The next morning at Aurora HQ started with the hum of printers, the clack of heels, and the faint buzz of people gossiping about the newest rumor.
Rumors had always followed Alina Ross like shadows — first about her rivalry with Adrian Vale, then about their unexpected collaboration, and now… about that dinner.
She had learned to tune them out. Mostly.
But this morning, she couldn't.
Maybe because Sophie was being unusually quiet — which, in Sophie's world, was suspicious.
"Out with it," Alina said, sliding into her seat and glancing at the stack of reports on her desk.
Sophie blinked innocently. "Out with what?"
"That face."
Sophie gasped dramatically. "My face?"
"Yes, your I'm-up-to-something-and-I-know-you'll-regret-it face."
Sophie smiled sweetly. "You wound me, boss. I'm just… organizing schedules."
Alina eyed her suspiciously. "You never organize anything without chaos following."
Sophie didn't answer. Which said everything.
---
Meanwhile at Vale Enterprises
Across town, Liam was standing beside Adrian's desk, wearing the same kind of expression Sophie had been wearing earlier.
"What?" Adrian asked flatly, glancing up from his laptop.
"Oh, nothing," Liam said, tone too casual. "Just confirming the meeting for this afternoon."
Adrian frowned. "Meeting?"
"Yes. Joint project alignment, per request."
"I didn't schedule that."
Liam smiled. "I know. Sophie did."
Adrian's brows furrowed. "So this is another one of their schemes?"
"Likely."
Adrian sighed, but his lips twitched. "You realize they're playing with fire, right?"
"Oh, I'm counting on it," Liam said, smirking.
---
The Trap Is Set
At exactly 2:00 PM, both teams filed into the shared conference room. The energy was tense — a mix of anticipation and something else that no one dared name.
Alina walked in, carrying her tablet and a cup of coffee, her posture composed but her pulse quick. Adrian was already there, sleeves rolled up, glancing through the presentation slides.
"Ms. Ross," he greeted with a nod.
"Mr. Vale," she replied.
Their assistants exchanged subtle high-fives in the background. Mission: accomplished.
As everyone settled, Sophie cleared her throat. "So, as per today's agenda—"
Alina frowned. "There is no agenda."
"Exactly!" Sophie said cheerfully. "That's the fun part."
Adrian leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable. "This should be interesting."
---
Forced Teamwork
It didn't take long for the chaos to begin. The projector refused to connect, the Wi-Fi glitched, and half the presentation files were missing.
"What did you do?" Alina asked Sophie, suspicious.
"Nothing!" Sophie protested. "Okay, maybe I renamed a few folders…"
"Why?"
"Because teamwork builds character!"
Adrian chuckled under his breath, earning a glare from Alina. "Don't start."
He raised his hands in surrender. "Hey, I'm not complaining. It's… entertaining."
"Glad to be your entertainment," she muttered.
---
The Brainstorm
With their plans in shambles, the group decided to "brainstorm ideas manually." It was Liam's suggestion — clearly part of the trap.
Adrian and Alina ended up sitting side by side, papers scattered across the table, their shoulders brushing occasionally.
Every brush, every accidental glance, sent a spark racing between them.
At one point, Alina's pen slipped from her hand. Adrian caught it mid-air without looking, handed it back smoothly.
She blinked. "You always this good with timing?"
He smiled faintly. "Only when it matters."
Her heart skipped a beat. "You mean work, right?"
"Of course." His tone said otherwise.
---
A Quiet Moment
As the afternoon wore on, the rest of the team busied themselves with mock arguments about designs and deadlines. Sophie and Liam whispered in the corner, clearly pleased with their success.
But Alina wasn't paying attention to them anymore. She was focused on the man beside her — the way he leaned over the notes, calm and precise, his voice low as he spoke about strategy.
She hated how natural it felt. How easy it was to forget that this was supposed to be a rivalry.
At one point, he glanced at her and caught her staring.
"You're distracted," he said quietly.
She straightened. "No, I'm not."
He smiled. "You are. I can tell."
"Stop observing me like a science project," she muttered.
He leaned closer, voice dropping an octave. "Maybe I'm just curious what goes on in that head of yours."
Her breath caught. "Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Use that tone."
His eyes glinted with amusement. "What tone?"
"The one that makes everything sound like a challenge."
He chuckled softly. "Everything is a challenge with you."
---
Sophie's Little Intervention
Sophie chose that exact moment to "accidentally" spill water across Alina's notes.
"Oh no!" she exclaimed — far too dramatically.
"Seriously?" Alina groaned, dabbing the paper with tissues.
Adrian was already there, kneeling beside her to help. Their hands brushed again.
This time, neither pulled away immediately.
"Got it," he said finally, his fingers lingering just a second too long.
Sophie whispered to Liam, "That's progress."
Liam grinned. "Give it another week."
---
Evening Aftermath
By the time the meeting ended, everyone was exhausted — except Sophie and Liam, who were practically glowing with pride.
"That went well!" Sophie chirped.
"For you, maybe," Alina muttered. "You almost drowned my proposal."
"Small sacrifices for great chemistry," Sophie replied, winking.
Alina groaned, packing her things. "You're incorrigible."
"Admit it, though," Sophie said softly. "You didn't hate it."
Alina paused. She wanted to deny it, but the truth was… she hadn't. Not at all.
She walked toward the elevator, lost in thought, when Adrian's voice called out behind her.
"Ms. Ross."
She turned. "Yes?"
"You left your pen," he said, holding it out.
She hesitated before taking it. "Thanks."
Their fingers brushed again. Her pulse jumped — and judging by his faint smirk, he knew it.
"See you tomorrow," he said simply.
"Right. Tomorrow."
As the elevator doors closed, she let out a deep breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
---
Later That Night
Back home, Alina sat on her bed, staring at her phone screen. There was no message from him — not this time.
And yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted again.
The boundaries they'd built — the neat lines of rivalry, the walls of ego — they were cracking, little by little.
And the worst part? She wasn't sure she wanted them fixed.
---
Meanwhile, Across the City
Adrian stood by his apartment window, the city lights flickering below. His reflection looked tired, but his mind was restless.
He thought of the way she'd looked at him — not angry, not smug, but uncertain. Vulnerable.
"Ms. Ross," he murmured to himself, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You really don't make this easy."
His phone buzzed — a message from Liam.
> Liam: "They're shipping you two in the office group chat. #ValeRoss trending internally. Just saying."
Adrian rolled his eyes, typing back:
> "Delete it before she sees it."
> Liam: "Too late."
Adrian stared at the screen for a second before letting out a quiet laugh. "Of course."
---
The Silent Truth
Two people.
Two rival minds.
Both pretending nothing was happening — yet both feeling everything.
The setup had worked — just not the way Sophie and Liam planned.
Because this wasn't just banter anymore. It was something heavier, deeper, and far more dangerous.
And neither of them was ready to admit it.