The next day, Maya thought she could avoid him.
If she buried herself in work, kept busy enough, maybe the storm inside her would quiet down.
But fate — or maybe Adrian — had other plans.
The lunch rush had just ended when the door to the restaurant swung open.
And there he was again.
Adrian King.
In a black shirt, sleeves rolled up, the kind of calm confidence that made people step aside without him saying a word.
Maya's heart thudded, but her face stayed neutral. "We're closed for a short break, Mr. King."
He didn't move. "Then you'll have time to talk."
"About what?" she asked, arms crossed.
"About why you're avoiding me," he said evenly.
Her jaw tightened. "I'm not. I'm working."
He took a slow step closer. "You saw me with Veronica and haven't looked at me once since. You think I don't notice?"I don't care who you have dinner with, Adrian. You're free to—"
"Don't," he cut her off. "Don't lie to me, Maya. I can see it in your eyes."
Her pulse spiked.
He was too close — again. Too intense. Too real.
"You don't get to act like you know me," she said sharply. "We're not… we're not anything."
His voice dropped, low and rough. "Then why do you look at me like that?"
"Like what?" she whispered.
"Like I'm the only one who can break your heart."
The words hung between them, heavy and dangerous.
Maya's breath caught. "You think too highly of yourself."
"Maybe," he said softly, "but I'm right."
She turned away, but he caught her wrist — gently, not to trap her, just enough to make her stop.
"Maya, tell me what you want me to do," he said. "Stay? Leave? Because I'm losing control every time I see you pretend this doesn't matter."
Her eyes met his, full of unshed tears. "You don't understand, Adrian. I've been hurt before. You walked away once. What if you do it again?"
His voice cracked slightly, raw and real. "Then I'll spend every day proving I won't."
For a moment, everything else faded — the noise, the past, the fear.
Just his voice, his hand, her heartbeat.She whispered, "You can't fix me."
He smiled faintly. "Who said I wanted to fix you? I just… don't want to lose you again."
Their faces were inches apart — her breath shaky, his eyes burning with something he couldn't hide anymore.
And just when it felt like the world had stopped—
Alex's voice broke the spell. "Uh, should I come back later?"
Both of them jumped back, flushed.
Adrian glared. "Perfect timing as always."
Alex grinned. "What can I say? I live to interrupt dramatic moments."
Maya turned away quickly, trying to compose herself.
Adrian's gaze softened as he whispered, "We're not done."
And before she could reply, he walked out — leaving her with a heart that refused to calm down.
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