Chapter 5 — After the Fire
650 Words
Adrian made a mistake.
He knew it the moment the door closed behind Luca.
The silence that followed wasn’t peaceful.
It was loud.
Too loud.
He stood in the middle of the room, unmoving, his pulse still unsteady, his thoughts even worse.
That kiss—
It wasn’t supposed to happen.
It wasn’t planned.
It wasn’t controlled.
And that was the problem.
Adrian didn’t lose control.
Not like that.
Not ever.
He dragged a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply as he tried to steady himself.
“It meant nothing,” he muttered.
A lie.
Even he didn’t believe.
Because it didn’t feel like nothing.
It felt like something that had been building—
Waiting—
For the exact moment it could no longer be stopped.
Across the city, Luca wasn’t doing much better.
He leaned against the wall outside Adrian’s building, staring up at the glass tower with a quiet intensity that didn’t match his usual confidence.
His lips still tingled.
His thoughts still circled back to one thing—
Adrian.
The way he’d snapped.
The way he’d pulled him in like he couldn’t hold back anymore.
The way he’d said it was a mistake—
But didn’t let go.
Luca let out a quiet breath, shaking his head slightly.
“Yeah,” he muttered to himself. “That’s not over.”
Not even close.
The next morning came too fast.
Adrian walked into the office like nothing had happened.
Suit perfect.
Expression unreadable.
Presence sharp as ever.
Untouchable.
But inside—
Nothing was the same.
“Good morning, sir.”
He nodded briefly at his assistant, already moving toward his office.
Routine.
Control.
Distance.
That’s what he needed.
But the moment he stepped inside—
He froze.
Luca was there.
Sitting in his chair.
Feet casually crossed.
Like he owned the place.
Adrian shut the door slowly behind him.
Very slowly.
“You’re testing my patience,” he said.
Luca didn’t move.
Didn’t even look slightly concerned.
“I thought we agreed that was a mistake,” he replied calmly.
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Get out of my office.”
Luca finally stood.
Unhurried.
Too calm.
Too comfortable.
“You kissed me,” Luca said.
Simple.
Direct.
Unavoidable.
Adrian’s expression darkened. “And I won’t repeat it.”
Luca stepped closer.
One step.
Then another.
Closing the distance again—
Like he always did.
“That’s not what it felt like,” Luca murmured.
Adrian didn’t step back.
Didn’t move.
Didn’t breathe.
“Feelings don’t matter here,” Adrian replied.
But his voice—
It wasn’t as steady this time.
Luca stopped just inches away.
Close enough to see the shift.
Close enough to notice the crack.
“Then why are you lying?” Luca asked quietly.
That hit.
Hard.
Because Adrian didn’t have an answer.
Not one he was willing to say out loud.
Silence filled the room again.
Thick.
Uncomfortable.
Real.
“You don’t belong in my life,” Adrian said finally.
It sounded rehearsed.
Like something he needed to believe.
Luca studied him for a moment.
Then nodded once.
“Okay.”
Adrian blinked.
That wasn’t the reaction he expected.
“Okay?” he repeated.
Luca shrugged slightly.
“Yeah. If that’s what you want.”
Something twisted in Adrian’s chest.
Sharp.
Unwelcome.
Luca stepped back this time.
Breaking the distance.
Breaking the tension.
Breaking—
Something else.
“Don’t worry,” he added, heading for the door. “I won’t make it complicated.”
The door opened.
Then paused.
“But just so we’re clear…”
Luca glanced back.
And this time—
There was no smirk.
No teasing.
Just something real.
“That didn’t feel like a mistake to me.”
And then—
He left.
Silence.
Again.
Adrian stood there, staring at the door long after it closed.
Something felt… wrong.
Off.
Because for the first time—
Luca had walked away first.
- Writer
