KISS'S POV
The morning air was crisp, the streets bustling as I made my way to the café down the block. Coffee had become my little ritual—a moment of normalcy before diving back into the whirlwind that was working for Adrian Goodwill.
I tucked my blazer tighter, hoping the brisk walk would clear my racing thoughts. My mind, however, had other plans.
Adrian.
The near-kiss from yesterday replayed like a movie I couldn't stop. Every detail—the heat in his eyes, the way he leaned closer, the subtle brush of his hand against mine—made my pulse jump.
I shook my head, trying to focus on mundane tasks. Coffee. That was it. Just coffee.
Lost in thought, I rounded the corner—and disaster struck. Literally.
A man suddenly appeared from the opposite direction, carrying a large stack of documents, and collided with me.
"Whoa!" I gasped, stumbling backward.
Before I could even brace myself, strong hands caught me.
"Careful," a deep, familiar voice said. "Don't go flying like that."
My cheeks burned as I realized whose hands held me steady.
Chris Blackwood.
His eyes sparkled with amusement, scanning me up and down like he was cataloging every detail.
"You—are impossible," he said with a grin, gently setting me upright. "Do you always walk like you're auditioning for a stunt scene?"
I blinked, slightly flustered, then tried to regain my composure. "I… uh… almost fell. You saved me."
He chuckled softly, that low, teasing laugh that made my chest tighten.
"You're welcome," he said, but the mischief in his eyes made me want to smile. And I did—small, hesitant, but it felt… natural.
Chris glanced at the papers in his hand, then back at me. "I have to say, bumping into you was more entertaining than I expected or than our first encounter. Most people just apologize and move on."
I laughed lightly, shaking my head. "Not me. I prefer dramatic entrances."
He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice in mock seriousness. "Dramatic? You've got talent."
Before I could respond, he extended a hand. "I'm Chris Blackwood. You do know me but you don't and I'd like to change that."
I hesitated for a fraction of a second, then smiled and shook his hand. " And you do know me but not much,I'm Kissabel Hilson as you know. And… sure. Friends?"
"Friends," he repeated, amusement lingering in his tone, as if he had just won some silent wager.
I pulled my hand away and checked my watch. Oh no. Late.
"I—I should go," I stammered, suddenly aware of how fast time had slipped by. "Thanks for… um… catching me."
Chris tilted his head, watching me hurriedly make my way down the sidewalk. "Running already? Don't tell me punctuality scares you."
I quickened my pace, heart still racing from the unexpected encounter, while he watched me go. His smile widened, a spark of interest—and perhaps challenge—in his eyes.
"Interesting," he muttered to himself, turning back to adjust his documents. "Very interesting."
---
ADRIAN'S POV
Back at the office, I sat in my office, the morning meeting dragging on endlessly. But my mind kept drifting.
Kissabel.
Her face popped into my thoughts unexpectedly, and I found myself recalling the way she had slipped past my control yesterday, the playful defiance in her eyes, and that tiny, teasing smile she had flashed before leaving.
I clenched my jaw. She was more than just a secretary now. She had a way of appearing in my mind at the most inconvenient moments—and making me question how much control I actually had over my own feelings.
I made a mental note: Keep an eye on her. Always.
---
KISS'S POV
By the time I returned to the office, coffee in hand, I was slightly out of breath, cheeks still tingling from the unexpected collision.
"Hey, Kiss," Oscar greeted, glancing at my cup. "You're early today."
"Early-ish," I replied, setting my coffee down. My mind wandered, still replaying the brief encounter with Chris again. His teasing, the way he had watched me, the easy charm—it was unnerving and thrilling all at once.
I thought he was an arrogant bastard.
I tried to push it aside. Coffee was meant to clear my head. Not make it spiral into… what exactly?
---
CHRIS'S POV
As I watched her disappear down the street, a faint smile lingered on my lips. She was like a puzzle I didn't know I wanted to solve until I saw the pieces fall into place.
Independent, clever, and completely unguarded for a brief, fleeting moment—she fascinated me. And now, officially, she had my attention just like she had Adrian's own.
The thought sent a shiver of amusement through me. This could get very interesting.
---
KISS'S POV
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Meetings, memos, and coffee runs barely registered as my mind kept wandering back to the morning's encounter.
Chris Blackwood had introduced himself as a friend which quite surprisedmeas our first encounter wasn't quite good, a friendly gesture—but the way he had looked at me lingered like a spark I couldn't quite put out.
And then there was Adrian.
The near-kiss, the office intensity, the way he had escorted me… or tried to.
I sighed, realizing that resisting the chaos of men in my life was becoming increasingly impossible. And somehow, I wasn't even sure I wanted to resist.
The day ended with me shutting my laptop, the office quiet except for the hum of the air conditioning. I gathered my things, ready to leave, but paused.
The future shall bring more challenges, more tension, more dangerous games. But for tonight… coffee, brief laughter, and fleeting connection had reminded me that I could still breathe, even amidst the storm.
And as I walked out of the office, I couldn't shake the feeling that both Adrian and Chris were already plotting their next moves—and that my life would never be simple again.