The next morning didn't feel new, it felt like a continuation. Annie stood in front of her mirror longer than usual, staring at herself like she was trying to figure something out. Her blouse from yesterday was hanging by the side, stained with coffee from yesterday, a quiet reminder of everything she had chosen not to react to. She looked away.
"You need this job," she muttered to herself. Simple and clear. That was enough reason.
She picked another outfit, something plain, nothing that would draw attention. She picked it on purpose. Today, she didn't want to stand out. She didn't want eyes on her. She just wanted peace. Something she's been craving so badly.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
A&R was already buzzing when she arrived. She took a taxi this time. Her car rent had expired and she had returned it.
People moved like they always did, the conversations were low, footsteps quick, phones ringing at different corners. Everything looked normal. But Annie didn't feel normal.
She walked past reception without stopping, keeping her gaze forward and a little serious. A few people greeted her, she nodded politely, but didn't engage.
Her mind wasn't there. Partially, not fully. When she got to her office, she dropped her bag and sat down immediately, letting out a quiet breath.
"Just focus," she whispered to herself
Work! That was all she needed. And for a while, it worked. Emails were trooping in, She tended to reports too. Small tasks came in and she attended to them swiftly. These were things she could control. Things that didn't involve him.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
A soft knock came around mid-morning. Her body became tensed immediately.
"Come in," she said, trying to sound normal.
The door opened and it wasn't Adrian. Relief came faster than she expected. It was one of the junior staff.
"Good morning, ma'am. Mr. Adrian asked me to give you this."
Annie's stomach dropped slightly.
Of course.
She took the file.
"Thank you."
The girl nodded and left.
Annie stared at the file for a few seconds before opening it.
"Detailed report." It was Complex and Unnecessarily long. Her brows pulled together.
"This again…" she muttered. But she didn't complain, she just started working on it but carefully this time. She told herself she wasn't going to give him a reason to frustrate her.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
Thirty minutes later, her intercom buzzed. Her hand paused mid-note. She didn't need to check to know who it was. Still… She picked it up.
"Yes?"
"Bring the file."
His voice. It was calm and almost flat. He sounded like yesterday never happened.
Annie closed and tightened her eyes briefly.
"Okay."
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
The walk to his office felt familiar now.
Still tense, still heavy, but familiar.
She knockedand waited for his response. A part of her wished he never responded.
"Come in."
She stepped inside. Adrian was already seated, flipping through something on his desk.
He didn't look up immediately.
"Sit." he ordered.
She did and placed the file in front of him.
"I've gone through it," she said.
He took it without responding.
Flipped through the pages slowly and quietly.
Annie sat still, watching him. Waiting, almost impatiently.
Then...
He closed it.
"Do it again."
Her brows pulled together immediately.
"I already..."
"It's not good enough."
Just like that? She asked her eyes almost teary.
He didn't say anything.
Annie stared at him.
"You didn't even read everything," she said before she could stop herself.
That made him look up. Slowly...
Their eyes met.
"Are you telling me how to do my job?" he asked calmly.
Annie's chest tightened.
"No."
"Then don't assume."
There was silence.
She swallowed hard.
"Okay," she said quietly.
Reached for the file.
But before she could pull it back...
He placed his hand on it.
Stopping her.
Her fingers brushed against his briefly.
Warm... and Firm.
She froze for a second. Then slowly pulled her hand back.
Adrian didn't move his immediately.
His eyes stayed on her. Not harsh, not soft.
Just… watching.
Then he let go.
"Start again," he said.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
The second round was way worse. He interrupted more and questioned everything. Even things that made sense.
"And why would you conclude that?"
"Because the data—"
"The data can be interpreted differently."
"Not in this context."
"Then explain the context better."
It didn't stop. Every answer led to another question. Every point led to a correction.
Annie felt it again. That same pressure, that same deliberate push. But this time, she saw it clearly. He wasn't just testing her.He was stretching her, unnecessarily... Pushing until something gave.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
"You're rushing," he said at some point.
"I'm not."
"You are."
Annie exhaled sharply.
"I'm trying to keep up with you."
"You shouldn't try to keep up," he replied. "You should understand."
Her patience thinned.
"That's exactly what I'm doing."
"Not well enough."
There it was again. That line. It felt like a trigger. Annie leaned back slightly, pressing her lips together.
"Then what exactly do you want from me?" she asked, her voice tighter now.
Adrian didn't answer immediately.He just looked at her. Long enough for the silence to feel intentional.
Then...
"I want consistency."
She blinked.
"What?"
"You're good," he said. "But you're not consistent."
Annie frowned slightly.
"That doesn't even make sense..."
"It does."
He leaned forward slightly.
"You react too much."
Her chest tightened again.
"React to what?"
