EPISODE 2 â MR ARROGANT
âWhat are you doing?!â
Maya tried pulling away immediately, but Adrian's fingers wrapped firmly around her wrist.
Not painfully.
Just enough to stop her.
The expensive white shirt she had accidentally stained was now ruined beyond repair.
Around them, the music continued playing inside the luxurious hall while people whispered and stared.
She's dead one whispered..
Maya felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
âLet go of me,â she snapped.
Adrian looked down at the stain.
âYou ruined my shirt.â
âThat wasn't intentional!â
His dark eyes lifted to hers.
Cold.
Unreadable.
Intimidating.
âYou're loud.âhe smirked
Maya blinked.
âWhat?â
âYou're loud.â
âExcuse me?â
âAnd stubborn.â
Maya stared at him.
Who even talks like that?
This man was unbelievable.
Most men would either yell or flirt.
But this one looked like he was conducting a business meeting.
She crossed her arms.
âWell, sorry for existing.â
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
âYou're dramatic too.â
âOh my God.â
For the first time, something that looked almost like amusement flashed across his face.
Maya wasn't sure whether she wanted to punch him or walk away.
Maybe both.
âYou know what?â she said. âI already apologized.â
âDid you?â
âYes.â
âYou sounded angry.â
âBecause you're annoying.â
The corner of Adrian's lips twitched.
âInteresting.â
Maya frowned.
âWhat is?â
âYou're the first woman tonight who hasn't tried to impress me.â
She rolled her eyes.
âTrust me. Impressing you isn't on my to-do list.â
His gaze remained fixed on her.
Steady.
Intense.
As if he were studying her.
The attention made her nervous.
She hated that.
Maya had never been the type to feel intimidated by anyone.
Yet standing this close to Adrian King made her heart beat strangely.
âWhy are you looking at me like that?â
âLike what?â
âLike you're analyzing me.â
âMaybe I am.â
She groaned.
âDo you always talk in riddles?â
âDo you always complain this much?â
âOnly when people deserve it.â
Again.
That tiny hint of amusement.
Maya hated how attractive it made him look.
Without warning, Adrian slowly removed his mask.
The world seemed to stop.
Maya's breath caught.
Every woman at the party had been curious about the mysterious billionaire hiding behind a mask all evening.
Now she understood why.
He was breathtaking.
Sharp jawline.
Perfect features.
Dark eyes that looked dangerous.
The type of man that could break hearts without trying.
The type of man mothers warned their daughters about.
The type of man who knew exactly how attractive he was.
âWhy are you staring?â
Maya immediately looked away.
âI wasn't staring.â
âYou were.â
âNo.â
âYou still are.â
Heat rushed to her face.
God.
He was impossible.
âYou have a very high opinion of yourself.â
âI've been told.â
âBy yourself?â
For a moment there was silence.
Thenâ
A low laugh escaped him.
Maya froze.
That sound did strange things to her stomach.
Because unlike his cold expression, his laugh felt warm.
Dangerously warm.
âDid I just make Mr. Arrogant laugh?â
His eyes narrowed.
âMr. Arrogant?â
âIt suits you.â
âYou think so?â
âYes.â
âThen what should I call you?â
Maya frowned.
âWhat?â
âMiss Trouble.â
She nearly choked.
âThat's ridiculous.â
âYou ruined my shirt.â
âYou grabbed my wrist.â
âYou argued with me.â
âYou started it!â
His laugh returned.
This time longer.
And somehow worse for her heart.
Around them, guests continued dancing.
The party remained lively.
Yet Maya felt as though she and Adrian existed inside their own separate world.
A strange bubble neither of them could escape.
She hated it.
Or maybe she liked it.
Which was even worse.
âSo,â Adrian said.
âSo?â
âWhy are you here?â
âMy friend dragged me.â
âDidn't want to come?â
âNot really.â
âWhy?â
Maya shrugged.
âEvents like this aren't my thing.â
âToo many rich people?â
âToo many fake people.â
Something flickered in his eyes.
Understanding.
âFair point.â
Maya looked at him carefully.
âWhat about you?â
âWhat about me?â
âWhy are you here?â
A shadow crossed his face.
âBusiness.â
âThat's a boring answer.â
âIt's the truth.â
âYou always this serious?â
âYes.â
âI can tell.â
Another brief silence followed.
Neither moved.
Neither looked away.
And neither understood why.
Then suddenlyâ
A loud clap of thunder echoed outside.
The windows rattled.
Several guests jumped.
A storm had arrived.
The rain began pouring heavily against the glass.
Maya glanced toward the windows.
âLooks like we're stuck here.â
âSeems so.â
Lightning flashed across the sky.
For a brief second, the entire room glowed white.
Thenâ
Everything went dark.
The lights went out.
Several people gasped.
Someone screamed.
Music stopped.
The entire hall fell into darkness.
Maya's heart jumped.
âI hate this,â she muttered.
âScared?â
âNo.âi-i-im not she stammered
âLiar.â
His voice came from somewhere close.
Too close.
Maya swallowed.
The darkness made everything feel different.
More intimate.
More dangerous.
Another flash of lightning illuminated the room.
Just for a second.
Long enough for her to see Adrian standing inches away.
Then darkness returned.
Her pulse quickened.
âThis is ridiculous,â she whispered.
âWhy?â
âBecause I can't see anything.â
âYou can see me.â
âNo, I can't.â
âYou know where I am.â
Unfortunately, he was right.
She could feel his presence.
Strong.
Steady.
Overwhelming.
Then she felt it.
His hand.
Resting lightly against her waist.
Her breath caught instantly.
Every nerve in her body suddenly became aware of him.
The room felt smaller.
The air felt warmer.
âMaya.â
The way he said her name sent chills down her spine.
âHow do you know my name?â
âYou told your friend earlier.â
âYou remembered?â
âYes.â
âWhy?â
A pause.
Thenâ
âBecause you're interesting.â
Her heart skipped.
One beat.
Two beats.
Three.
Neither moved.
Neither spoke.
Thunder echoed outside once more.
And in that moment, everything felt suspended.
Like time itself had stopped.
Maya looked up.
Even in the darkness, she could feel his eyes on her.
Waiting.
Watching.
The tension between them became impossible to ignore.
Her pulse raced.
His hand remained at her waist.
Neither stepping closer.
Neither stepping away.
Until finallyâ
Adrian leaned forward.
And Maya forgot how to breathe.
TO BE CONTINUEDđ„...