The next morning, Alina walked into the office earlier than usual. The building was quiet, almost too quiet, and for once, there wasn't a single whisper following her. The air was still, and she could almost pretend that yesterday's gossip hadn't existed.
Almost.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Sophie.
> Sophie: "Good luck surviving today, boss. The rumor's still alive. 😉"
Alina groaned, sliding her phone into her bag. "Of course it is," she muttered, running a hand through her hair before heading toward her cabin.
But as soon as she entered, she froze.
Someone had already been there.
On her desk sat a cup of freshly brewed coffee — just the way she liked it. No sugar, extra strong.
Her first thought was Sophie. Her second? Adrian.
The idea made her heartbeat trip. No way.
Still, when she picked up the cup, the faintest hint of his cologne lingered on the lid.
---
Meanwhile, at Vale Enterprises
Adrian leaned back in his chair, a rare hint of amusement tugging at his lips as Liam handed him the morning reports.
"Something funny?" Liam asked, raising a brow.
"Not particularly," Adrian replied, hiding his smirk behind the coffee cup. "Just… curious about how rumors evolve."
"Ah, still thinking about Ms. Ross, huh?"
Adrian's silence said enough.
Liam chuckled. "You're not fooling anyone. You sent her that coffee, didn't you?"
Adrian didn't answer. He didn't have to.
---
A Meeting of Coincidences
By mid-morning, Alina was summoned to a new cross-company meeting, the kind that involved both Aurora Group and Vale Enterprises.
"Not again," she whispered, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why does fate hate me?"
Sophie leaned against her desk. "Because the universe ships you two harder than anyone else in this building."
Alina threw a pen at her. "Out."
When she arrived at the conference room, Adrian was already there — calm, composed, eyes flicking up from his tablet as she walked in.
"Ms. Ross," he greeted.
"Mr. Vale," she replied, tone clipped.
"Coffee treating you well?" he asked casually.
Her eyes widened slightly, but she recovered fast. "You?"
He smirked faintly. "Never better."
The tension between them was so sharp it could slice through glass.
---
The Presentation Chaos
During the presentation, Alina did her best to focus. She spoke clearly, confidently, but her words felt distant, as if half her attention was elsewhere — or rather, on someone.
Adrian sat across from her, observing quietly. Every time their eyes met, something electric buzzed between them.
At one point, Sophie accidentally nudged the projector cable loose, making the screen flicker. Alina bent down to fix it — just as Adrian stood to help. Their hands met again.
A spark.
A heartbeat too long.
She froze. He didn't.
"Got it," he said softly, his fingers brushing hers again before pulling back.
"Thanks," she murmured, eyes averted.
From the back of the room, Liam whispered to Sophie, "You think they'll ever admit it?"
Sophie grinned. "Nope. And that's what makes it fun."
---
Unintentional Moments
After the meeting, Alina escaped to the rooftop terrace to catch her breath. The autumn wind was cool against her cheeks, but her mind was still burning from the earlier contact.
She leaned against the railing, staring out at the skyline. Why does he always get under my skin?
"Enjoying the view?"
Her breath hitched at the voice. She didn't even have to turn. "You shouldn't sneak up on people like that."
"I wasn't sneaking," Adrian said, standing beside her, hands in his pockets. "You were just… lost in thought."
"About work," she replied quickly.
"Of course."
He looked at her then, really looked. The sunlight hit her face just right, and for a moment, the walls around him cracked.
"Alina," he said softly, almost like he hadn't meant to.
She turned to him, surprised by the use of her first name. "What?"
He hesitated — the kind of hesitation that held back something he wasn't ready to admit. "Nothing. Forget it."
She frowned slightly. "You're strange sometimes."
"And you're stubborn."
They stood there in silence, the air between them heavy but comfortable. For once, neither of them tried to win.
---
The Assistants Plot Again
Later, in their respective offices, Sophie and Liam had taken it upon themselves to accelerate the inevitable.
"I say we schedule another joint meeting," Sophie whispered over the phone.
Liam snorted. "You're enjoying this too much."
"Of course I am," she replied. "Do you know how long I've been waiting for her to stop pretending she doesn't like him?"
"And what makes you think he's any different?"
Liam smirked. "Oh, he's worse. He's been hiding behind professionalism for months."
"Then it's settled," Sophie said. "Tomorrow — one surprise meeting. Let's see who cracks first."
---
Evening Reflection
That night, Alina sat by her window at home, the city lights stretching endlessly below. Her phone buzzed — an email notification.
It was from Adrian.
> "Excellent presentation today. Your analysis was precise. Also — next time, let me handle the projector. You seem to have trouble keeping your balance."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling.
She typed back:
> "Noted. Next time, don't hover. You're distracting."
Seconds later, his reply came.
> "Good. That's the point."
Her fingers froze above the screen, heart hammering.
She didn't respond — she couldn't. Instead, she set the phone aside and buried her face in her hands, muttering, "What is wrong with him?"
And yet, the smile wouldn't leave her face.
---
Adrian's Side
Meanwhile, Adrian leaned back in his chair, staring at the faint glow of his laptop.
Liam poked his head into the office. "Working late again?"
Adrian didn't look up. "Something like that."
"Or someone?"
Adrian gave a faint smirk. "Go home, Liam."
As the door closed behind him, Adrian looked out at the city skyline — the same view Alina was watching from miles away.
He couldn't deny it anymore. The rivalry, the banter, the constant push and pull — it was addictive.
But he also knew one thing clearly. Whatever was happening between them, it wasn't just coincidence. It was building toward something inevitable.
And he wasn't planning to stop it.
---
The Unspoken Truth
That night, both lay awake in separate rooms, miles apart but sharing the same restless thought:
Maybe this isn't just rivalry anymore.
Neither of them admitted it — not yet — but the line between hate and something else had already blurred.
And tomorrow? Tomorrow, the game would continue.
Because neither Adrian Vale nor Alina Ross had any intention of losing.
---