KISS'S POV
One week.
Seven days of forcing myself to stay invisible in the storm that was Adrian Goodwill's life. Seven days of carefully balancing professionalism and self-preservation. Seven days of telling myself that staying under his radar was the only way to survive.
I had managed so far. Not a single misstep. Not a single careless glance. Not a single moment where I let my thoughts wander to him—at least, not too far.
But today felt… different.
The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Goodwill International Group. My heels clicked against the polished marble as I moved between offices, delivering documents, scheduling meetings, and keeping my expression neutral. My mind was racing—calculating, strategizing, trying to predict Adrian's next move, trying not to imagine him leaning over his desk, eyes sharp and unreadable, studying me.
"Miss Hilson," Oscar called softly from the reception area. "There's someone here asking for Mr. Goodwill."
I froze mid-step. My pulse skipped. "Who?"
Oscar raised an eyebrow. "A woman. She says she has a meeting with him. No appointment."
My chest tightened. I glanced at the security monitor. The woman was tall, elegantly dressed, with hair that fell in soft waves around her face. A familiar face. One that made my stomach twist.
Ashley Barlow.
Adrian's longtime crush. The woman everyone whispered about in the office. And apparently, today, she believed she could just waltz in.
I inhaled slowly, trying to calm the sudden tension that rose like a tide in my chest. I remembered his warning. No one without an appointment. No exceptions.
I squared my shoulders, planting myself in front of the elevator. "I'm afraid Mr. Goodwill isn't available to meet anyone who doesn't have an appointment," I said firmly.
Ashley's eyes narrowed, but her voice was sharp, commanding. "I'm not just anyone. I'm his fiancée."
I blinked. The words hit like ice. Fiancée? That explained why her presence seemed so… entitled.
"I'm sorry," I said, keeping my tone neutral, professional. "But Mr. Goodwill has strict instructions that I cannot allow anyone in without prior confirmation. Please come back with an appointment."
Her lips curved into a sharp, annoyed smile. "I don't need an appointment. I'm Ashley Barlow. Adrian told me he'd see me whenever I wanted."
I shook my head, forcing calm over the nervous energy that bubbled under my skin. "I'm sorry, Miss Barlow, but I can't allow it. I'm following Mr. Goodwill's orders. You'll have to wait."
Ashley's brow furrowed, and she took a step closer. "Orders? From who? You? You're just the secretary. He's my fiancé. He'll see me."
Her insistence made my teeth grit together. I had to maintain control. I had to protect him—and myself. "Miss Barlow, I'm the only person authorized to grant access to Mr. Goodwill. No exceptions. Please leave or wait in reception."
She laughed, sharp and condescending. "You're bold. Do you know who you're talking to?"
"Yes," I replied evenly, though my heart pounded. "I do. And I also know the person I work for. He trusts me to handle situations like this. I'm following his orders."
Her expression faltered slightly, but she recovered quickly. "Fine," she said, voice dripping with mock politeness. "I'll wait. But don't think this ends here. He'll hear about this."
I nodded once, turning toward the reception area, keeping my composure. Inside, I could feel the tension radiating off her like heat. I kept my steps steady, holding my chest as if bracing against a storm.
---
ADRIAN'S POV
I was reviewing quarterly reports when my office door opened, and Oscar stepped in with a faint frown.
"Miss Hilson stopped someone at the entrance," he said, tilting his head slightly. "Ashley Barlow."
I froze mid-line, the pen hovering over the spreadsheet.
Ashley Barlow. My old crush. The one who had been circling me for years, insisting I notice her. She had no business in my office without an appointment. None.
"And?" I asked, my voice calm, though every muscle in my body tensed.
"She insisted she's your fiancée," Oscar said. "But Kiss held her off. She didn't let her past reception."
I exhaled slowly, feeling a rare surge of pride. That girl—my secretary—was bold, and smart, and obedient to the letter of my orders. Exactly the way I liked it.
"Good," I said finally, standing and moving to the window. "I don't want to see her here. She's trouble."
Oscar hesitated. "Sir, do you… want me to intervene?"
"No," I replied firmly. "Kiss has this handled. She knows the rules. That's exactly what I wanted."
I turned back to the reports, but my mind was not on numbers. It was on her. Kissabel Hilson.
One week. One full week of being near her. Observing her. Studying her. Every glance, every step, every subtle movement around the office—she was adapting quickly. Professional. Efficient. Controlled. And yet… even in her attempts to remain neutral, I could see her restraint. The way she kept herself from being drawn into my orbit. The way she carefully navigated a space she didn't belong in.
It made me want to test her. Just a little.
---
KISS'S POV
Ashley finally sat in the reception, tapping her perfectly manicured fingers against her purse. Her eyes flitted around, occasionally narrowing toward me.
I kept my posture straight, expression unreadable. I refused to let her see even a fraction of the panic that fluttered through my chest.
One week. Seven days of keeping my distance. Seven days of not letting Adrian's presence pull me into his world. Seven days of surviving this. And now… this.
Ashley Barlow. Adrian's fiancée, Adrian's past, Adrian's problem. And apparently now, mine too.
I sighed quietly, forcing myself to focus on my clipboard and schedule. One meeting at a time. One task at a time. Keep your head down, Kiss. Don't give him a reason to notice you beyond your work.
But deep down, I knew. I couldn't pretend that the proximity—the danger, the power, the heat radiating from him even when he wasn't in the same room—wasn't intoxicating.
And I could feel it building.
A week into this job, and I already knew this was going to be the hardest one yet.
Because keeping Adrian Goodwill at arm's length… was never going to be simple.