"Everything."
That hit deeper than she expected. She went quiet. But Adrian didn't stop.
"Yesterday," he continued, "you let your emotions take over. You broke totally. You're not efficient and we don't let emotions rule us here."
Annie laughed softly.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
"You poured coffee on me."
"And you let it affect you."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"What was I supposed to do? Smile?"
"No," he said calmly. "You were supposed to stay focused."
Annie shook her head slowly.
"That's not normal.This is crazy."
"I don't need normal."
There was another silence...
Heavy, and uncomfortable.
*** *** *** ****
Annie stood up suddenly.
"I need a minute please," she said.
Adrian didn't stop her, nor idn't questioned her.
She walked to the window, standing with her back to him.
Her chest rose and fell slowly. She was trying to steady herself., trying not to snap.
Because she was close...Very close.
"You're angry," his voice came from behind.
She let out a breath.
"I'm trying not to be."
"Why?"
Annie turned slightly.
"Because you're my boss."
Adrian watched her.
"And if I wasn't?"
She held his gaze.
"Then this conversation would be very different."
A small pause.
Then...
"I believe that," he said.
Something about the way he said it made her chest tighten again.
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
A knock from the door interrupted them. Neither of them responded immediately.
Then...
"Come in," Adrian said.
The door opened. It was Mr. Leighton.
Of course.
His presence felt lighter than the room he walked into.But his eyes went straight to Annie.
Quick.
Checking.
Noticing.
"You called for me?" he asked Adrian.
Adrian didn't look at him.
"Not yet."
Leighton paused., Then smiled faintly.
"Then I'll come back later."
He didn't move immediately though.
His gaze returned to Annie.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
That tone again.
That same softness.
Annie opened her mouth to respond...
"Mr. Leighton."
Adrian's voice cut in. Sharp, but not loud. It was firm.
Leighton shifted his gaze from Annie and looked at him now.
"Yes?"
"If you're done, you can leave."
The room shifted instantly. Leighton held his gaze for a second longer than usual.
Then smiled.
"Of course."
He turned andLeft.
Door closed behind, another silence streched again.
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Annie felt it immediately.
That change, the tension whenever Adrian sees Leighton around her.
She turned slowly back to Adrian.
"Was that necessary?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Adrian stood up and walked closer to her. Not too close though, but close enough for her to perceive his expensive cologne. She wanted to sniff it in but his voice caught her off gaurd
"You're here to work," he said.
"I am working."
"Then keep your focus there."
Her brows pulled together.
"That has nothing to do with him."
"It has everything to do with distractions."
There it was again.
That word.
Annie crossed her arms slightly.
"You don't get to decide who talks to me."
Adrian's eyes didn't leave hers.
"No," he said. "But I decide what affects my work."
Her heart skipped slightly.
"That's not the same thing."
"It is when you're involved."
Another silence.
Annie felt it clearly now. This wasn't just about work. It hadn't been for a while.
She shook her head slowly.
"You're doing too much," she said quietly.
Adrian didn't respond immediately.
Then...
"Am I?"
"Yes."
Another pause. Then something changed again.
Subtle.
But there.
"Go," he said.
Annie blinked.
"What?"
"We're done for now."
She studied him for a second, trying to read him.
But like always… Nothing was clear. She picked up her file, turned and walked out.
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
The rest of the day dragged. Annie couldn't focus properly anymore. Not after that, not after the way he spoke to her, the way he controlled everything.
Even conversations.
Even people.
Even her.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
By the time she got home, frustration sat heavily in her chest. She dropped her bag harder than usual and kicked off her shoes.
She walked straight to her bed.
"This is too much," she muttered.
She sat on the bed, running her hands through her hair.
Her mind replayed everything.
His words.
His tone.
His control.
Then Leighton.
The way Adrian shut that down instantly.
Why?
That question stayed.
Loud.
Unanswered.
*** ****
She lay back slowly, staring at the ceiling, her chest still tight and her thoughts restless.
"He doesn't own you," she whispered to herself.
But it didn't feel that simple. Because somehow… It already felt like he was trying to.
Few mins later, her phone buzzed. She frowned slightly.
Picked it up. It was an unknown number. Her heart skipped. And for a second, Roman crossed her mind.
She looked at the unknown number again and hesitated. Then she answered.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Her grip tightened slightly.
"Hello?" she repeated.
Then...
A low breath from the other end.
Not words.
Just…
Presence.
Annie's heart started beating faster.
"Who is this?" she asked quietly.
No answer.
Just silence again.
Then the line went dead.
Annie slowly lowered the phone.Her chest rising and falling.
That feeling came again. The same one from before.From that night.
She sat there, frozen.
One thought pressing heavily into her mind.
..
This wasn't over.
Not even close...