CHAPTER 9 — The Woman Who Walked In
609 Words
Not even close.
And she felt it.
Sitting there—
Across from him—
Trying to act like nothing had happened.
Like she hadn’t just been in his arms.
Like she couldn’t still feel it.
“Tell me about yourself.”
His voice was calm again.
Professional.
Controlled.
Like none of it affected him.
She straightened slightly.
“I’m hardworking, I learn fast, and I—”
A knock cut her off.
Sharp.
Precise.
“Come in,” he said.
The door opened.
And this time—
The interruption had a name.
“Adrian, I need—”
She stopped mid-sentence.
Her eyes landed on him first.
Then shifted.
Slowly.
Carefully.
To her.
A pause.
Just a second.
But it was enough.
Enough to notice.
Enough to feel.
The woman stepped fully into the room.
Tall.
Confident.
Dressed like she owned the place.
Because maybe—
She did.
“This must be the interview,” she said, her tone smooth.
But her eyes stayed on her.
Studying.
Calculating.
“She’s a candidate,” he replied.
Simple.
Too simple.
And something about that—
Didn’t sit right.
The woman smiled slightly.
“Of course she is.”
There was something hidden in that smile.
Something sharp.
Then she turned back to him.
“You didn’t mention you had interviews today.”
His jaw tightened—just slightly.
“I don’t report my schedule, Vanessa.”
Vanessa.
The name settled in the air.
Heavy.
Important.
The woman—Vanessa—tilted her head just a little.
Not offended.
Just… amused.
“No,” she said calmly.
“You don’t.”
But the way she said it—
Felt like she should have known anyway.
Her chest tightened without warning.
Because suddenly—
This didn’t feel like a normal workplace interaction.
This felt… personal.
Vanessa turned her attention back to her.
And this time—
She smiled properly.
Polite.
Perfect.
But cold underneath.
“I’m Vanessa Cole,” she said.
“Co-founder of this company.”
The words hit instantly.
Hard.
Co-founder.
Not just an employee.
Not just someone passing through.
Someone equal.
Someone important.
Someone who belonged here.
Unlike her.
“And you are?” Vanessa asked.
Her voice still calm.
But there was pressure behind it.
She swallowed slightly.
Gave her name.
Trying to keep her voice steady.
Trying to ignore the way her confidence had just dropped.
Vanessa nodded slowly.
Taking her in again.
Head to toe.
Like she was measuring something.
Or judging.
“I see,” she said quietly.
Then turned back to him.
“You could’ve told me you were hiring someone like her.”
Something about that line—
Didn’t feel right.
At all.
His expression hardened slightly.
“I hire based on qualifications.”
Vanessa’s lips curved faintly.
“Of course you do.”
Silence followed.
Thick.
Uncomfortable.
Because now—
It wasn’t just about the interview.
It wasn’t just about him.
There was something else here.
Something unspoken.
Something dangerous.
Vanessa stepped back slightly.
“I’ll let you finish,” she said.
But her eyes lingered again.
On her.
Not him.
“I’ll see you later, Adrian.”
And just like that—
She left.
The door closing softly behind her.
But the tension she brought—
Stayed.
Her heart was beating faster now.
Not because of him.
Not this time.
Because of her.
Because of what she felt in that moment.
And the question she couldn’t ignore anymore.
Who was she—
Really—
To him?
“Continue,” he said.
Back to business.
Like nothing had happened.
Like that moment didn’t shift everything.
But it did.
And they both knew it.
- Writer
