Falling for My boss

chapter three

The Paramount Financial Group’s mid-year party was one of the company's most anticipated corporate event of the season. Every year, the company’s regional branches took turns hosting the celebration, and this time, it was their turn. A lavish beachside venue had already been secured, promising a night of fine dining, music, and networking under the stars.

For the past week, the office had been buzzing with excitement. Emails about the event flooded inboxes—reminders about the dress code, updates on the menu, and hints about the surprise entertainment planned for the night. Some employees were focused on last-minute projects before the party, while others were already discussing their outfit choices and who they hoped to impress.

Aria sat at her desk, pretending to review reports, but in reality, she was lost in thought. What should she wear? The dress code was “elegant beach chic,” whatever that meant. She wanted to look stunning—but not too stunning. Confident, but not like she was trying too hard. And most of all, she wanted to catch his attention.

Mr. Adrian Sinclair.

It wasn’t as if she was dressing up for him… right? But after weeks of working under his intense gaze, she couldn’t ignore the way her stomach flipped every time he addressed her directly. He was professional, sharp, and intimidatingly handsome. And though he rarely gave anything away, there were moments—brief but unmistakable—when she swore his eyes lingered on her a second too long.

“You’re thinking about the party, aren’t you?” a voice interrupted.

Aria blinked and turned to see her colleague, Jenna, leaning against her desk with a knowing smirk.

“No,” Aria lied, quickly flipping a page in the report.

Jenna scoffed. “Please. You’ve been staring at your screen for the past ten minutes without moving the mouse. If you’re trying to act busy, at least pretend to scroll.”

Aria sighed. “Fine, maybe I was thinking about the party.”

Jenna grinned. “And what specifically about the party? The drinks? The music? Or maybe a certain CEO?”

Aria shot her a glare. “You need to stop reading romance novels.”

“Never,” Jenna said with a wink. “But seriously, what are you wearing? Because if you’re trying to make a certain someone notice you, I highly recommend the red dress you wore last Christmas. It was chef’s kiss perfection.”

Aria groaned. “This isn’t about making him notice me. It’s just… I don’t want to look out of place.”

Jenna raised an eyebrow. “Right. Sure. Well, if you need help picking out something, I volunteer as tribute. We can go shopping after work.”

Aria hesitated, but the idea of having a second opinion was tempting. “Okay, fine. But no over-the-top dresses.”

Jenna smirked. “No promises.”

As Aria turned back to her screen, she noticed an email notification pop up. It was from Adrian Sinclair himself.

Subject: Mid-Year Party Final Logistics

Aria,

Please ensure the final guest list is confirmed and that all VIP accommodations are in order. We’ll discuss the final details tomorrow morning.

– A. Sinclair

Short, direct, and purely business-related. But still, just seeing his name made her heart race.

Tomorrow morning. That meant she’d be in his office. Alone.

Aria exhaled, closing the email. She needed to get a grip. This was just another work event… right?

But as she mentally sifted through her wardrobe, wondering if anything in her closet was CEO-approved, she knew this night was going to be anything but ordinary.

The next morning, Aria straightened her blazer, took a deep breath, and knocked on Mr. Adrian Sinclair’s office door.

“Come in,” his deep voice called from inside.

She stepped in, holding her tablet tightly against her chest. Adrian was seated behind his sleek black desk, reviewing documents with his usual air of authority. The sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast a glow on his sharp features, making it incredibly difficult for Aria to focus.

“Morning, Mr. Sinclair,” she greeted, keeping her voice professional.

He glanced up, giving her a brief nod. “Morning. Let’s go over the VVIP details.”

Aria cleared her throat and started running through the final confirmations. “The guest list has been finalized. All VIP accommodations have been double-checked, and the event coordinators confirmed the setup is on schedule. The beach security team will be handling access control for the restricted sections, and the private lounge for top executives is ready.”

Adrian leaned back in his chair, nodding in approval. “Good. And the catering?”

“Handled. The chefs confirmed the final menu yesterday.”

“Entertainment?”

“The DJ and live band are scheduled. There will be a fireworks display at the end of the night.”

Adrian tapped his pen against the desk, watching her intently. “You’ve done well, Aria.”

She couldn’t help but feel a small surge of pride at the praise. “Thank you, sir.”

He closed the file in front of him and leaned forward slightly. “Now, onto the most important question.”

Aria blinked. “Sir?”

A small smirk played at the corner of his lips. “Are you ready for the party?”

She hesitated, not expecting the conversation to shift toward her. “Um, yes, I suppose. Everything is set, so—”

“No,” he interrupted, his gaze locked on hers. “I meant you. Have you figured out what you’ll wear?”

Aria’s heartbeat stuttered. Was he… just making conversation? Or was this something else?

“I… haven’t decided yet,” she admitted carefully.

Adrian’s smirk deepened. “Well, whatever you choose, I’m sure you’ll look stunning. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you.”

Her breath caught.

For a second, she just stood there, staring at him. Was that just a polite compliment, or was there something more behind it? His tone was smooth, unreadable, but there was something in the way he said it—something that sent her thoughts spiraling.

“Thank you,” she managed to say, forcing her expression to remain neutral.

Adrian gave a curt nod, as if he hadn’t just shaken her entire thought process with a single sentence. “That will be all, Aria. See you at the party.”

She walked out of his office, her mind racing.

Was he trying to be friendly? Or was that subtle flirting?

One thing was certain—now, she had a mission. She had to look good for the party. Because Adrian Sinclair would be anticipating.

And maybe, just maybe, she was starting to look forward to it too.