Until It Was Her

Too Comfortable

By time Adrian finally left Vale Inc., it was close to midnight. The entire day had been exhausting. Meetings, investors, phone calls, endless paper work and somewhere between all of it… Elena kept appearing in his thoughts. Which irritated him deeply especially after his conversation with Damian earlier.

Vanessa had once occupied every quiet space in his mind. Adrian had spent years convincing himself no woman would ever affect him the same way again.

“Yet now?” He couldn't stop thinking about his wife.

About the way she smiled at employees. The way she teased him casually. The way she looked at him without caring about his status. Adrian gripped the steering tighter. No… this was exactly why he needed distance. He was getting to comfortable around her, too attached to quickly. That never ended well.

By the time he entered the mansion, he already decided. He would keep things respectful, controlled and distant. Simple. Then he walked into the sitting room and immediately forgot every single plan. The lights were still on and there she was.

Elena sat curled up on the couch surrounded by papers and notebooks, reading something carefully while absentmindedly tucking loose strands of dark hair behind her ear. She looked up the second she heard him and smiled. Soft, warm. Like she'd been waiting for him.

A smile instantly appeared on Adrian’s face before he caught himself and forced it away. Dangerous… very dangerous. “You’re home,” Elena said quietly. Adrian loosened his tie slightly. “It's late. Why are you still still away?”

“I had work too.” She gestured toward the papers beside her. “Inventory problems.”

Then she tilted her head slightly. “Have you eaten?” Adrian blinked once. “No.”

“I haven’t either.” She stood slowly. “We can eat together if you want.” And just like that… his carefully planned emotional distance started collapsing immediately.Because how exactly was he supposed to stay detached when she was trying? Trying with him.

His gaze lifted lifted fully toward her for the first time… and instantly became a problem. Jesus christ. Elena was wearing tiny shorts that left very little to imagination, showing off long smooth legs that nearly ruined what remained of his self-control and something got worse.

Because the oversized sweater hanging off one shoulder looked strangely familiar. Adrian narrowed his eyes slightly. “That’s my sweater.” Elena looked down casuall. “Oh.”

“That’s all you have to say?” She smiled faintly now. “It's comfortable.”

Adrian stayed at her legs again before forcing himself to look up immediately. Thank God the male staff stayed mostly outside in separate quarters because if another man saw her walking around the house dressed like this… violence might actually occur.

“You own enough clothes already,” Adrian muttered. “I know.”

“Then why are you wearing mine?” Elena looked entirely too innocent as she answere.

“Because it's bigger. And I think this one probably doesn't fit you anymore anyway.” Adrian became speechless for a second.

Mostly because she sounded so comfortable saying it. Like borrowing his clothes was normal now. Like she belonged here with him. And somehow that realization affected him. “You’re getting very comfortable in this house,” he observed quietly. Elena looked at him for a moment before answering softly. “It's my house now isn't it?” God… That sentence hit him harder than expected.

Dinner felt strangely intimate despite the simplicity of it. Just the two of them sitting across from each other in the quiet kitchen long after midnight while the rest of the mansion slept. Domestic, peaceful and dangerous for Adrian's heart.

Elena rested her chin lightly against her hand while eating before speaking again. “My mother called today.” Adrian looked up from his plate. “That sound serious.”,

“She invited us to dinner tomorrow.”

Us… That word again.

“My brothers will be there too,” Elena added. “She insisted.” Adrian exhaled quietly.

More family dinners, more obligations and honestly, work already overwhelmed him.

“I'll try,” he said finally. “But tomorrow's schedule is packed.” The disappointment on Elena's face appeared small. Brief but noticeable.

Still she smiled anyway and nodded softly. “Okay.” No arguments, no pressure. That somehow made him feel worse. Adrian watched her quietly afterwards as she continued eating like she hadn’t cared much at all.

But he noticed the difference, her smile became smaller. Her voice softer and unexpectedly… he hated being the reason for it .