OFFICE – DAY
The tension in the Goodwill International lobby was palpable. The sleek, glass walls of the reception reflected every anxious glance, every subtle movement. Kiss stood near the elevator, hands neatly folded in front of her, heart thudding like a drum she couldn't control.
Ashley Barlow's heels clicked sharply against the marble floors, echoing through the spacious room. She stopped a few feet away, arms crossed, a perfectly rehearsed smile plastered on her face. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, never left Kiss.
"You!" Ashley's voice rang clear and cold. "I can't believe you're here."
Kiss blinked, stunned. "Excuse me?"
"You," Ashley said again, stepping closer. "You're trying to—what is it—steal my fiancé?"
The words were venomous, dripping with false accusation. Her eyes narrowed, her jaw tight, and the entire reception seemed to freeze. Employees nearby glanced over, sensing the brewing storm.
Kiss felt her stomach twist. "I—That's not true," she said, her voice firm but tinged with panic. "I've never—"
"Save it!" Ashley snapped, her tone cutting through the air. "I have proof! Emails, messages, someone reported you talking to him privately. Trying to get close to him… to sabotage me. And you—" She stepped closer, almost aggressive, "you have no right to be in his office, no right to be anywhere near him."
Kiss's heart raced, but she refused to back down. "Miss Barlow, I am his secretary. I have my duties. I have nothing to do with—"
"Don't lie!" Ashley interrupted, voice rising. "I saw you! Everyone saw you. You're just—just—" She faltered for a fraction of a second, clearly unsure how far she could push. "You're trying to ruin me. Him. Everything we have."
Before Kiss could respond, the heavy office doors swung open with a force that demanded attention. All eyes turned instinctively toward the source.
Adrian Goodwill.
Tall, imposing, and unreadable, he stepped into the lobby, his presence immediately silencing the murmurs and tense whispers. Every step he took echoed authority, every movement radiated control.
"What's going on here?" His voice was calm, but there was a dangerous edge beneath the surface.
Ashley straightened, a perfect image of composure, though her eyes flickered with a flash of panic. "Adrian! Finally, you see this! She—she's trying to get close to you. To ruin everything we have!"
The words fell like a hammer. The employees froze, the lobby filled with a sudden tension that made the air thick and heavy.
Kiss's stomach dropped. She opened her mouth, intending to explain, but no sound came out.
Adrian's gaze swept across the room, sharp and precise, until it landed squarely on Kiss. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes lingering just long enough to send a clear signal: I believe you.
Then his gaze snapped to Ashley. Cold. Unyielding. Dangerous.
"Stop." His single word carried more weight than any argument, any scream. The air seemed to vibrate with the authority behind it. "Stop lying."
Ashley froze. "I—I—"
"Do not speak," Adrian cut in, his voice dropping lower, the tone that had everyone in the office subconsciously holding their breath. "You will not accuse someone of actions they haven't committed in my presence. Not in my building. Not anywhere connected to me. Not ever."
Kiss blinked, unable to process the sudden shift. Her chest tightened, and yet a strange warmth spread through her. He stood up for me.
Ashley, recovering some of her composure, tried again. "Adrian, I'm your —fiancée—"
Adrian's eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward, the space between him and Ashley shrinking like a storm closing in. "I don't care what our relationship is which doesn't even exist, or what you think it is. Kissabel Hilson has my full trust. Do not—ever—try to manipulate my people, my employees, or anyone under my roof again."
The force behind his words was undeniable. Employees in the lobby glanced at one another, shocked at the rare display of Adrian's protective side.
Ashley's lips pressed into a thin line. "You're defending her? Over me?"
Adrian's gaze didn't waver. "I'm defending the truth. I don't need to justify it further."
The room was quiet, the tension almost suffocating. Kiss felt a strange flutter in her chest. Relief. Appreciation. Something deeper she hadn't expected.
Ashley, realizing she'd lost, turned sharply and stormed out but not after warning Adrian he'll regret it, heels clicking angrily against the marble. The office slowly returned to its rhythm, whispers filling the air as people tried to process what had just happened.
---
KISS'S POV
I stayed rooted to the spot, my legs trembling slightly. My hands curled into fists, then relaxed slowly as the weight of what had just happened sank in.
Adrian had stood up for me. Not just a subtle nod, not just a quiet acknowledgment—but he had confronted her, stopped her lies, and made it clear that he believed me.
My chest felt tight. Appreciation, warmth, and something else… something I wasn't ready to name, coiled inside me like a quiet storm.
He turned to me, his piercing gaze meeting mine. There was no smirk, no teasing, only seriousness and a rare softness hidden behind the steel.
"You okay?" His voice was low, measured, but the concern was undeniable.
"I… I'm fine," I said, though my throat felt tight.
He studied me, tilting his head. "Good. But don't think you can hide behind professionalism when danger—or manipulation—walks through the door. I'll see it. I'll handle it. Just… trust me."
The words struck deeper than I expected. For a moment, I allowed myself to relax, to feel seen, to feel protected in a way that went beyond mere office protocol.
I swallowed, my mind buzzing. He cares. He might never say it outright. He might never hold my hand or tell me how much I mean to him—but standing up for me like that? That was proof. That was action. That was… his way.
And just like that, the walls I had been building around my heart—the ones I had hoped would keep me safe—felt fragile, vulnerable.
It was going to be harder than I thought.
Harder to stay professional. Harder to keep my distance. Harder to resist the pull he had over me, the intensity that simmered beneath his controlled exterior.
Because now I knew.
He wasn't just a boss. He wasn't just a predator in a suit, a man who demanded obedience and control.
He cared.
And knowing that… made him impossible to resist.
---
The week had started with her trying to remain invisible in his orbit. By the end of today, the lesson was clear: staying under his radar wasn't just difficult—it was impossible.
And Kissabel Hilson realized, with a mixture of fear and thrill, that nothing in this world—or in Adrian Goodwill's world—was going to make staying away simple.