Chapter 11: The Green-Eyed CEO
975 Words
The ballroom slowly emptied as employees returned to their respective departments.
Sofia remained standing near one of the tables, staring at the envelope in her hand.
She carefully unfolded the note once more.
"I hope you'll save me one dance."
She let out a quiet sigh.
"...Another one."
Before she could put it away, a familiar voice interrupted her.
"Miss Reyes."
She looked up.
Adrian stood a few steps away, his hands tucked inside his pockets.
"You haven't gone home yet?"
"I was about to."
His eyes drifted to the note in her hand.
"...Another gift?"
Sofia nodded awkwardly.
"I found it in my bag."
Adrian extended his hand.
"May I?"
She hesitated for a second before handing him the note.
He read it silently.
His expression remained unreadable.
"So..."
Sofia smiled nervously.
"What do you think?"
He folded the paper neatly.
"I think..."
"...someone has too much free time."
Sofia couldn't help laughing.
"I wasn't expecting that answer."
He handed the note back.
"Neither was I."
For the first time...
They shared a small smile.
---
Adrian's POV
"Save me one dance?"
He stared at the words again in his mind.
“Absolutely not."
A few seconds later...
He frowned.
"Why did I think that?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"This is ridiculous."
---
The next morning...
Montenegro Corporation was buzzing with excitement.
Only two days remained before the charity gala.
Employees rushed through the hallways carrying decorations and documents.
The executive floor, however...
Was unusually noisy.
Mia hurried toward Sofia's desk with a garment bag.
"It arrived!"
Sofia blinked.
"What arrived?"
"Your gown!"
"My what?"
"The company rented one for every employee attending the gala."
Jenny clapped excitedly.
"Open it!"
Sofia carefully unzipped the garment bag.
Inside was a simple yet elegant ivory evening gown.
"It's beautiful..."
She gently touched the fabric.
"I've never worn anything like this."
"It'll look perfect on you," Mia said.
From across the office...
Someone happened to overhear.
Adrian looked up from his laptop.
Only for a second.
Then returned to work.
---
Ethan's POV
“There he goes again."
"One glance..."
"Pretending he doesn't care."
Ethan quietly walked into Adrian's office.
"So..."
"The dress arrived."
"I know."
"You looked."
"I happened to."
"Mhm."
Ethan sat down.
"You know what's happening tomorrow?"
"What?"
"The final dance rehearsal."
"So?"
"I'm Sofia's partner."
Silence.
"...I know."
"We're going to practice together."
Adrian calmly signed another document.
"Good."
"We'll probably be holding hands."
The pen stopped moving.
Ethan almost laughed.
"We might even take pictures."
Adrian slowly looked up.
"...Are you finished?"
"Almost."
"I just wanted to see your reaction."
"You've seen enough."
"I definitely have."
---
Sofia's POV
After lunch...
The dance rehearsal began once again.
This time, everyone was dressed more formally to practice the gala entrance.
Ethan greeted Sofia with his usual cheerful smile.
"Ready, partner?"
She laughed.
"As long as you promise not to tease me."
"No promises."
The music started.
One...
Two...
Three...
Sofia carefully followed Ethan's lead.
To her surprise...
He was actually a good dancer.
"I thought you said you had two left feet."
"I lied."
She shook her head, laughing.
"You really are unbelievable."
Across the ballroom...
Adrian had just arrived for a meeting with the event committee.
Without meaning to...
His eyes found Sofia almost immediately.
He watched as Ethan spun her gently.
She laughed.
The sound echoed across the room.
Something inside Adrian tightened.
The event coordinator continued talking.
"...Mr. Montenegro?"
No response.
"...Sir?"
Adrian blinked.
"I'm listening."
"You've been looking at the dance floor."
"I was observing the rehearsal."
The coordinator smiled politely.
"Of course."
---
During the break...
Sofia walked toward the refreshment table.
She reached for a glass of juice.
At the same moment...
Another hand reached for it.
"Oh!"
She looked up.
"Sir."
Adrian quietly picked up another glass and handed it to her.
"You can have this one."
"Thank you."
There was a brief silence.
Then Adrian spoke.
"...You're improving."
"In dancing?"
He nodded.
"Ethan's a good teacher."
For some reason...
Those words sounded slightly colder than usual.
Sofia smiled.
"He is."
"I haven't laughed that much in a while."
"...I noticed."
She blinked.
"You noticed?"
"I happened to."
Before Sofia could respond...
Ethan walked over.
"There you are!"
He looked between the two of them.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Adrian answered immediately.
"No."
Sofia laughed awkwardly.
"We were just talking."
Ethan smiled.
"Good."
"Our next practice is starting."
He offered his hand dramatically.
"Shall we?"
Sofia laughed and played along.
"Lead the way."
As Ethan and Sofia walked back to the dance floor...
Adrian remained where he was.
Watching.
---
Adrian's POV
"She's smiling again."
"Why does she smile more around him?"
He looked away.
"Stop it."
"Ethan is your best friend."
"He's only helping her."
He loosened his tie.
"Then why does it bother me?"
---
The rehearsal finally ended.
Employees gathered their belongings and prepared to leave.
Ethan caught up to Adrian in the parking lot.
"So..."
"What."
"I have good news."
"I don't want to hear it."
"Sofia said I'm a good dance partner."
Adrian unlocked his car.
"Congratulations."
"I think we'll steal the spotlight at the gala."
Adrian closed the car door a little harder than intended.
Ethan smiled.
"There it is."
"What?"
"The green-eyed CEO."
Adrian frowned.
"I don't have green eyes."
"I wasn't talking about your eye color."
It took Adrian a second to understand.
His expression froze.
Ethan laughed all the way to his own car.
Left standing alone...
Adrian looked toward the company entrance.
At that exact moment...
Sofia stepped outside, laughing at something Mia had said.
She looked genuinely happy.
Without realizing it...
Adrian smiled.
Then...
A black luxury car pulled up beside Sofia.
An unfamiliar young man stepped out holding a bouquet of white roses.
He walked straight toward her.
"Miss Sofia Reyes?"
Adrian's smile disappeared.
- Writer
