Chapter Nine
1440 Words
Adrian’s POV
He woke up a few minutes before his alarm rang.
For a few seconds, he stayed still, staring at the ceiling, letting his mind come into focus before his body followed.
Then his alarm rang.
6:00 a.m.
Adrian got up.
No hesitation.
He made his way to the bathroom, already awake.
Adrian never checked his phone before a bath and breakfast.
Even if the world was burning.
“That’s how you control the day,” he always said.
A little over ten minutes later, he stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist and another in his hand.
Water trailed down his back as he dried his hair slowly.
He felt it before he saw her.
A pause.
A pair of eyes, staring intently.
His gaze shifted slightly.
The maid stood near the doorway, frozen longer than necessary.
Watching.
Adrian continued drying his hair.
“You’re either new here,” he said calmly, “or you’re tired of working here, to be standing there that long.”
She startled immediately.
“Uh—uhm, I’m sorry, sir. Your father sent for you.”
“You may leave now.”
She didn’t wait.
Adrian dropped the towel onto a chair and walked toward his closet.
He didn’t dress fully.
Not yet.
Just something light.
He didn’t leave for work until 8:00 a.m.
By the time he got downstairs, the house was already awake.
His father sat at the dining table, as expected.
Adrian pulled out a chair and sat across from him.
“Hey, Dad. You must have an antenna that lets you know exactly when I’m up.”
His father laughed.
“You’re predictable.”
Adrian reached for the coffee already placed in front of him.
Adrian lived alone, but he visited his parents once a month.
Not out of obligation.
Out of habit and structure.
To review the company’s progress.
And to check in on them.
“I just wanted to know how the project was coming along,” his father said.
Adrian took a sip of his coffee.
“I’m meeting with Kline & Avery today,” he said. “To discuss a partnership.”
His father paused.
“Kline & Avery?” he repeated. “I thought the board pushed for Dennis Corporation.”
“They did.”
“And?”
Adrian leaned back slightly in his chair.
“They’re stalling.”
His father watched him for a moment.
“That doesn’t sound like Dennis Corporation.”
“It’s not,” Adrian replied.
A brief pause.
“The daughter?” his father asked.
Adrian didn’t respond immediately.
“She understands the project,” he said after a moment.
“And the rest?”
“They understand perception.”
His father smiled faintly.
“Which one matters more?”
Adrian didn’t hesitate.
“Depends on who you’re asking.”
He paused.
“But not to me.”
His father nodded slowly.
“So you’re moving on.”
“For now.”
The maid returned, placing his breakfast in front of him.
Three sunny side up eggs.
Coffee.
Just the way he took it.
Adrian picked up his fork.
“Kline & Avery?” his father said again. “Are they ready for something like this?”
“They’re capable.”
A pause.
“But they don’t have the numbers.”
“And Dennis Corporation does.”
“Yes.”
His father studied him.
“Then why not wait?”
Adrian cut into the eggs.
“I don’t wait on indecision.”
Silence settled briefly between them.
“And the girl?” his father asked.
Adrian glanced up this time.
“She’s not the problem.”
That was all he said.
His father leaned back slightly.
“Interesting.”
Adrian didn’t respond.
He finished his breakfast without rushing.
By the time he stood, the conversation was over.
“I’ll update you,” he said.
His father nodded.
“I expect you will.”
Back upstairs, Adrian dressed for the day.
This time, his outfit was deliberate.
A dark suit.
Clean cut.
Nothing excessive.
His clothes didn’t speak loudly.
They fit.
Perfectly.
He adjusted his cuff once.
Then his watch.
His dark brown hair fell neatly to the side.
He looked at himself in the mirror.
Everything was in place.
He picked up his phone.
Checked it for the first time that morning.
Messages.
Updates.
Movement.
And then—
one stood out.
She declined your message.
Adrian’s gaze lingered on it for a second.
Then the next line.
“Not today.”
A brief pause.
Not refusal.
Timing.
He locked his phone.
Grabbed his bag.
Picked up his keys.
And walked out.
The day had started.
And this time—
he was paying attention.
By the time Adrian stepped into Kline & Avery’s conference room, everything was already set.
The screens were on.
Documents arranged.
Everyone seated.
Good.
He preferred walking into rooms that were ready.
Their lead strategist stood as he entered.
“Mr. Hale.”
Adrian nodded once and took his seat.
“Let’s begin.”
The presentation started immediately.
No delays.
No unnecessary introductions.
Kline & Avery knew what they were doing.
That was clear within minutes.
Their model was structured.
Well thought out.
They understood the scale of the project.
They understood the risks.
They understood the timeline.
They had done their work.
Adrian sat back slightly, watching as the projections shifted across the screen.
There were no obvious gaps.
No careless assumptions.
But something was missing.
“…and with our current infrastructure partners, we can support an aggressive rollout without compromising delivery timelines,” the strategist concluded.
Adrian didn’t respond immediately.
He looked at the screen once more.
Then back at them.
“You’ve built this quickly,” he said.
The strategist nodded.
“We worked through the night.”
“I can tell.”
No sarcasm.
No criticism.
Just observation.
The room stayed still.
“You understand the project,” Adrian continued.
A brief pause.
“But you don’t have the numbers to sustain it.”
Silence.
Not defensive.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… acknowledged.
The strategist leaned forward slightly.
“We anticipated that concern,” he said. “We’ve outlined partnership structures to strengthen that area.”
Adrian nodded once.
“I saw that.”
Another pause.
“It’s not enough.”
The strategist held his gaze this time.
“With the right backing, it will be.”
Adrian leaned forward slightly.
“You’re asking me to fund stability you don’t currently have.”
A beat.
“That’s not how I work.”
No edge.
No raised tone.
Just clarity.
The room remained steady.
Kline & Avery didn’t fold.
They adjusted.
“Dennis Corporation has the advantage of existing infrastructure,” the strategist said. “We’re offering something different.”
Adrian watched him.
“Speed.”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“Flexibility.”
Another pause.
“And control,” the strategist added.
That made Adrian’s gaze shift slightly.
Control.
Interesting.
“You’re not wrong,” Adrian said.
The strategist held his ground.
“But speed without foundation introduces risk,” Adrian continued.
“And at this level, risk isn’t something you correct later.”
The room understood that.
They didn’t argue it.
Because they couldn’t.
That was where Dennis Corporation still held the advantage.
Not ideas.
Not strategy.
Execution.
Proven, with undeniable results.
Adrian stood.
The meeting was over.
“Thank you for your time,” the strategist said.
Adrian gave a small nod.
Respect.
They had earned that much.
But not the contract.
Not yet.
He walked out without another word.
His assistant joined him immediately.
“Well?” he asked.
“They’re strong,” Adrian said.
A pause.
“But they’re building forward.”
“And Dennis Corporation?”
“They’ve already built.”
The elevator doors closed.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then—
“They’ve reached out again,” his assistant said.
Adrian didn’t ask who.
He already knew.
“The board?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“And her?”
“No response since yesterday.”
Adrian nodded once.
Expected.
He stepped out of the elevator.
“Set up a second review with Kline & Avery,” he said.
His assistant hesitated.
“You’re still considering them?”
Adrian adjusted his cuff slightly.
“I’m considering the project.”
A pause.
“Not their timeline.”
He continued walking.
“And find out where she is.”
“Yes, sir.”
Adrian didn’t slow.
He wasn’t chasing a deal.
He was choosing the right one.
And at this point—
That decision was no longer as straightforward as it should have been.
- Writer
