Power Plays With My Love

Chapter 3 A Little Playful Game

A few seconds later, Rolando's smooth, placating laughter echoed from the office. "What? Come on! It's a complete misunderstanding! I've already called Vivian. She'll be here any minute to explain everything to you personally."

As he spoke, he busied himself making coffee for Adrian.

Adrian leaned back against the sofa, his gaze lazily drifting toward the office door, a trace of amusement playing on his lips.

Two seconds later, standing just outside, Vivian finally summoned the courage to push the door open.

The moment she stepped inside, her eyes met Adrian's piercing blue gaze. His eyes were mesmerizing, a flicker of both curiosity and something more, something teasing.

Vivian's heart raced as she quickly shifted her gaze away from his and turned toward Rolando. Rolando, visibly relieved to see her, immediately gestured toward Adrian and said, "Mr. Spencer, Vivian is here. You can ask her any questions you have."

Despite her short time with the company, Vivian had already made a name for herself as serious, intelligent, and decisive.

Rolando trusted she could handle this situation gracefully.

Vivian, who had heard everything from outside, pretended to be unaware. She looked at Adrian calmly. "What would you like to know?"

To her surprise, the previously aggressive Adrian softened his expression, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Nothing."

Rolando was bewildered. He thought Adrian was here to investigate the integrity of their partnership. Now it seemed like he was just indulging in gossip.

Vivian, too, was perplexed by Adrian's sudden shift. His mood changes were lightning-fast.

But since he didn't press further, they smoothly transitioned to discussing the collaboration between their companies.

Adrian, lounging lazily on the sofa, asked sharp questions, one after another. Despite his casual demeanor, each question was more pointed than the last.

After several rounds, Rolando was visibly sweating, wiping his forehead with a tissue from his desk.

Vivian, who had only seen Adrian's frivolous side, now felt a newfound respect for his professional acumen.

Finally, after several explanations, Adrian seemed to lose patience. "Talk is cheap."

Rolando, catching the subtext, quickly suggested, "How about a site visit then? I'll arrange a car immediately."

Adrian's eyes flicked up. "You're that busy but still have time?"

"Of..."

Rolando paused and then cautiously offered, "Well, if you don't mind, Vivian can accompany you?"

Adrian chuckled. "As you wish."

Rolando felt speechless, while Vivian rolled her eyes inwardly.

As Rolando's wish? Bullshit!

Rolando left to brief his assistant, leaving just Vivian and Adrian in the office. The atmosphere was already a bit awkward.

Just as Vivian was about to break the silence by discussing work, Adrian handed her an opaque file folder.

Thinking it was work-related, Vivian opened it casually. A flash of bright red caught her eye... It was her underwear.

Her face instantly turned red, all pretense of calm evaporating.

Adrian watched her blush with great interest, smiling, "So overjoyed that you're flushing?"

Vivian tried to remain composed as she put the underwear back in the folder and looked Adrian in the eye. "More like... shocked that you kept something I told you to dispose of."

Adrian's striking eyes twinkled with amusement. "I don't dispose of other people's possessions. Besides, this happens to be a rather important keepsake..."

He deliberately emphasized the last three words, and for a moment, Vivian couldn't help but wonder if the man casually discussing work just now was the same one standing before her now, exuding a playful aura.

"Mr. Spencer, everything is ready. You can head over now."

Before Vivian could say something, Rolando burst in energetically. She quickly hid the folder behind her, feeling her heart race.

"Sure." Adrian stood up. "Ms. Mitchell?"

"Sure." Vivian clutched the folder, keeping her head down to hide her flushed face, and followed Adrian out.

Rolando's sharp gaze instantly locked onto the detail, his voice cutting through the moment as he asked, "Vivian, what are you hiding?" He distinctly remembered that she had come in empty-handed.

Vivian paused, feeling Adrian's gaze on her, watching with keen interest as if he had no intention of helping her out of this situation. But to Adrian's surprise, Vivian remained composed. She flashed a professional smile and replied to Rolando, "It's project-related paperwork. Mr. Spencer just handed it to me."

She glanced at Adrian as she spoke. Though the playful smirk Adrian had anticipated never surfaced, his mood wasn't affected in the slightest. With a teasing look in his eyes, he nodded at Rolando. "That's right."

With both of them in agreement, Rolando dropped his suspicion. Vivian followed Adrian out of the office, and only after the door closed behind them did she exhale in relief, clutching the folder tightly in her hand.

Ten minutes later, Vivian got in Adrian's car.

Holding a document from the assistant, Tylor, and the folder from Adrian, she tried to focus on the project updates she was reporting.

Adrian casually loosened his collar, revealing a series of hickeys on his neck.

When Vivian finished speaking, she glanced up and saw the marks. Memories of the previous night flashed through her mind, making her frown slightly.

All these marks were proof of their steamy s*x. How could she stay focused on the documents?!

What was with this normally gentlemanly CEO? He kept reminding her of that night.

Adrian noticed her frown and raised an eyebrow. "Finished?"

Vivian maintained her composure. "Finished."

Adrian looked at her with a mischievous glint. "Are you afraid of me?"

Vivian sat up straight, smiling politely. "Not at all. You're a gentleman, not a jerk." Despite her courteous words, the underlying message was clear.

She did see him as a jerk.

Adrian, not offended, smiled back, his eyes locking onto hers for a few seconds before he leaned in closer.

Vivian instinctively leaned back, so Adrian stopped his approach and lowered his voice. "We're both adults. I won't cling to you just because we slept together once."

Vivian tried to remain calm, but her tense body betrayed her inner turmoil.

Though his words were a denial, the drawn-out, emphasized tone made it sound more like a declaration, as if he were saying, "You slept with me, so I will definitely cling to you."