Annie could not sleep. She tried to close her eyes. She turned every second in her bed. She stood and replayed every message, every look, every word Adrian had said over the past few days.
"You adapt quickly."
That line had stuck with her. It sure didn't sound like a compliment. It sounded like an observation.
By morning, her phone felt different than usual. Like it was carrying hidden secrets. She stood up, looked at her phone for 30 seconds and checked the unknown number again. There was no new message. That unsettled her more.
"Silence could mean patience." She thought.
And in the real world, patience was seen as far more dangerous than threats.
Seeing there was no new message, she heaved a sigh of relief and proceeded to dress up for work that day. She made sure she was not too polished, not too soft, just somewhere in between. She wore a fitted beige blouse, tailored black trousers, low heels. She kept her makeup light, Intentional and controlled.
She didn't want to look like she was trying. But she didn't want to look like the girl from the restaurant either. That girl felt far away now. Not in sight.
The office floor buzzed quietly when she arrived. Glass walls. Polished marble. The scent of money disguised as minimalism. Everyone moved with purpose, but no one rushed.
Elite people never rushed, they expected the world to adjust to their pace.
Annie kept her head down and walked toward her temporary workstation. She wanted to drop some documents as directed by the receptionist the last time she came. She saw eyes hovering round her. Those eyes were curious and measuring.
Maybe it was her imagination? Or perhaps something had shifted?
Her phone vibrated. Her heart jumped so violently that she almost dropped it.
It was the Unknown Number again. Her thumb hovered before she opened it, skeptical as usual
> "You look different today."
Her breath froze. She turned around a little slowly, at the same time careful. No one was looking directly at her. But there were peering eyes when she first came in. At least, no one obvious now. Then her chest tightened. She wanted to scratch her head so bad to let go of the tension building up inside her.
"But...Different how?" She questioned herself silently
Is it better?
Was it worse?
Or exposed?
"I'm replying this..." She said under her breath and typed carefully.
> "Who is this?"
Three dots appeared instantly.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
> "You're getting better at this." the anonymous sender replied her text.
A chill ran down her spine.
Getting better at what?
Pretending?
Belonging?
Lying?
Her pulse thudded in her ears.
Before she could respond, another vibration interrupted.
This time, it was a name. It was Adrian. Her stomach flipped. She let it ring once, then twice before she answered.
"Hello?"
His voice came calm, smooth and controlled.
"Good morning, Annie."
The way he said her name felt deliberate but soft. Slow. Like he was tasting it.
"Good morning." she replied
A slight pause that was not awkward but measured.
"I was wondering if you're free this evening."
Her brain went blank.
"Free?" she asked not thinking.
"Yes." He sounded almost amused. "That's usually what the word means."
She swallowed. "For what?"
"A site visit," he said casually. "There's a private client interested in seeing how you interpret space. It'll be… informal."
Informal... She thought. But nothing about Adrian felt informal.
"I wasn't aware I'd been assigned to anything yet," she said cautiously.
"You haven't."
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
"But I'd like you to come anyway."
There it was. Not even an order, and not exactly a request.
An invitation!.
"And this is work?" she asked trying to be formal too.
A soft exhale came through the line. Almost a laugh.
"Entirely."
She didn't believe him.
But she said, "Alright."
"I'll pick you up at seven."
Before she could argue, the call ended.
She stared at her reflection in the dark screen.
Seven...
Pick you up!. Well, she heaved a sigh of relief.
Her phone buzzed again, the same nknown Number.
Her heart dropped again.
> "Careful."
It was Just one word. Annie felt the air leave her lungs.
Careful of what?
Of who?
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
At six-thirty, Annie was seen pacing her apartment. She had changed outfits thrice. Why was the she so perturbed about the whole thing? Was she trying to impress anyone?
The first one felt too eager.
