CHAPTER THREE Close Quarters
279 Words
Two weeks later, the project hit an unexpected obstacle.
The construction site needed immediate supervision.
For both of them.
Daily.
Unfortunately.
The renovated luxury resort was located three hours outside the city.
Meaning Adrian and Isabella would spend long days together.
Very long days.
The first morning began with an argument.
"That wall stays."
"It absolutely does not."
"It works."
"It looks terrible."
Construction workers watched from a safe distance.
Nobody wanted to stand between Adrian Kane and Isabella Okafor during one of their battles.
Eventually Adrian sighed.
"Fine."
Isabella blinked.
"Fine?"
"Don't look so shocked."
"You agreed with me."
"It was a painful experience."
She laughed before she could stop herself.
The sound surprised them both.
Adrian stared at her.
For a moment neither spoke.
Then he smiled.
And Isabella's heart forgot its rhythm.
That evening heavy rain trapped them at the resort.
Roads flooded.
Travel became impossible.
The manager apologized.
"I'm afraid we only have two executive suites available."
Isabella frowned.
"Two?"
Adrian looked equally annoyed.
"Wonderful."
Hours later they sat on opposite ends of a hotel lounge.
Thunder echoed outside.
Lightning illuminated the room.
The atmosphere felt strangely intimate.
Too intimate.
"Tell me something," Adrian said.
She looked up.
"What?"
"Why interior design?"
The question surprised her.
Nobody ever asked.
Most people only cared about the finished work.
"My mother."
His expression softened.
"How?"
"She loved beautiful spaces."
A small smile appeared.
"When I was little, she'd rearrange furniture every weekend."
Adrian chuckled.
"Every weekend?"
"Every single one."
The conversation flowed naturally after that.
For the first time, they weren't client and designer.
They were simply two people talking.
And neither wanted the night to end.
- Writer
