Valeria's POV
The night was colder than usual for late spring, and the wind whistled through the narrow streets as I walked from my office to the parking garage. It had been a long day of meetings, deals, and endless paperwork. All I wanted was to go home, take a hot bath, and forget the chaos of the world for a few hours. But as I turned the corner into the dimly lit garage, I noticed a sleek black car parked near the entrance. I narrowed my eyes.
It was Adrian's car.
Why was he here?
I had purposely avoided answering his texts and calls after our lunch meeting. It wasn't because I didn't enjoy our time together-on the contrary, I had a hard time getting his teasing smile out of my head-but because I knew better than to get involved with anyone. My life was too complicated for that. I had things to prove, and I didn't need distractions. Yet, here he was, looking like he belonged in the shadows of my mind.
"Adrian?" I called, raising an eyebrow as I approached his car.
He stepped out from behind the vehicle, his posture casual, yet his eyes locked onto me with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. "Valeria," he said, his voice low and smooth, the same way he'd spoken to me at lunch. "I was hoping we could talk."
I crossed my arms, my stance defensive. "What is this? Stalking now?"
He chuckled, shaking his head as he took a step closer, not in an aggressive way, but in that way men do when they want to be close without seeming too eager. "I wouldn't call it stalking. More like... making sure we're on the same page."
"Same page?" I repeated, eyeing him skeptically. "About what?"
"About us," he said, his eyes steady on mine. "I think we have unfinished business."
I felt my heart rate pick up. Why did his words make me feel like I was suddenly standing on the edge of a cliff, looking down into the unknown? The last thing I wanted was to be drawn into this-whatever it was-but I couldn't shake the feeling that Aiden was slowly becoming impossible to ignore.
"There's no 'us,' Adrian," I replied sharply, though my voice wavered slightly. "You're here for business, and that's it."
"Is it? Because every time I see you, it doesn't feel like just business." He stepped closer, I didn't take a step back. Instead, I stood my ground, eyes locked on his.
The air between us crackled with tension. He was close enough now that I could smell his cologne, a musky scent that seemed to mix with the cold air, making everything feel more intimate.
"I'm serious, Valeria. I know you're not interested in anything personal, but I can't stop thinking about you." His words were like a spark that lit a fire in my chest.
"I didn't ask you to think about me," I said, my voice sharp.
"You don't have to," he replied, stepping even closer, his voice softer now, almost like he was confiding a secret. "But I do. I think about you all the time."
I felt an odd flutter in my stomach, but I didn't let it show. I wasn't about to let him win so easily. I had to remain focused. "I'm not here for some... emotional rollercoaster, Adrian. I'm not looking for distractions."
He tilted his head, a slight smirk forming on his lips. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm not here to mess with your life. I'm just here because I want to be in it. Not for some brief affair, but... for the long haul."
"Long haul?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You're not my type."
He leaned in just a fraction closer, and I could feel the heat of his presence wrapping around me like a blanket. "Maybe not now," he said, his voice dropping lower, "but you'll be surprised how quickly a 'type' can change."
I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could get a word out, he reached out, lightly brushing a lock of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered there for just a second, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I stepped back, heart pounding in my chest, angry at myself for feeling anything at all.
"Don't do that," I snapped, my tone cutting through the air like a blade.
He didn't apologize. Instead, he watched me with that same intense gaze, his eyes gleaming with something more than just desire. There was determination there, like he wouldn't stop until he got exactly what he wanted.
"I don't play games, Valeria," he said, his voice quieter now, but no less intense. "I've made up my mind. I'm not going anywhere."
My heart skipped a beat at his words, but I quickly shoved the feeling down. "You should," I said, forcing a cool edge into my voice. "This isn't a movie, Adrian. I'm not some damsel in distress for you to rescue."
He gave a small, amused smile. "I never thought you were. But I can't deny that there's something about you, something I can't get out of my head. And I think you know it."
"I don't," I said, but the words felt hollow the moment they left my lips. He had a point. There was something about him. Something I didn't want to acknowledge but couldn't ignore.
Adrian took a slow, deliberate step back, his hands sliding into his pockets as he regarded me with that confident smirk of his. "You're right, I shouldn't be here. But I just couldn't stay away."
I exhaled sharply, still trying to steady my pulse. "You're ridiculous."
"Maybe," he said, "but I know you feel it, too."
Before I could respond, I heard the sound of someone approaching, and Adrian turned slightly toward the noise. He didn't seem worried, though-he was too confident for that.
"I'll leave you to think about it," he said, his voice low and almost teasing. "But don't take too long."
With that, he was gone, slipping into his car and driving away without another word. I stood there in the garage, my mind racing. I hated how he made me feel-how he could take something so simple and turn it into a whirlwind of emotions I wasn't ready to deal with.
But most of all, I hated how my heart had skipped when he'd said those words: but i know you feel it too.
Adrian's POV
I watched her retreating form in the rearview mirror as I drove away, my thoughts racing. Valeria was a mystery I had every intention of solving. She tried to push me away, to pretend like I was just another man who would disappear into the background, but I knew better. I could see it in her eyes; she felt the pull, just like I did.
I wasn't going to give up on her. Not now. Not when I could already taste the possibility of something more.
The game had just begun.