BETWEEN LOVE AND LIES

Chapter 8: Can't take No for an Answer

The following week arrived with an air of normalcy—or at least, that’s what Elena told herself. The weekend had been a whirlwind of emotions, and though she had done her best to push it aside, the tension with Adrian still lingered in her mind. Now, as she stepped into the office Monday morning, she took a deep breath, determined to keep her focus solely on work.

Elena made her way to her desk, offering a polite smile to a few colleagues who greeted her. She set her bag down and powered on her computer, doing her best to settle into her usual routine. But no matter how much she tried to immerse herself in tasks, she could feel it—the weight of his presence. Adrian was in his office, just beyond those glass doors, and sooner or later, she would have to face him.

Just as she was about to dive into her emails, her phone vibrated on the desk. A message from Adrian.

Come to my office.

She stared at the screen for a moment before sighing. There was no avoiding it. Gathering her composure, she rose from her chair and walked toward his office, keeping her expression neutral.

When she stepped inside, Adrian was leaning against his desk, arms crossed, his sharp gaze locking onto hers the moment she entered.

“Elena,” he said smoothly. “Close the door.”

She did as he asked, her pulse quickening slightly. He watched her for a long moment before speaking again.

“I take it you had a good weekend?”

She hesitated, unsure where this conversation was going. “It was fine.”

“Fine,” he repeated, as if tasting the word.

Elena exhaled, already growing weary of this game. “Adrian, what exactly do you want to talk about?”

His jaw tightened slightly. “I want to know where we stand.”

“Where we stand?” she echoed, crossing her arms. “We work together, Adrian. That’s where we stand.”

His expression darkened, but he said nothing for a moment. Then, he pushed off the desk and took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers.

“You’re avoiding the real conversation, Elena.”

She shook her head. “No, I’m choosing not to engage in something that has no place here.”

His lips pressed into a thin line. “So that’s it? You pretend nothing happened?”

“I’m not pretending anything,” she countered. “I’m moving forward.”

He studied her for a long moment, then nodded. “Alright, if that’s how you want to play it.”

There was an edge to his voice, something unreadable in his gaze. Elena refused to let it shake her. Without another word, she turned and walked out of his office, her heart hammering in her chest.

The rest of the day was a test of patience. Adrian remained professional in meetings, but she could feel the subtle tension every time their eyes met. It was a battle neither of them acknowledged, yet both were painfully aware of.

As the hours stretched on, Elena focused on her work, determined not to let him affect her. She wouldn’t allow herself to get caught up in whatever this was.

Adrian Montgomery sat in his office, his fingers interlocked as he stared at his computer screen, though he wasn’t actually reading the document open in front of him. His mind kept circling back to his encounter with Elena, the way she had stood her ground, refusing to give him a direct answer. It was infuriating, yet somehow, it made him even more drawn to her.

He exhaled sharply and leaned back in his chair. This had to stop. He was Adrian Montgomery—control was second nature to him. Allowing a woman, especially one as stubborn as Elena Carter, to throw him off balance was unacceptable.

A knock on his office door pulled him out of his thoughts. “Come in,” he said, his voice steady, revealing none of the turmoil brewing inside him.

The door opened, and Nathan stepped in, his expression unreadable. “Sir, I wanted to go over the final report for the Andrews project.”

Adrian gave a curt nod. “Sit.”

Nathan handed him the file and took a seat across from him. Adrian flipped through the pages, scanning the details, but once again, his mind wandered. He had noticed Nathan and Elena exchanging words earlier in the break room. The easy way she had smiled at him had irritated Adrian more than it should have.

He set the file down and laced his fingers together, studying Nathan for a moment. “You and Elena seem to have gotten... comfortable.”

Nathan blinked, clearly surprised by the comment. “Elena?” he repeated. “We’re just colleagues.”

Adrian’s gaze was sharp. “Are you?”

Nathan hesitated before nodding. “Yes. I mean, she’s easy to talk to. But that’s it.”

Adrian smirked, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Good. Keep it that way.”

Nathan frowned slightly but nodded, not willing to push the conversation further.

After Nathan left, Adrian leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. He was losing his grip on the situation. He needed to remind himself who he was—he didn’t get distracted by emotions. He had always been in control. And he wasn’t about to let Elena Carter change that.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and paperwork, but Adrian found himself unconsciously tracking Elena’s movements. She was always composed, always professional, yet there was something in the way she carried herself that made it impossible for him to ignore her.

