Chapter 17: Not Temporary Anymore
1000 Words
Bonny’s POV
I wanted the floor to open.
Immediately.
Preferably with dignity.
Vanessa stood in the doorway holding her tablet, expression professionally neutral except for the unmistakable sparkle of amusement in her eyes.
Adrian, infuriatingly, looked composed already.
How did men do that?
His tie was crooked, yes.
His mouth slightly swollen, yes.
But otherwise? Controlled.
Meanwhile I was standing there like I had just been emotionally mugged.
“Come back in two minutes,” Adrian said calmly.
Vanessa glanced at me.
Then at him.
Then nodded once.
“Of course.”
She closed the door.
I turned slowly toward him.
“You’re impossible.”
“You’ve mentioned that.”
“She is going to tell herself this story for years.”
“She is discreet.”
“She is delighted.”
“That too.”
I touched my lips unconsciously.
Then realized I was doing it.
Then stopped.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
“That was a mistake,” I said.
“No.”
“It absolutely was.”
“No.”
“You can’t just say no to reality.”
“I can if reality is wrong.”
I stared at him.
“You’re arrogant after kissing people.”
“I’m efficient after kissing people.”
“That sentence made me dislike you again.”
“It didn’t.”
Annoying man.
I crossed my arms.
“What exactly is happening here?”
He straightened a file on his desk that did not need straightening.
“A question asked too late.”
“Adrian.”
His eyes lifted.
There it was again.
That shift in me whenever he gave me full attention.
Dangerous.
“I told you already,” he said quietly. “You are becoming less temporary.”
“That is not a normal romantic statement.”
“I didn’t claim romance.”
My heartbeat stumbled anyway.
“Then what are you claiming?”
A pause.
Then:
“Interest.”
I laughed once.
“Interest? We kissed and I get quarterly terminology?”
“It is significant terminology.”
“You’re emotionally bankrupt.”
“Incorrect. Conservatively managed.”
I hated how funny that was.
A knock sounded.
Vanessa re-entered without waiting.
“Time.”
Her eyes took in the room again.
Still amused.
“Legal has secured injunctions on two outlets. One offshore site is resisting.”
Adrian shifted instantly back into business mode.
“Pressure advertisers.”
“Already underway.”
She handed him the tablet.
Then looked at me.
“Congratulations.”
I blinked.
“On what?”
She gave the faintest smile.
“Influence.”
Then left again.
I turned to Adrian.
“Did she just compliment me or threaten me?”
“Yes.”
---
The rest of the afternoon blurred.
Calls.
Meetings.
Emails.
Damage control.
I remained in Adrian’s office mostly because neither of us acknowledged what had happened enough for me to know where else to stand.
Every now and then our eyes met.
Every time it felt newly dangerous.
At one point he handed me a document.
“Read clause seven.”
I took it.
“You’re giving me work after kissing me?”
“Yes.”
“That feels manipulative.”
“It is scheduling.”
I read the page.
“You inserted reputation protections into this vendor agreement.”
“I insert protections everywhere.”
“That sounds exhausting.”
“It’s profitable.”
Later, he took a call from his grandfather.
For the first time, I heard warmth in his voice.
“Yes, I’ll visit tomorrow.”
Pause.
“No, she’s here.”
Pause.
His gaze flicked to me.
Then softened almost invisibly.
“She can come too.”
My pulse misbehaved again.
He ended the call.
“Your grandfather?”
“Yes.”
“How is he?”
“Recovering.”
“Good.”
“He asked if we’re fighting.”
I looked away.
“What did you say?”
“That the answer changes hourly.”
I laughed before I could stop myself.
He watched me with that unreadable near-smile.
There was something different now.
Less guarded.
Or maybe I was simply seeing more.
---
That evening we returned to the penthouse later than usual.
The city glowed outside the windows.
Mara had left dinner warming in the kitchen and vanished tactfully.
I hovered near the counter.
Unsure.
He loosened his cuffs.
Also unsure, though he hid it better.
I decided to be brave or reckless.
Possibly both.
“So,” I said.
“So,” he replied.
“Do we discuss the kiss?”
“We can.”
“Do we pretend it didn’t happen?”
“No.”
“That seems wise.”
“It would be inaccurate.”
“Your favorite sin.”
He moved closer, slowly this time.
Giving me room to retreat.
I noticed that.
“You keep talking about accuracy,” I said softly. “So be accurate now.”
His gaze held mine.
“I wanted to kiss you for days.”
My breath caught.
“Days?”
“Yes.”
“You hid it badly.”
“I hid it excellently.”
I smiled despite myself.
“And now?”
“Now I want to do it again.”
My pulse leapt.
“Adrian…”
“Yes?”
“You are still terrible at romance.”
“I’m improving through repetition.”
I laughed.
Then he touched my waist lightly.
Questioning.
Not assuming.
The difference mattered.
I stepped closer.
Answer enough.
This kiss was slower.
Warmer.
Less collision, more choice.
When we separated, I rested my forehead briefly against his chest before realizing what I was doing.
Then froze.
He placed one hand gently at the back of my head.
No teasing.
No comment.
Just steadiness.
I stayed.
For one dangerous, peaceful minute.
Then his phone rang.
We both groaned.
He checked the screen and his expression cooled.
“Who is it?” I asked.
He looked at me.
“Seth.”
Of course it's him.
- Writer
