The door had barely stopped swinging when Emily rushed inside, waving her charger like it was a victory flag. Maya covered her face with both hands, wishing she could evaporate into thin air. Adrian stood frozen, jaw tight, as if debating whether to throw Emily out of the window or himself.
Emily didn't seem to notice either of them.
"Found it! Now don't stop whatever romantic nonsense you were doing. Continue. Pretend I'm not here."
Maya wanted to scream.
Adrian wanted to ban her from the hotel entirely.
Before Maya could respond, Alex calmly entered behind Emily and shut the door. "We should leave before he kills you," he murmured to Emily.
"Oh please," she whispered back, "he won't kill me. Maya will protect me."
Maya glared. Adrian glared harder.
Alex tugged Emily's sleeve. "Come on."
"Fine, fine." Emily held up her hands in surrender. "But next time, do it properly. Okay, lovebirds?"
Maya practically shoved them both out of the room. When the door clicked shut, a heavy silence returned — not awkward, but trembling with something unspoken.
Maya didn't dare look at Adrian at first. Her pulse was still racing from how close he had been moments ago. The warmth of his breath lingered on her skin like a secret she didn't know how to keep.
Finally, she turned.Adrian was standing exactly where he'd been, but something in him had changed. His face was controlled, composed… except for his eyes. They burned with a frustration so raw it made Maya swallow hard.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"For what?" His voice was softer than she expected.
"For… all the interruptions. And Emily being… Emily."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "It wasn't your fault." He walked toward her, slow and steady. "And I wasn't interrupted because of Emily."
Maya blinked. "Then…?"
"I was interrupted because I hesitated."
He stopped only a breath away from her.
"I almost crossed a line," he continued quietly. "A line I wasn't sure you wanted me to cross."
Her lips parted. "Adrian…"
"And then I realized something even worse." His gaze dropped to her lips for a fraction of a second. "I didn't regret it."
Her heart stuttered painfully.
"You don't have to answer anything," he said, voice low. "I know tonight has been… too much." He stepped back just enough to give her space, though his eyes stayed glued to hers. "Finish your work. I'll stay here, outside, if you need anything."
Maya sank slowly into the chair, still dazed. She began typing again, but her eyes kept drifting to him — the way he paced near the balcony, the way he ran a hand through his hair like someone fighting a war with himself.
After ten minutes, Adrian approached the table.Are you almost done?" he asked gently.
"Just a little more," she murmured.
"You're exhausted," he said. "You shouldn't be working."
"I have to finish it."
Adrian hesitated, then reached out very slowly — giving her time to pull away. She didn't. His fingers brushed her cheek, pushing aside a small strand of hair that had fallen across her eyes.
Maya froze.
He wasn't supposed to touch her like that.
She wasn't supposed to like it this much.
"Maya," he whispered, "you don't have to do everything alone."
Her breathing hitched. "Why do you care so much?"
His thumb grazed her skin, feather-light. "Because I can't pretend anymore."
The room fell still.
She didn't move. Didn't breathe. Didn't look away.
He leaned closer… slowly… carefully… as though she was the most fragile thing he had ever touched. Their faces were inches apart again. The same place where they had almost kissed. The same place he had hesitated.
This time, he didn't.
He hovered close enough that she felt the heat of his breath against her lips — not touching, but dangerously close.
"Maya," he whispered, "tell me to step back, and I will."
She didn't say anything.
And her silence was louder than any confession.
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