Chapter 19: Excuses and confrontations
572 Words
The garage smelled like oil, sweat, and chaos. Normally, he would have loved it. Normally, he would have enjoyed watching her work while he judged.
Today, he wanted nothing to do with it.
He ran a hand through his hair, staring at the ceiling of his office instead of thinking about her. She was… infuriating. Smart, capable, relentless. And he had no idea how to deal with it.
Which meant he was going to avoid her. Completely.
Perfect excuse: a new car. Not just any car. A prototype he had been wanting for weeks. “Delivery today,” he told his assistant, voice clipped and professional.
“Should I inform the garage?” she asked.
“No,” he replied. “This is not a garage day.”
He spent the afternoon at the dealership, pretending he was busy with high-level decisions and testing horsepower while his thoughts wandered back to her. How easily she had handled his interference at the office. How calmly she had stood her ground
He clenched his fists.
Do not let her see you caring, he told himself.
Five pm came and went. Then six. Then six thirty. No Adrian.
She muttered under her breath. “Great. Peace.”
By seven, the peace was unbearable. She wiped grease off her hands for the fifth time, organized tools she did not need to organize, and stared at the entrance like it might give her answers.
“Where is he,” she muttered.
The mechanic nudged her. “Maybe he has business.”
“Yes. Business,” she repeated, voice dripping sarcasm. “The kind that keeps him out of my life. Lucky me.”
At eight, she saw a flash of something glossy outside. A car. Not his usual BMW. Sleek. New. Shiny. Head-turning in every sense.
Her stomach tightened.
By eight fifteen, she had an explanation forming in her head: he had bought a new car. He had made an excuse. He was avoiding her.
She could feel it in her bones.
She stormed out of the garage before anyone could stop her, heels clicking, hands trembling. She found him at the dealership, leaning casually against the new car, the perfect picture of arrogance.
“Enjoying your toy,” she snapped the second he saw her.
Adrian froze. Then smirked. “You came here. Impressive. And dangerous.”
“You avoided the garage. Avoided me,” she said. “What is wrong with you?”
“Nothing,” he replied smoothly. “I just… needed to inspect the car properly. Quality control. Very important.”
“Elaborate,” she demanded.
He shrugged, leaning against the hood. “Sometimes I avoid things I know will challenge me.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “You mean me.”
He stared at her, perfectly still. “Perhaps.”
She crossed her arms. “Do not think this excuses you.”
He smirked. “I never do.”
Elara groaned, exasperated. “Why am I not surprised.”
“You’re predictable,” he said softly. Not a compliment. Not a flirt. Just… acknowledgment.
She stared at him, furious and relieved at the same time. “You are insufferable.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “But you like it.”
Elara’s jaw tightened. “Do not push your luck, Carter.”
And she stormed off, leaving him leaning against the car, smirking like the world was exactly as it should be.
- Writer
