Mr. Leighton and Annie took puzzled glances at each other.
"What was that?" Annie whispered, still staring in the direction Adrian had just walked off to.
Mr. Leighton let out a low chuckle, though there was something unreadable behind it.
"That," he said, adjusting his sleeve, "is your new boss... your CEO rather."
Annie swallowed hard.
Her new boss...The words didn't sit well in her chest. Not because she didn't want the opportunity, but because of the way he said it. The way he looked at her. The way everything about him felt…how controlling he looked.
"Go," Mr. Leighton added, nodding toward the hallway. "You don't keep him waiting."
Annie grabbed her file quickly, her fingers tightening around it as she stepped out of her office.
The hallway suddenly felt longer than usual. Each step toward Adrian's office made her more aware of herself, her breathing, the sound of her heels against the marble floor. A few employees glanced at her as she passed, their expressions curious, almost sympathetic.
It was like they knew something she didn't. She stopped in front of a large door at the end of the corridor. She had been there before but she can't remember how the office looked like again.
Few secs later, she was standing in front of Adrian's office. For a second, she hesitated. Then she knocked gently.
"Come in."
His voice was calm, steady, like nothing in the world could shake it.
Annie pushed the door open slowly and stepped inside.
The office was exactly what she tried remembering. It was spacious and minimal. Everything was in its place. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, sunlight pouring in but somehow not warming the room.
Adrian stood by the window, his back to her.
"Close the door," he said.
She did.
A soft click.
Silence followed.
Then he turned.
"Sit."
Annie moved to the chair in front of his desk and sat, placing her file neatly on her lap.
Adrian walked past her, taking his seat behind the desk. He didn't rush. He didn't fidget. Every movement was deliberate.
He opened a file, glanced through it, then slid a document across the table toward her.
"Read that," he said.
Annie picked it up and scanned through quickly.
Client report. Marketing projections. Timeline adjustments.
She nodded. "Okay."
"Summarize it."
She blinked. "Now?"
Adrian looked up at her, expression unreadable.
"Is there a better time?"
Annie straightened slightly. "No."
She took a breath and began.
"It outlines the current client strategy, projected growth within the next quarter, and—"
"Stop."
Her words cut off immediately.
Adrian leaned back slightly, watching her.
"That's not a summary," he said calmly. "That's repetition."
Annie felt a small flicker of irritation.
"I was getting to the point," she said.
"Then get to it faster."
Silence.
Annie tightened her grip on the paper.
"Try again," he said.
She inhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay calm.
"It's a performance review with weak projections. The strategy isn't aggressive enough, and the timeline needs to be reduced."
Adrian watched her for a second.
Then he nodded once.
"Better."
Something in her chest relaxed slightly.
Then he pushed another file toward her.
"Next."
Annie stared at him for a second.
"You're serious?"
"Very."
She exhaled quietly and picked up the next document.
This time she didn't waste time.
She read quickly, focused, then spoke.
"It's inefficient. Too many steps, not enough results. You're losing time and money."
"Wrong."
Annie froze.
"What?"
Adrian leaned forward slightly.
"You're thinking emotionally, not strategically."
Her brows furrowed. "That doesn't even make sense."
"It makes perfect sense," he said calmly. "You're reacting. I need you to analyze."
Annie felt the irritation rise properly this time.
"I am analyzing."
"Not well enough."
Silence stretched between them.
She could feel it now.
He was doing this on purpose.
Testing her.
Pushing her.
And for some reason… enjoying it.
"Again," he said.
Annie stared at him.
"You just said I was wrong."
"Then improve."
Her jaw tightened.
She looked back down at the document, forcing herself to focus again. This time slower. More careful.
When she finished, she spoke again, more controlled.
"It works… but it's not efficient long term. It needs restructuring."
Adrian held her gaze.
Then, slowly, he nodded.
"Good."
Annie exhaled quietly, but the relief didn't last.
Another file slid across the table.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"You've got to be kidding me."
Adrian didn't respond.
He just watched her.
Waiting.
Annie let out a breath, picked up the file again, and continued.Minutes turned into what felt like hours. Every time she got comfortable, he stopped her. Every time she thought she got it right, he corrected her.
Sometimes he agreed.
Sometimes he didn't.
But one thing became clear, he was breaking her rhythm on purpose, and it was working.
By the time she dropped the last file on the table, her patience was hanging by a thread.
"This is unnecessary," she said, her voice sharper now.
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"Is it?"
"Yes," she said. "You've made your point."
"And what point is that?"
Annie leaned forward slightly.
"That you're in control."
Silence.
For the first time, something shifted in his expression.
Not anger.
Not surprise.
Something quieter.
Something more dangerous.
Adrian stood up slowly.
He walked around the desk, stopping just beside her.
Too close.
Annie's breath hitched slightly, but she didn't move.
"I don't make points," he said quietly. "I establish standards."
Her heart pounded.
"And right now," he continued, "you're not meeting them."
Annie stood up immediately.
"I just went through everything you gave me," she said. "What exactly do you want from me?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
He simply reached for the cup of coffee sitting on the desk.
Still warm.
He took a slow sip.
Then looked at her.
"You're distracted."
Annie frowned.
"I'm not—"
"Yes," he cut in calmly. "You are."
His eyes held hers.
"Your mind isn't here."
Her chest tightened.
She remembers Roman. The hoodie. The fear and the embarrassing moment from that night. Adrian saw it.
"How would you even know that?" she asked herself quietly.
Adrian stepped closer.
"I notice everything."
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Annie swallowed.
"Then maybe you should notice that I'm trying," she said.
"I did," he replied. "It's not enough."
Something in her snapped.
"I'm not perfect," she said, frustration slipping into her voice. "And you don't get to just..."
Before she could finish...
The cup tilted.
Warm coffee splashed across the front of her blouse.
Annie froze.
The warmth soaked through instantly, shocking against her skin. For a second, she couldn't breathe. The room went completely silent.
Her eyes slowly lifted to his.
Adrian stood there, calm and unmoved. He acted as if nothing had just happened.
"Now," he said quietly, "you have my full attention."
Annie's heart pounded violently in her chest.
First it was shock.
Then anger... And confusion.
All at once.
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides, trembling just enough to betray how hard she was holding herself back.
"Why would you do that?" she asked, her voice low, unsteady. Trying so hard to respect the CEO of A&R
Adrian didn't look away.
"Because now," he said, "you're focused."
There was Silence. And in that moment, Annie realized something that sent a chill down her spine.
Adrian wasn't just testing her. He was trying to break her down.
And the worst part?
A small, terrifying part of her wanted to prove she wouldn't break.
But at what cost?