The dress was a soft ivory silk, sleeveless, fitted at the waist and falling gently along her hips. It was the kind of dress that didn't demand attention but accepted it easily. Elegant and feminine. A little romantic. She had paired it with nude heels and delicate gold earrings that caught the light when she moved. made her look like a woman going on a date, and that made her uncomfortable.
She stared at herself in the mirror and saw something too open in her expression. Too willing. Like she was already leaning toward him.
"Arggh..." she grunted at the thought of leaning towards Adrian.
"No!."
She changed her mind and immediately undressed.
The second outfit was artistically structured...almost severe. It was a charcoal tailored blazer over a crisp white blouse buttoned all the way up. Slim black trousers. Black pointed heels sharp enough to feel like armor. She slicked her hair back into a low bun.
This version of her looked corporate, untouchable and Safe.
But the moment she tilted her head, she saw something else.
It looked like she was preparing for battle. Not a site visit, nor a work dinner. And she didn't want to walk in looking like she was bracing for impact.
That was when she chose the emerald dress. It was something balanced. A deep emerald dress that stopped just above her knees. Structured enough to say professional. Soft enough to say woman.
She stood in front of her mirror, admiring herself.
"You are beautiful," she said to herself. But beautiful wasn't the problem. The problem was that she didn't know the rules. At exactly seven, headlights washed over her window. She didn't check who it was, she already knew. Adrian stepped out of the car when she approached. He wore a dark suit, no tie. The city lights catching the sharp angles of his perfect diamond face.
He looked like he always won. His eyes hovered round her slowly. Not in a vulgar way. In a studying way.
"You clean up well," he said.
Her lips curved despite herself.
"This isn't cleaning up?" she asked carefully.
"Compared to the restaurant?" His eyebrow lifted slightly. "It's an evolution."
There he was again, always observing. She opened the passenger door without saying a word.
The drive seemed quiet at first. Chicago's night skyline stretched around them, lights reflecting against glass buildings like a city made of mirrors. Soon, Bronzeville faded behind them and downtown rose ahead.
"So," she said finally, breaking the silence. "What exactly is this site visit?"
"A client who appreciates bold design," he replied. "I wanted to see how you think outside structured environments."
"And the office, is it structured?" she asked curiously.
"It's controlled."
She glanced at him.
"And this isn't?"
His lips curved faintly. "We'll see."
Her phone buzzed in her lap. She froze.
Adrian's eyes flicked toward the sound but returned to the road.
She didn't open it immediately. He seemed to notice.
"You're popular tonight," he said lightly.
She forced a fake smile. "Wrong number." she said
Adrian didn't respond, but something in his jaw tightened. After a moment, she looked down. The same unknown Number.
> "He's not what you think."
Her pulse pounded. She quickly turned off her phone screen. The car slowed in front of a sleek high-rise building with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and discreet security.
"This is a residence?" she asked.
"Penthouse," Adrian corrected.
Of course. Inside, the elevator ride felt intimate in a way she didn't like admitting. It was just the two of them, and they were so close to each other. Too close.
The air smelled faintly of his cologne. Clean, expensive, Subtle.
"You seem distracted," he said quietly.
"Do I?"
"Yes."
Then She met his eyes.
"Is that part of the evaluation Sir?"
His gaze held hers, steadily. He does this effortlessly, like in the movies, where the protagonist is almost perfect.
"Everything is." he replied
The elevator doors opened before she could respond. The penthouse was breathtaking. It held in an open layout, clean lines, dark wood. Statement lighting that felt intentional instead of decorative. No doubt money spoke in whispers here.
Adrian walked slowly behind her as she stepped inside.
"Well?" he asked.
She moved toward the wide living area, studying proportions, lighting angles, texture contrasts.
"The lighting is too cold for the flooring," she said automatically. "It makes the space feel distant instead of inviting. And the art placement is safe. There's no focal risk."
Adrian watched her carefully.
"And what would you do?"
She forget herself for a moment.
She forgot the texts.
