CHAPTER 3 — THE UNEXPECTED MEETING
1270 Words
Three days passed.
Adrian returned to his normal life.
Or at least, he tried.
His mornings began at six.
By seven, he was in the office.
By eight, he was already dealing with meetings, reports, phone calls, and people who wanted something from him.
His life was organized down to the minute.
Nothing unexpected.
Nothing unnecessary.
Nothing emotional.
That was how he liked it.
Until Elena Carter started appearing in his thoughts at the most inconvenient times.
While he was reading a contract.
While he was eating lunch.
While someone was presenting quarterly figures.
He remembered her laugh.
Her sarcastic comments.
The way she had looked at him when she learned his name.
And especially the way she had said good night.
Adrian found it irritating.
He was not a man who became distracted easily.
His assistant, Marcus Hale, knew this.
Which was why Marcus noticed immediately.
“You haven't turned the page.”
Adrian looked up from the document.
“What?”
Marcus pointed.
“You've been looking at the same page for ten minutes.”
“I was thinking.”
“About the contract?”
“Yes.”
Marcus stared at him.
“No, you weren't.”
Adrian gave him a warning look.
Marcus smiled.
“Who is she?”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“There is no she.”
“Then why did you immediately assume I was talking about a woman?”
Adrian said nothing.
Marcus laughed.
“I knew it.”
“You're becoming annoying.”
“I'm becoming observant.”
“Leave.”
Marcus walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
“You know, for someone who supposedly doesn't care about romance, you look suspiciously distracted.”
Adrian threw a pen at him.
Marcus laughed as he escaped.
The door closed.
Adrian leaned back in his chair.
He stared at his phone.
He had no message from Elena.
He didn't even have her number.
That shouldn't have bothered him.
It did.
He opened the company website.
Then a business directory.
Then a search engine.
He typed:
Elena Carter graphic designer.
He immediately stopped.
“What am I doing?”
He closed the browser.
This was ridiculous.
He had met her once.
Maybe she was simply memorable.
That was all.
He returned to his work.
Ten minutes later, he opened the browser again.
This time, he didn't search.
Instead, he stood.
“I need coffee.”
Across the city, Elena was having an equally strange morning.
She had spent the last three days thinking about Adrian.
Not constantly.
Just enough to annoy herself.
She had wondered who he really was.
What kind of person drove an expensive car but insisted on driving himself.
Why he had stopped for a stranger.
Why he had given her his coat.
She still had it.
It was hanging over the back of a chair in her apartment.
She had considered returning it.
She had also considered keeping it.
Unfortunately, she had done the second.
Elena picked up her phone.
She opened her messages.
There was nothing.
She sighed.
“Why would he message you?”
She put the phone down.
Five minutes later, she picked it up again.
Nothing.
“Ridiculous.”
She grabbed her bag and left.
She had an interview at a design agency downtown.
Maybe this would be the job that finally gave her a chance.
She had been freelancing for months.
Her work was good.
Her ideas were strong.
But she needed stability.
She wanted her own studio someday.
A place where she could create without someone constantly telling her what was commercially safe.
She wanted something of her own.
The interview ended badly.
Not because she had done poorly.
The company simply decided to freeze hiring.
Elena walked out of the building feeling disappointed.
She needed coffee.
She spotted a bookstore across the street.
She entered.
The smell of paper immediately made her feel better.
She wandered through the aisles, eventually selecting three books.
As she walked outside, someone bumped into her.
“I'm sorry!”
Elena bent down.
Another hand reached for the book at the same time.
She looked up.
Her breath caught.
Adrian.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he smiled.
“You.”
She laughed.
“Me.”
He handed her the book.
“I didn't expect to see you again.”
“Neither did I.”
She looked at him.
“You followed me.”
“I didn't.”
“That's exactly what someone who followed me would say.”
“I work nearby.”
She glanced toward the building behind him.
“You work there?”
“Yes.”
“Of course.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you're exactly where I expected you to be.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Where?”
“Some giant corporate building.”
“It's not giant.”
She looked up.
It had more than thirty floors.
“It has thirty-two floors.”
“Thirty-two isn't that many.”
She laughed.
“You're ridiculous.”
“I've been called worse.”
He glanced at the books in her arms.
“What did you buy?”
“Books.”
“I can see that.”
She held one up.
“Romance.”
He looked at the cover.
“You read romance?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because real life is complicated.”
“And books aren't?”
“Books usually give you an ending.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“That's true.”
She looked at him.
“What do you read?”
“Business reports.”
She stared at him.
“That might be the saddest answer I've ever heard.”
He laughed.
“Probably.”
“Do you ever read for fun?”
“Sometimes.”
“What?”
“Biographies.”
“Still boring.”
“You're very judgmental.”
“I'm honest.”
He liked that about her.
She didn't try to impress him.
She didn't even seem impressed by him.
She looked at him like a normal person.
He had forgotten what that felt like.
Then she glanced at her watch.
“I have to go.”
“Where?”
She smiled.
“Why?”
“I was curious.”
“I have another interview.”
“Another?”
“Yes.”
“What kind?”
“Graphic design.”
“Good luck.”
“Thank you.”
She turned.
Adrian felt an unexpected sense of urgency.
“Wait.”
She turned back.
He pulled out his phone.
“Can I have your number?”
Her eyebrows rose.
“Why?”
He could have given her several answers.
Because I want to see you again.
Because I've been thinking about you.
Because I don't want another three days to pass without knowing where you are.
Instead, he said:
“I don't want to rely on coincidence.”
Her expression softened.
She took the phone.
She entered her number.
Then handed it back.
“There.”
Adrian looked at the screen.
Elena Carter.
His heart gave an inexplicable little jump.
“Thank you.”
She smiled.
“Don't make me regret it.”
“I won't.”
She walked away.
Adrian watched her until she disappeared around the corner.
Then his phone vibrated.
He looked down.
Elena: Don't make me regret giving you my number.
He smiled.
Adrian: I won't.
A few seconds later:
Elena: Good.
Adrian put the phone in his pocket.
He had a meeting in five minutes.
He didn't care.
For the first time in years, something outside of work had his attention.
And he wasn't sure he wanted it back.
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