Chapter 5: Unfinished Business
848 Words
Sienna told herself she wouldn’t think about it last night. But as she stood in front of the office mirror the next morning, adjusting the crisp collar of her blouse, her mind replayed every infuriating detail of her dinner with Adrian Sterling.
The way he had looked at her—like he was peeling back every carefully constructed defense she had built.
The way his voice had dropped just enough to send an unwelcome shiver down her spine.
The way she had almost—almost—enjoyed herself.
No. That was a mistake. A lapse in judgment. A momentary distraction from the real problem: Adrian was still her biggest rival, still as manipulative as ever, and she wasn’t about to let him get under her skin.
She checked her watch. 7:45 a.m. She had exactly fifteen minutes before their morning meeting. Enough time to refocus and remind herself exactly why she needed to keep her guard up.
By the time she arrived at the Sterling Enterprises boardroom, she was composed and ready for battle. Or so she thought.
Adrian was already there, of course, leaning against the conference table with the kind of lazy confidence that made her want to throw something at him. His suit was immaculate, his tie just loose enough to suggest he hadn’t rushed this morning. Unlike her, who had spent too much time arguing with her reflection about whether she should even care.
“Morning, Reed,” he drawled. “Sleep well?”
She slid into her chair and ignored him. “Let’s get started.”
The meeting began, and for once, they managed to keep things professional. Mostly. They discussed logistics, funding, and the upcoming investor presentation. But just as she was starting to think they could actually work together like adults, Adrian leaned back in his chair and smirked.
“So, about last night…”
Sienna shot him a warning glance. “We’re not talking about last night.”
“Why not? It was a productive meeting.”
“That wasn’t a meeting. That was you annoying me over dinner.”
His smirk deepened. “You didn’t seem that annoyed.”
Across the table, one of the junior executives cleared their throat awkwardly. Sienna exhaled sharply, reigning in her temper. “Can we stay on topic?”
“Fine,” Adrian said, but the amusement in his eyes told her he wasn’t done pushing her buttons.
After the meeting, Sienna spent the rest of the morning buried in work. Emails, reports, scheduling investor calls—anything to keep her mind occupied. But just when she thought she had successfully avoided another run-in with Adrian, her phone buzzed.
Adrian: Lunch. My office. Now.
She stared at the message, debating whether she should pretend she hadn’t seen it. But before she could decide, a follow-up text arrived.
Adrian: Don’t make me come get you.
Damn him.
Fifteen minutes later, she found herself standing in Adrian’s office, arms crossed. “What do you want, Sterling?”
Adrian looked up from his desk, completely unfazed by her irritation. “Sit.”
“I’d rather stand.”
He sighed and pushed a takeout container across the desk. “You skipped breakfast. Eat.”
She blinked. “Excuse me?”
“I saw you this morning, Reed. You were too busy glaring at me to drink your coffee, and I know you don’t function without caffeine. So, eat.”
Sienna hesitated. This felt… suspicious. Adrian Sterling did not do things out of the kindness of his heart.
“This isn’t some manipulation tactic, is it?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
He rolled his eyes. “Reed, it’s a sandwich, not a hostage negotiation.”
Still wary, she picked up the container and sat down across from him. The silence stretched between them, but this time, it wasn’t charged with competition or animosity. It was something else. Something unsettlingly close to… understanding.
“So,” Adrian said after a moment, “you really hate me, don’t you?”
She paused mid-bite. “Hate is a strong word.”
“But accurate?”
Sienna sighed. “You frustrate me, Adrian. You think you can control everything, bulldoze your way through problems without considering the consequences. That kind of arrogance—”
“Gets things done,” he finished.
“It destroys people in the process.”
Adrian studied her, his usual smirk replaced with something more thoughtful. “Is that what you think I’m doing to you?”
She didn’t answer. Because, honestly? She wasn’t sure anymore.
That evening, Sienna found herself restless. The day had been a battle of wits and willpower, but for the first time, she felt like she wasn’t just fighting Adrian—she was trying to understand him. And that was dangerous.
She wasn’t here to understand Adrian Sterling. She was here to beat him.
But as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his words were replayed in her mind.
Is that what you think I’m doing to you?
And for the first time, she wasn’t sure she had an answer.
- Writer
