The girl who never stop Arguing

Chapter Four — The Rumor

By the beginning of Mia's second month at Blake International, she had finally learned how to survive Adrian Blake.

At least, she thought she had.

She had learned that his idea of a deadline could change without warning.

She had learned that he drank his coffee black.

She had learned that he hated unnecessary meetings.

She had learned that he expected everyone to be prepared before entering his office.

And she had learned one very important rule:

Never tell Adrian Blake that something was impossible.

He would immediately ask you to prove it.

Mia had also discovered something else.

Adrian was beginning to trust her.

It wasn't obvious.

He never said it.

He didn't suddenly become friendly.

He was still demanding.

Still serious.

Still capable of making an entire meeting room go silent with a single look.

But things were different.

He started asking for her opinion.

He began giving her more important assignments.

Sometimes, he would even listen without interrupting.

And Mia couldn't deny that she liked that.

She liked knowing that her ideas mattered.

She liked knowing that Adrian respected her work.

What she didn't like was the attention it attracted.

Especially from people who had nothing better to do than talk.

It started on a Tuesday morning.

Mia was sitting at her desk, working on a presentation, when Lily appeared beside her.

Lily was one of Mia's closest friends in the creative department.

She placed her coffee on Mia's desk.

"We need to talk."

Mia didn't look away from her screen.

"That sounds serious."

"It is."

"What happened?"

Lily leaned closer.

"People are talking."

Mia finally looked up.

"About what?"

Lily hesitated.

"You."

Mia frowned.

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Lily glanced around before lowering her voice.

"Because someone saw you leaving Adrian's office last night."

Mia stared at her.

"Okay?"

"It was late."

"So?"

"Apparently, some people think it was suspicious."

Mia blinked.

Then she laughed.

"Suspicious?"

"You know how people are."

"I went to his office because he asked me to review the project documents."

"I know."

"And then I went home."

"I know."

"Then what's suspicious?"

Lily shrugged.

"Nothing."

"Exactly."

Lily gave her an apologetic smile.

"But that doesn't stop people from talking."

Mia leaned back in her chair.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"I wish I was."

Mia looked around the office.

A few employees were talking quietly near the coffee machine.

One of them looked at her.

Then quickly looked away.

Mia's eyes narrowed.

"Oh, that's just great."

Lily sighed.

"Ignore them."

"I'm trying."

"You'll get used to it."

Mia gave her a look.

"Everyone keeps telling me that."

Lily laughed.

"Maybe because it's true."

Mia returned her attention to the computer.

"Let them talk."

But she couldn't completely ignore it.

By lunchtime, the rumor had spread.

Someone had apparently seen Mia leaving the CEO's office after nine o'clock.

Someone else had decided that this meant Mia was receiving special treatment.

Someone else had added another detail that hadn't even happened.

By the time the rumor reached the cafeteria, it had become an entirely different story.

Mia sat across from Lily, staring at her lunch.

"I can't believe this."

Lily sighed.

"I know."

"I work hard."

"I know."

"I come here, do my job, go home."

"I know."

"And somehow people have decided that my life is their entertainment."

Lily shrugged.

"Some people have very boring lives."

Mia laughed despite herself.

"That's probably true."

She took a sip of water.

"I'm going to ignore it."

"Good."

"And if someone says something directly to me?"

"Then?"

"I'll ask them why they're so interested in my schedule."

Lily smiled.

"That's my girl."

───

Across the building, Adrian Blake was in a meeting when Daniel quietly approached him.

"Sir?"

Adrian looked up from the documents in front of him.

"What?"

"There's something you should know."

"About the project?"

"No."

"Then what?"

Daniel hesitated.

"There are rumors."

Adrian's expression changed immediately.

"What kind of rumors?"

"About Mia."

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"What about her?"

"Someone saw her leaving your office last night."

Adrian stared at him.

"And?"

"They're talking."

Adrian leaned back.

"What exactly are they saying?"

Daniel chose his words carefully.

"They're implying that she gets special treatment."

Silence.

Adrian's expression became colder.

"Does she?"

"No."

"Then what's the problem?"

Daniel shrugged.

"People talk."

"Not in my company."

Daniel knew that tone.

It was the tone Adrian used when he had already made a decision.

"Sir—"

"Cancel my next meeting."

Daniel blinked.

"You have a meeting with the board."

"Move it."

"To when?"

"I don't care."

Daniel nodded.

"Understood."

Within minutes, Adrian called a company-wide meeting.

Employees entered the main conference room, whispering among themselves.

Mia was confused.

She had no idea why the CEO had suddenly called everyone together.

Lily leaned toward her.

"Do you know what's happening?"

"No."

Mia looked toward the front of the room.

Adrian walked in.

The room immediately became silent.

He stood at the front.

He didn't need a microphone.

He didn't need to raise his voice.

"I've been informed that personal rumors concerning employees are being discussed within this company."

Nobody moved.

Adrian continued.

"Let me make something very clear."

His eyes moved across the room.

"Blake International is a workplace."

His voice was calm.

"Not a place for gossip."

Mia stared at him.