She forgot the pretending and replied with all neutrality.
"I'd warm the lighting," she said, walking toward a corner. "Shift the center of gravity visually. Maybe introduce something disruptive. A bold piece that challenges symmetry."
Annie turned.
He went closer now.
"Disruptive," he repeated softly.
"Yes."
"Like you?"
Her breath caught.
"I'm not disruptive."
"No?" His eyes lowered slightly, then returned to hers. He practically stared at her lips, it was intentional.
"You walked into a room of people who have known each other for years and held your ground."
Her chest tightened.
"That's called composure."
"It's called strategy."
Their proximity felt more intentional now.
She doesn't know if she feels uncomfortable or she's enjoying the moment. Why did he stare at her lips like that? She almost flushed but held her composure. Then her phone... it buzzed again. The sound sliced through the moment. She stepped back instinctively.
Adrian's gaze sharpened.
"You should answer that," he said, casually.
"It's nothing."
"Answer it." He said, with literally no softness in his tone .
She swallowed hard and pulled out her phone.
The Unknown Number.
Her hands turned ice cold as she opened it.
> "He's testing you."
Her stomach dropped. She looked up slightly.Adrian was watching her face, not the phone.
"Bad news?" he asked calmly.
She forced steadiness into her voice. "Just spam." she replied
Silence lingered for some minutes. Then, unexpectedly, he drew closer to her again, and this time his tone was softened.
"Relax, Annie." he said with care
"You're not in danger here."
The choice of words made her heart froze. What does he mean by "Not in danger here?"
"Here." she repeated
"So where am I in danger?" she asked before she could stop herself.
His lips curved slightly.
"You tell me."
He walked past her toward the windows overlooking the city.
"For what it's worth," he said after a pause, "you've been accepted... welcome to the company."
Her brain glitched.
"Accepted?"
"A&R."
Everything felt so unreal.
"You're officially part of the firm." he emphasized
Her pulse thudded in her ears.
"I—" She blinked. "I thought I still had—"
"More hoops to jump through?" he asked. "You've jumped enough." he finished.
Relief flooded her. Relief intertwined with confusion.
"If I've been accepted," she said slowly, "why does it feel like I'm still being evaluated?"
He turned toward her.
"Because you are."
His honesty startled her.
"For what?"
Her phone buzzed again. Both of them heard it this time.
He didn't look away from her as she glanced down.There was another message.
> "Ask him why you."
For goodness sake who's this person!!! Now it's pretty obvious Adrian is not the one responsible for those messages. He was clearly with her.
Her heart pounded violently. She looked up at Adrian and decides to ask.
"Why me?" she asked quietly.
He didn't hesitate.
"Because you don't belong," he said.
The words hit harder than she expected.
"And you think that's a good thing?"
"I think it's interesting." he said
He stepped closer one last time.
"And I like interesting." he touched her chin, raising it slightly. At first she thought he wanted to kiss her and the air between them felt electric now. Then her phone buzzed again. She didn't want to look, but she did.
> "He knows."
Her breath left her body. Slowly. Adrian's gaze flicked briefly to the screen this time. Not enough to read it, but enough to notice her reaction.
"Is something wrong?" he asked. His tone was gentle again, maybe more softer. Is he flirting with her?
Well let's see!.
Annie took a glance at the man who had just offered her everything she wanted.
A position at A&R. That means recognition, opportunity and yet the texts hadn't stopped.
They hadn't congratulated her.
They hadn't disappeared.
They had escalated.
He knows.
He knows what?
Her lie?
Her past?
Her background?
Or something worse?
She forced a smile.
"No," she said softly. "Nothing's wrong."
But as Adrian held her gaze just a second too long, Annie couldn't shake the feeling that the acceptance into A&R wasn't the beginning of her success. Maybe her doom or her road to stardom, Or the beginning of something else.
And somewhere...
Someone...
Was watching it unfold...