The Jealous Game
491 Words
The next morning, Emma walked into the office determined to pretend that conversation had never happened.
It was a solid plan—until she stepped into Adrian’s office for their morning meeting.
He was leaning back in his chair, looking entirely too smug for her liking. “Sleep well?”
She rolled her eyes. “Let’s just get to business.”
He didn’t move, just studied her with that slow, knowing gaze. “How’s Jake?”
Emma’s breath hitched, but she recovered quickly. “He’s fine.”
“Busy, you said?”
“Yes.”
Adrian nodded, drumming his fingers against the desk. “That’s interesting.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“Because I had my assistant look up your social media last night.” His smirk deepened. “And there’s no sign of a Jake anywhere.”
Her stomach dropped.
“You had me investigated?” she snapped.
He chuckled. “Don’t flatter yourself. I was just curious.”
Emma forced herself to hold his gaze. “Not everyone broadcasts their relationships online.”
Adrian tilted his head. “No, but you’re a creature of habit. You share everything else—your coffee orders, your rants about slow walkers, your obsession with crime documentaries.” His smirk widened. “And yet, nothing about your so-called boyfriend.”
Damn him.
She swallowed, crossing her arms. “Maybe we like our privacy.”
Adrian stood slowly, walking around the desk until he was right in front of her. Close enough that she could smell his cologne—dark and expensive, just like him.
“Say the word, Carter,” he murmured. “Say you go home to him at night. That he touches you. That he knows what you taste like when you whisper his name.”
Emma’s pulse pounded in her ears.
She wanted to shove him away, to tell him to stop playing games. But her body betrayed her, heat creeping up her neck, her breath coming faster.
And Adrian saw it.
His smirk faded, replaced by something darker.
“You’re lying,” he said quietly.
Emma clenched her fists. “You don’t know anything about me.”
He exhaled slowly, his gaze flickering over her face. “I know you’ve never been with him.”
Her breath caught.
Adrian’s jaw clenched, as if the realization had just hit him. His voice was softer now, almost dangerous. “You’ve never been with anyone.”
Emma took a shaky step back. “This conversation is over.”
She turned to leave, but before she could reach the door, Adrian spoke again.
“He doesn’t exist.”
She froze.
Adrian’s voice was low, unwavering. “There’s no Jake, is there?”
Emma swallowed hard, staring straight ahead.
Then, without another word, she walked out.
Because if she turned around, she knew he’d see the truth written all over her face.
And she wasn’t ready for that.
Not yet.
- Writer
