Chapter 10: An Unexpected Partner
988 Words
The following morning...
Montenegro Corporation was busier than ever.
With the Annual Charity Gala only a few days away, every department worked nonstop to finalize preparations.
Boxes of decorations lined the hallways.
Designers came and went with garment bags.
The once quiet executive floor had become lively.
Sofia smiled as she arranged invitation cards on her desk.
"I can't believe how much work goes into one event."
Mia laughed.
"This is nothing."
"Wait until rehearsal."
Jenny nodded dramatically.
"That's when the real chaos begins."
---
Adrian's POV
Inside his office...
Adrian reviewed several documents.
Or at least...
He tried to.
His attention kept drifting toward Sofia's desk.
The small white teddy bear still sat beside her computer.
He frowned.
"She actually brought it back."
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
Ethan entered with two cups of coffee.
"I brought your usual."
Adrian accepted it.
"Thanks."
Ethan followed Adrian's gaze toward Sofia's desk.
"You've been looking outside a lot lately."
"I haven't."
"You have."
"I was looking at the decorations."
Ethan smiled.
"Sure you were."
---
Around noon...
The HR manager gathered everyone in the conference room.
"As part of this year's charity gala, we've prepared a special opening dance."
Excited whispers filled the room.
Jenny clasped her hands.
"I love this already."
"The dance partners have been selected randomly."
Sofia blinked.
"Dance partners?"
The HR manager nodded.
"Please don't complain."
"The list has already been finalized."
He unfolded a sheet of paper.
"Let's begin."
One pair after another was announced.
Employees laughed and teased each other.
Then...
"Mr. Ethan Cruz..."
Ethan casually raised his hand.
"...will be partnered with..."
The HR manager smiled.
"Miss Sofia Reyes."
The room immediately erupted.
"What?!"
"No way!"
Mia covered her mouth.
"This is going to be interesting."
Sofia looked completely stunned.
"M-Me?"
Ethan simply laughed.
"Looks like we're partners."
Sofia smiled awkwardly.
"I hope I don't step on your feet."
"I'll survive."
Across the room...
Adrian remained silent.
His expression didn't change.
Not even slightly.
But the pen in his hand snapped in half.
The room fell silent.
Everyone slowly turned to look at him.
Adrian calmly placed the broken pen on the table.
"...Continue."
The HR manager quickly cleared his throat.
"Y-Yes."
The announcements resumed.
Only Ethan noticed the tiny c***k in Adrian's calm expression.
He lowered his head to hide his grin.
"Hook... line... and sinker."
---
Sofia's POV
After the meeting ended, Ethan caught up with her.
"So, partner."
Sofia laughed.
"I've never danced at a formal event before."
"Don't worry."
"I've got two left feet."
She blinked.
"Really?"
"No."
"I'm just trying to make you feel better."
She couldn't help laughing.
"I almost believed you."
Their conversation continued as they walked toward the elevator.
Neither of them noticed...
Adrian had just stepped out of the conference room.
His eyes followed them for a brief moment before he quietly walked in the opposite direction.
---
Adrian's POV
"Why are they laughing?"
He frowned.
"Ethan jokes with everyone."
"There's nothing unusual about this."
He opened the door to his office.
"Then why is it bothering me?"
Before he could sit down...
Ethan suddenly walked in.
"You look upset."
"I'm not."
"You broke your pen."
"It was defective."
Ethan laughed.
"It survived for six months."
"...Then today it became defective."
Ethan folded his arms.
"Adrian."
"What?"
"You know I don't like Sofia."
Adrian looked up.
"I know."
"I only see her as a friend."
Silence.
"So..."
Ethan smiled mischievously.
"Why did you look like someone stole your company when we were paired together?"
"I didn't."
"You did."
"I was thinking about work."
"You've used that excuse three times this week."
Adrian sighed.
"I don't have time for this."
Ethan started walking toward the door.
Just before leaving, he looked back.
"If you keep denying your feelings..."
"Someone else might confess first."
The office became quiet.
Adrian stared at the closed door.
For the first time...
That possibility crossed his mind.
And strangely...
He didn't like it.
---
Later that afternoon...
The gala coordinator called all dance partners for a short rehearsal.
Soft music filled the ballroom.
Employees chatted and laughed while practicing simple steps.
Ethan extended his hand toward Sofia.
"Ready?"
She smiled nervously.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
The rehearsal began.
It wasn't complicated.
Just a few elegant steps and a turn.
Every time Sofia made a mistake, Ethan exaggerated his reactions.
"Ouch!"
"You stepped on me!"
Sofia gasped.
"I did?"
"No."
"But your face was priceless."
She laughed so hard she almost lost her balance.
"You scared me!"
Mission accomplished.
Across the ballroom...
Adrian was discussing sponsorship details with the event coordinator.
His conversation stopped for a brief moment.
Without realizing it...
His eyes wandered toward the dance floor.
He saw Sofia laughing.
Brightly.
Comfortably.
With Ethan.
The coordinator noticed.
"Mr. Montenegro?"
"...Sir?"
Adrian blinked.
"I'm listening."
But even after returning to the discussion...
His gaze drifted back one more time.
---
Ethan's POV
"He's watching us again."
Ethan smiled to himself.
"You're hopeless, Adrian."
During a break, he leaned closer to Sofia.
"Can I tell you something?"
"Sure."
"Our CEO has been looking this way since rehearsal started."
Sofia immediately glanced toward Adrian.
Their eyes met for less than a second.
Adrian calmly looked away.
She turned back to Ethan.
"I think he was just checking if rehearsal was going well."
Ethan chuckled.
"If that's what you want to believe."
---
As rehearsal came to an end, everyone began packing up.
Sofia picked up her bag from a nearby chair.
A small envelope was tucked beneath the strap.
She frowned.
"...Another one?"
Inside was a single note.
"I hope you'll save me one dance."
No name.
No signature.
Just neat handwriting.
Sofia looked around the ballroom, wondering who could have left it there.
From across the room...
Adrian noticed the envelope in her hands.
His brows furrowed.
Without saying a word, he started walking toward her.
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