As evening approached, Adrian finally decided he had enough. He grabbed his phone and sent a brief message: Dinner. My place. Tonight. Don’t be late.

A few moments later, he saw Elena glance at her phone across the office, her brows furrowing before she typed a response.

No.

Adrian’s lips twitched. She was as defiant as ever.

That wasn’t a request.

He watched as she rolled her eyes and typed again.

Then it’s a waste of a text.

Adrian’s amusement faded, replaced by something deeper. This woman was going to drive him insane. But if she thought she could keep pushing him away, she was wrong. He wasn’t giving up—not now, not ever.

Elena Carter sighed as she leaned back against her chair, her fingers lightly grazing the rim of her coffee cup. She had barely gotten any work done in the last thirty minutes, her thoughts still lingering on the audacity of Adrian Montgomery’s message. Dinner. My place. Tonight. Don’t be late. The nerve of him.

She had declined outright, but she wasn’t naïve enough to think he would let it go so easily. Adrian was a man used to getting what he wanted, and for some reason, he had fixated on her.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Sarah’s voice pulled Elena from her brooding.

Elena blinked and looked up at her friend, who had perched herself on the edge of her desk with a knowing smirk. "I just have a lot on my mind."

"Let me guess... tall, handsome, and brooding?"

Elena rolled her eyes. "If you’re referring to Adrian, then no. Absolutely not."

Sarah hummed in amusement. "You sure? Because you look like someone who’s struggling to get a certain boss out of her head."

Elena let out a slow breath. She knew that much was true. He was relentless, and the more she tried to put distance between them, the more he seemed to close the gap.

"Forget about him," Elena muttered, shaking her head.

Sarah gave her a doubtful look but didn’t push further. "Well, if you ever need a distraction, I’m thinking of dragging you out for a girls’ night this weekend."

Elena smiled slightly. "That actually sounds nice."

Adrian sat in the backseat of his car, drumming his fingers against the leather armrest. The city lights blurred past as his driver navigated through traffic, but his mind was elsewhere. He had given Elena the opportunity to accept his invitation, and as expected, she had refused.

But he wasn’t done yet.

"Sir, we’re approaching Miss Carter’s residence," his driver announced.

Adrian nodded. "Park a block away."

A minute later, he stepped out of the car and strode toward Elena’s apartment building. He had no intention of forcing her into anything, but he wasn’t the kind of man who sat back when something—or someone—captured his interest. Elena had done just that. She had challenged him, defied him, and made him feel something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Standing in front of her door, he knocked firmly. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing a startled Elena.

"Adrian?!" she exclaimed, eyes wide. "What the hell are you doing here?"

He smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe. "I told you I don’t take no for an answer."

She shook her head in disbelief. "That’s borderline stalking."

"No, it’s called being thorough," he corrected smoothly. "Now, are you going to let me in, or do I have to stand here all night?"

Elena narrowed her eyes. "I should slam this door in your face."

"You won’t."

She let out an exasperated sigh before stepping aside. "Fine. Five minutes. Then you leave."

Adrian stepped inside, his gaze sweeping across her apartment. He hadn’t really checked it out the last time he was here. It was simple yet cozy, reflecting her personality—organized but with subtle hints of warmth.

Elena crossed her arms, watching him. "What do you want, Adrian?"

He turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "Why didn't you accept to have dinner with me?"

Elena frowned. "I just don't want to"

His jaw tightened. "And why is that?"

"Because I have nothing to say to you about it," she said firmly. "We’re colleagues. You’re my boss. That’s it."

Adrian took a slow step forward, closing some of the distance between them. "You and I both know that’s not all it is."

Elena swallowed but held her ground. "You’re reading too much into things."

He studied her for a long moment before exhaling and stepping back. "Alright. If that’s what you want to tell yourself."

She expected him to keep pushing, but instead, he surprised her by turning toward the door. Just before leaving, he glanced over his shoulder. "I’ll see you at work, Elena."

Elena exhaled sharply as the door clicked shut behind him. She ran a hand through her hair, frustration bubbling inside her. She hated that he got under her skin, that he made her question things she didn’t want to.