The Argument
Celeste sat at her desk, tapping her fingers against the surface. She had finished all her tasks early, yet she couldn't leave.
Not because she wanted to stay, but because Adrian was still here, and she was his secretary.
She sighed.
For a moment, she considered sneaking out, but that would only cause unnecessary trouble.
Instead, she pulled out her laptop and opened a new tab.
It was time to look for a new place.
She initially thought of renting, but after calculating her finances, she figured it was better to buy a modest apartment if she could afford one.
She scrolled through real estate listings, sorting by price.
Most of them were way beyond her budget, while the cheaper ones were either too small or located in places she wouldn't even consider.
Her lips pressed together in frustration.
Then, a thought crossed her mind.
Ethan.
His family business dealt in real estate and rentals. He could probably help her find a good deal.
She hesitated for a moment.
Should she ask Adrian for Ethan's number?
They weren't particularly close, and she could always try searching for it elsewhere, but it would be faster this way.
Resolving herself, she stood up and walked toward Adrian's desk.
When she entered, Adrian barely glanced up from his paperwork. "What?"
"I need to borrow your phone."
That got his attention. His hand, which had been flipping through a file, paused. His eyes flickered with something unreadable before he leaned back in his chair.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Checking again if I have a mistress?"
Celeste raised a brow. "That's the last thing on my mind."
His gaze sharpened slightly, but he handed her the phone.
She took it without another word and started scrolling through his contacts, searching for Ethan's number.
Just then, a message notification popped up on the screen.
Celeste saw the message and, without hesitation, spoke. "Emily just messaged you. Do you want to reply now, or can you wait a minute?"
Adrian's grip on the desk tightened.
She was completely unbothered.
No shift in her expression, no subtle reaction.
Nothing.
His irritation spiked.
Then, he saw the contact she was searching for—Ethan.
His expression darkened instantly.
Memories of last night flashed through his mind—the way Ethan had taken Celeste's hand, pulling her away from the teasing. How he had looked at her.
And now, she was looking for Ethan's number?
Something inside him snapped.
"Why do you need Ethan's number?" His voice was low, edged with something sharp.
Celeste didn't look up. "I need his help for something."
His jaw locked. "For what?"
"Something personal."
Adrian clenched his teeth. He snatched the phone out of her hands. "Ask me instead. I can help you."
Celeste frowned. "I don't need your help."
His grip on the phone tightened. "You'd rather ask Ethan?"
She crossed her arms. "Why does it concerns you?"
The air between them thickened, a silent standoff crackling with tension.
She reached for the phone again, but Adrian held it out of her reach.
"This conversation is over," he said coldly.
Celeste exhaled sharply, staring at him in silent challenge.
Then, without another word, she turned and walked back to her desk, her heels clicking against the polished floor.
Adrian sat there, jaw clenched, watching her retreat with a scowl.