharply, her heels clicking away into the distance.
When the room was finally silent, Joi let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "That woman has a talent for ruining any good mood."
Adrian chuckled softly, surprising her. "You handled her well."
Joi glanced at him, her expression smug. "I'm just getting started."
Adrian's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary, a hint of admiration flickering in his eyes before he turned and walked toward the stairs. "Get some rest, Joi. Tomorrow will be another long day."
Joi nodded faintly, but the weight of everything she had heard—Anna's schemes, Sophia's manipulation—pressed heavily against her chest. The idea of what Sophia was capable of sent a cold shiver through her body. What if Sophia's worse? What if she finds a way to take Adrian from me—just like that?
Her footsteps faltered as she turned toward her room. She couldn't silence the gnawing fear or the storm of emotions swirling inside her. Before she could stop herself, Joi whispered, "Adrian."
He paused on the first step, turning to look at her. The quiet urgency in her voice caught his attention. His expression softened ever so slightly. "What is it?"
Joi hesitated, gripping the hem of her dress. "Can I… stay with you tonight?" Her voice was small, vulnerable, like a secret she was afraid to share. She didn't want to feel alone—not after everything.
Adrian's brows furrowed, his sharp gaze searching hers. He walked back toward her, his presence towering, his eyes shadowed with unreadable emotion. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she lied, though her voice cracked. "I just… I don't want to be alone right now."
Adrian stared at her, silent for a beat too long, before exhaling deeply. Without another word, he took her hand and led her upstairs to his room.
Inside Adrian's bedroom, the air felt heavier—charged, alive. Joi stood at the edge of his bed, her nerves prickling as she watched him shrug off his jacket and loosen his tie. His movements were deliberate, controlled, but she saw it—the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw flexed.
"You don't have to be afraid of them, Joi," Adrian said quietly, pulling off his cufflinks. "Whatever Sophia or Anna are planning, I'll handle it."
Joi looked at him, her heart twisting. "And if they win?"
Adrian's gaze snapped to hers, sharp and unyielding. "They won't."
The certainty in his voice stirred something in her, broke something inside her. Before she could second-guess herself, she whispered, "Then prove it."
Adrian stilled, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"
"Stay with me tonight," Joi breathed, stepping closer. Her cheeks burned, but she didn't care. "Make me forget about them—about everything."
Adrian's restraint visibly wavered. "Joi…"
She reached out, her fingers grazing his shirt. "Please."
Adrian's control snapped.