"If someone has a professional concern, they can bring it to management."

He paused.

"But personal rumors about employees are unacceptable."

Someone shifted nervously in their seat.

"Anyone found deliberately spreading false or inappropriate rumors will face disciplinary action."

The room became completely silent.

Adrian looked around one final time.

"Is that understood?"

A quiet chorus of yeses filled the room.

"Good."

He turned and walked out.

Mia remained seated.

She didn't know what to think.

Lily looked at her.

"He did that because of you."

Mia shook her head.

"Maybe not."

"Mia."

"What?"

"Come on."

Mia sighed.

"Okay. Maybe."

After the meeting, Mia waited outside Adrian's office.

She knocked.

"Come in."

She opened the door.

Adrian was standing beside his desk.

She closed the door behind her.

"You didn't have to do that."

"Yes, I did."

Mia crossed her arms.

"Why?"

"Because it was inappropriate."

"I could have handled it."

"I know."

She looked at him.

"Then why did you interfere?"

Adrian was quiet for a moment.

"Because you shouldn't have to."

Mia didn't answer.

He continued.

"You came here to work."

"Yes."

"You're good at what you do."

"Thank you."

"And you're not responsible for what other people say."

Mia smiled.

"That's probably the nicest thing you've ever said."

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"Probably?"

She nodded.

"Definitely."

"I'll try not to let it happen again."

"Don't worry."

"I wasn't."

He looked at her.

Mia smiled.

"Okay, maybe a little."

For a second, they simply looked at each other.

Then Adrian asked:

"Did the rumors bother you?"

Mia thought about it.

"Yes."

She decided to be honest.

"Not because I care what people think about me."

"Then why?"

"Because I don't want my work to be questioned because of something completely untrue."

Adrian nodded.

"I understand."

Mia looked at him.

"Do you really?"

"Yes."

There was something different in his voice.

Something softer.

"You've worked hard to get here," he said.

Mia nodded.

"I have."

"You deserve to be judged by your work."

She smiled.

"Thank you."

Adrian nodded.

"That's all."

Mia turned toward the door.

Before leaving, she stopped.

"Adrian?"

He looked up.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For believing me."

He looked at her for a moment.

"I didn't need to believe you."

Mia frowned.

"What?"

"I knew you."

She stared at him.

That answer caught her completely off guard.

Before she could respond, Adrian returned his attention to the documents on his desk.

"Go back to work."

Mia smiled.

"Bossy."

"I've been told."

She laughed and left.

Outside the office, she found Daniel standing nearby.

He looked at her.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

Mia smiled.

"Nothing important."

Daniel raised an eyebrow.

"That smile says otherwise."

Mia ignored him and walked away.

───

The rest of the day was surprisingly peaceful.

People stopped whispering.

The rumor slowly disappeared.

By the end of the week, most employees had forgotten about it.

But Mia hadn't forgotten what Adrian had said.

I knew you.

Those three words stayed in her mind longer than they should have.

She wondered what he meant.

Did he really know her?

Or was he simply saying that because he trusted her work?

She tried to convince herself it was the second.

It had to be.

She was his employee.

He was her boss.

There was no reason for anything else.

And yet, something about the way he had looked at her made her think there was more behind those words.

Mia pushed the thought away.

She had work to do.

───

That evening, Adrian sat alone in his office.

Daniel entered with a stack of documents.

"These need your signature."

Adrian took them.

Daniel didn't leave immediately.

"What?"

Daniel smiled.

"Nothing."

"You're standing there."

"I was just thinking."

"That's dangerous."

Daniel laughed.

"You defended Mia."

Adrian continued signing.

"She didn't need defending."

"You called a company-wide meeting."

"Because the rumors were inappropriate."

"Right."

Adrian looked up.

"Is there a point?"

Daniel smiled.

"No."

"Then go."

Daniel turned toward the door.

Then he stopped.

"For what it's worth, sir..."

Adrian waited.

"She trusts you."

Adrian's expression changed slightly.

"Good."

Daniel nodded.

"And you trust her."

Adrian didn't answer.

Daniel smiled.

"Goodnight."

He left.

Adrian looked toward the window.

He thought about Mia.

He remembered the first day she'd walked into his office.

Nervous.

Confident.

Completely unafraid to challenge him.

She had been different from everyone else from the beginning.

And now she was becoming someone he trusted.

Someone whose opinion mattered.

Someone whose presence made the office feel slightly less cold.

Adrian shook his head.

That thought was dangerous.

He returned to his work.

Meanwhile, Mia walked out of the building into the cool evening air.

She looked up at the glass tower.

A few lights were still on near the top.

She already knew who was probably still working.

She smiled to herself.

"Impossible CEO."

Then she walked home.

Neither Mia nor Adrian realized it yet, but the rumor had changed something.

It had shown Mia that Adrian cared about protecting his employees.

And it had shown Adrian that Mia trusted him enough to come directly to him.

Their relationship was becoming something neither of them had expected.

Not friendship.

Not yet.

Just trust.

And sometimes, trust was the beginning of something much bigger than either person realized.