Chapter 47- The Engagement Trap
1164 Words
Morning arrived with gray skies over the city.
Adrian stepped out of the elevator with a quiet yawn, holding a cup of coffee he barely intended to drink. His night had been restless. Thoughts of Damien had chased sleep away like stubborn ghosts.
I'm in love with him.
Even now the truth felt unreal.
He adjusted his tie and walked into the office floor.
And immediately sensed something was wrong.
Everyone was whispering.
Two employees near the printer lowered their voices as Adrian passed.
"Did you hear-"
"Shh! He's here."
Adrian frowned.
"What's going on?"
No one answered.
That uneasy feeling followed him all the way to his desk.
Across the room, Damien's office door was closed.
But inside...
Voices were raised.
Damien and His Father
Inside the office stood a man whose presence filled the entire room with authority.
Damien's father.
Mr. Victor Sinclair.
Tall, silver-haired, and intimidating in the quiet way powerful men often were.
He placed a document on Damien's desk.
"You've delayed long enough."
Damien didn't sit.
He remained standing across the desk, arms folded.
"I told you already. I'm not interested."
Victor's voice remained calm.
"This isn't about interest."
He tapped the document.
"It's about responsibility."
Damien didn't even glance at it.
"Hana Choi is your fiancée."
Damien's eyes flashed.
"She was chosen by you."
"She was chosen because the Choi family strengthens our business alliances."
Victor stepped closer.
"You will marry her."
Damien's jaw tightened.
"No."
The word hung heavy in the air.
Victor studied his son carefully.
"You've never refused me before."
Damien looked away toward the glass wall of his office.
Toward the office floor outside.
And unfortunately...
Toward Adrian.
Victor followed his gaze.
He noticed.
Victor Sinclair missed nothing.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Then he returned his attention to Damien.
"You will announce the engagement soon."
Damien's voice dropped. This is the time to prove that I feel nothing for you.
"Okay! You can fix the date."
Victor leaned closer, visibly shocked.
Damien had always refused to marry this Hana and now suddenly he is agreeing.
"Tell me what has changed."
Silence.
Damien didn't answer.
Because he couldn't say the truth.
Because I think I'm in love with a man.
Adrian Overhears Everything
Outside, Adrian stood near the printer pretending to organize files.
But the office walls were thin.
And he had heard enough.
"I will marry Hana."
The words struck him like a knife sliding between ribs.
His hands trembled slightly.
Fiancée?
Adrian swallowed hard.
So it was true.
Hana hadn't just been flirting.
She had been engaged to Damien this whole time.
His chest felt tight.
Why did that bother him so much?
Why did it feel like someone was quietly crushing his heart?
Adrian forced himself to keep walking.
But the office suddenly felt smaller.
Harder to breathe in.
Hana Arrives
Right on cue.
Hana walked into the office floor like a queen entering her kingdom.
She wore a sleek white dress and a confident smile.
"Good morning everyone."
Several employees greeted her politely.
Her eyes immediately searched the room.
Until they landed on Adrian.
She walked toward him slowly.
"Well well," she said lightly.
"Adrian Knox."
Adrian forced a polite nod.
"Ms. Choi."
She leaned against his desk casually.
"You look tired."
"Just work."
Her smile sharpened slightly.
"Or stress."
Adrian's fingers tightened around his coffee cup.
"What do you mean?"
Hana tilted her head.
"I had breakfast with Damien's father this morning."
Adrian stayed silent.
Then she delivered the line like a quiet bomb.
"Our engagement will be announced softly.
Adrian felt his stomach drop.
Hana watched his reaction carefully.
Every flicker of emotion.
Every micro expression.
Then she smiled softly.
"I hope you'll congratulate us."
Damien Pushes Adrian Away
Later that afternoon Adrian was summoned to Damien's office.
He walked in with the calmest expression he could manage.
Damien stood behind his desk reviewing reports.
His voice was strictly professional.
"Close the door."
Adrian obeyed.
Damien didn't look up.
"The integration project. Progress?"
Adrian frowned slightly.
"It's moving forward."
"Deadline hasn't changed."
"I know."
Silence stretched between them.
Finally Adrian spoke quietly.
"...I heard."
Damien's pen stopped moving.
But he didn't look up.
"Heard what?"
"About Hana."
Another pause.
Then Damien said flatly:
"It's none of your concern."
Adrian's chest tightened.
"Right."
Damien finally lifted his eyes.
But they were cold again.
Distant.
Sharp.
"Focus on your job, Knox."
Adrian laughed softly.
The sound held no humor.
"You're really good at pretending nothing happened."
Damien's voice hardened.
"Nothing did happen."
Their eyes locked.
Something raw flashed between them.
But Damien broke the moment deliberately.
"Meeting in ten minutes."
The dismissal was clear.
Adrian left without another word.
Yet Damien remained frozen long after the door closed.
Because every instinct inside him screamed that he had just made a terrible mistake.
Hana's Game
The next day Hana escalated things.
Deliberately.
During lunch she walked into Damien's office while the door remained open.
Several employees could see inside.
Including Adrian.
She placed a small box on Damien's desk.
"What's that?" Damien asked.
She smiled.
"Engagement rings."
The room outside fell silent.
Adrian's fingers froze above his keyboard.
Hana picked one up playfully.
"Don't worry," she teased Damien.
"You'll get used to wearing it."
Damien looked irritated.
"This isn't funny."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"But look."
She subtly gestured toward the glass wall.
Toward Adrian.
"He's watching."
Damien instinctively glanced over.
Adrian quickly looked back at his screen.
But the damage was done.
Hana's smile deepened.
"Interesting reaction."
Damien's voice turned sharp.
"Stop playing games."
But Hana simply laughed.
"Oh Damien."
Her eyes sparkled with wicked amusement.
"This game is already in progress."
Adrian's Jealousy Explodes
That evening the office emptied slowly.
Adrian packed his bag.
But just as he walked toward the exit...
He saw Hana again.
Standing close to Damien.
Too close.
She adjusted his tie gently.
"You should come to dinner tonight."
Damien looked exhausted.
"We'll talk later."
But Hana leaned closer.
Her hand resting on his chest.
"Your fiancée deserves attention."
Something inside Adrian snapped.
He stepped forward before he could stop himself.
"Hana."
Both of them turned.
Adrian's voice was calm.
But his eyes burned.
"You're blocking the hallway."
Hana raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Adrian stepped between them deliberately.
His shoulder brushing Damien's.
"You can flirt somewhere else."
The tension was electric.
Hana smiled slowly.
"Jealous?"
Adrian's answer came instantly.
"No."
But his voice betrayed him.
Hana's laughter was soft.
"Adrian Knox..."
Her gaze lingered knowingly.
"You're very interesting."
She turned and walked away.
Leaving Adrian and Damien standing inches apart.
The silence between them felt explosive.
Damien spoke first.
"You're out of line."
Adrian scoffed.
"Then marry her."
Damien's eyes flashed.
"I probably will."
The words hit Adrian like a punch.
But he refused to show it.
"Good."
He turned and walked away.
Yet neither of them noticed something important.
From the shadows outside the building...
Someone was watching them.
Patiently.
Quietly.
Waiting.
👁️
- Writer
