The morning came late, grey clouds still heavy with rain.
The gala banners were being taken down, and the hotel lobby buzzed softly with quiet goodbyes.
Maya sat near the large window of the café, a cup of coffee untouched in front of her.
She looked out at the street — where the rain hadn't stopped — and felt like it was mirroring her heart.
Last night's moment replayed in her mind again and again —
Adrian's eyes, the closeness, the almost confession.
And then, the interruption.
Always… something in between.
---
Meanwhile, upstairs, Adrian stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his cufflinks for the meeting he didn't care about.
He had slept barely an hour. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her — the rain on her skin, the way her breath had trembled when he touched her.
He sighed and muttered to himself,
> "Get a grip, Adrian. She's not just anyone."
But that was the problem — she wasn't just anyone.
She was the only one who made him feel.
---
In the boardroom, as the meeting began, his mind drifted.
His friend Alex noticed immediately.
"Dude, what's wrong with you?" Alex whispered between slides.
"You've been zoning out since last night."Adrian frowned, flipping through files he wasn't reading.
"It's nothing."
Alex smirked. "Nothing has brown eyes and makes desserts, right?"
Adrian gave him a cold glare — but his silence said everything.
Alex chuckled quietly. "You're in trouble, my friend. The kind that wears an apron."
---
Downstairs, Maya was packing her notebook into her bag when she heard a familiar voice.
"Leaving already?"
It was Professor Max, holding two cups of coffee.
She smiled faintly. "I need to focus on the next project. Keeps my mind busy."
He handed her one cup. "You can't outrun your thoughts with caffeine."
She laughed softly. "No, but it helps."
Their light banter was interrupted by Lila entering the café, her usual bright energy dimmed.
But when she saw Max and Maya talking, her expression softened into something wistful — maybe even a little jealous.As Maya left the café, she passed Adrian in the hallway.
For a moment, both froze — the air between them charged.
"About last night…" he began quietly.
She interrupted before he could finish.
"It was just a moment, Adrian. Nothing more."
Her voice was calm, but her eyes said everything her words didn't.
And before he could say another word, she walked away — heels echoing down the marble floor like final punctuation.
---
Later that evening, Adrian stood alone in his office, staring at the rain outside.
Alex entered, tossing a file onto the desk.
"You're thinking about her again, aren't you?"
Adrian didn't deny it.
He simply whispered, "She's the first person who ever made me want to be better. And I ruined it."
Alex sighed, sitting beside him. "Then stop thinking. Do something about it."
---
Outside, Maya walked through the rain again — this time without shelter, letting it fall freely.
Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper to herself:He's not the man I should love… but he's the one my heart chose."