บท 17: A Twist in the Evening
Startled, Hailey spun around but found no one. "I was sure I heard something," she thought, shaking her head while taking another sip. The mysterious sound echoed again, causing Hailey to scan her surroundings, her eyes narrowing. 'Maybe I just imagined it?' she pondered, lifting her glass once more. However, before she could finish her last sip, the noise persisted, sending a sudden chill down Hailey's spine, as if an unseen presence was observing her. Nervously, she gulped and set her drink on the railing, desperately trying to identify the source of the clicking sound.
Suddenly, an arm enveloped her shoulders, stealing her breath away. Frozen, she recognized the sensation of strong yet slender fingers gently pressing down on her shoulder blades, pulling her back against a firm chest with a chin resting atop her head. A tingling sensation danced across her skin from the unexpected contact. Her breath caught, and her mind went blank. Slowly, she looked up, locking eyes with a smiling Adrian.
"What are you doing here?" she breathed, struggling against his grip and mumbling, "Let go of me," but Adrian's strength prevailed.
"Shush, I'm not going to harm you. Let's enjoy this quiet moment together," he whispered seductively. His tone softened, his grip on Hailey's shoulders loosened, yet he didn't allow her to move an inch. Hailey's face flushed with heat, and blood rushed to her ears.
"Let go of me," she repeated, attempting to break free.
"No can do," Adrian replied with a broad grin, maintaining his playful demeanor.
Feeling cornered, Hailey swiftly employed her elbow to deliver a firm blow to his ribcage, successfully causing him to loosen his grip, and she managed to free herself.
Adrian, although gasping from the impact, couldn't suppress his smile as he straightened himself, still grinning widely. "That didn't hurt, you know," he remarked, his amusement evident. Hailey, nursing a throbbing pain in her elbow, shot him a glare. "What are you made of?"
Adrian merely chuckled slightly in response, maintaining an air of mystery.
Curiosity overcoming the discomfort, Hailey then inquired, "Why are you here? How did you find me?" Her gaze focused on him, seeking an explanation for his unexpected presence.
Adrian briefly averted his gaze before locking eyes with her again. In a nonchalant tone, he casually mentioned, "I asked your secretary."
Shrugging, he continued, "As for why I am here, I'm just fulfilling my duty as your boyfriend. I might be a fake boyfriend, but a boyfriend is still a boyfriend, and as far as I know, a boyfriend never lets his girlfriend go anywhere or stay anywhere alone."
Hailey returned her attention to him, finding his hand patiently awaiting hers.
'I was planning on staying alone today, but to be honest, I don't like being alone,' she thought. Her internal struggle manifested as a brief hesitation, unsure of what to say.
After a moment, she made a decision and voiced it, "I don't want to hold hands, but we can walk side by side."
Adrian acknowledged with a nod, gracefully retracting his hand.
"Okay, let's go," he stated, and they commenced their walk side by side, the only audible sound being the rhythmic cadence of their footsteps. As they approached the riverbank, a gentle breeze swept past, tenderly caressing Hailey's face. She couldn't help but smile, relishing the cool sensation against her skin. During this serene moment, Adrian gazed at her for a while before expressing, "You look pretty."
Hailey, in response, locked eyes with Adrian, scoffing, "I know, I'm always pretty. And for your information, you look like a creep. Now, stop looking at me like I have two heads."
Adrian came to a sudden halt, seizing her hand and deftly twirling her to face him. She stared in astonishment into his deep, black orbs, and a sweet smile adorned Adrian's face.
"What? I'm just trying to compliment you," he said, his thumb poised to stroke her cheek, prompting her to move her head away.
Hailey, shaking her head, muttered, "Don't forget the terms in our contract." She then skillfully stepped away from his grasp, redirecting her attention toward the flowing river. "Let's stop walking; I'll go home by myself."
"Let me take you home," Adrian replied promptly, his tone filled with genuine concern.
Hailey sighed in response, stating, "No."
Adrian gazed at her for a moment, understanding evident in his nod before he spoke, "Okay, I will escort you."
Hailey responded with a soft smile, expressing her gratitude, "Thanks, Adrian."
As they walked side by side, a comforting atmosphere enveloped them. Hailey found herself stealing glances at Adrian, as she thought, ' I can't ignore the fact that he is really handsome. '
After a while, they reached the bustling sidewalk. Adrian took the initiative to hail a cab for her, and she gracefully stepped inside, closing the door behind her as the cab whisked away into the distance.
During the journey, Hailey's mind delved into contemplation. She pondered the intricacies of her relationship with Adrian, unable to shake the nagging thought that he had been acting peculiar lately. Silently, she wondered, 'What's wrong with him, anyway? He's being too serious about his fake boyfriend role.'
After some time, the cab came to a halt in front of her penthouse apartment complex. Hailey settled the fare, gracefully exited the cab, and stood before the imposing building.
Once the cab had disappeared into the streets , Hailey strolled through the entrance, making her way to her luxurious penthouse. The moment she stepped inside, the lights flickered to life, illuminating the stylishly decorated space. She walked into the inviting living room.
There was a huge black blanket on the couch. Undeterred by its presence, Hailey eased herself onto the comfortable surface of her couch.
However, her plans for relaxation took an unexpected turn as a distinctly human-like scream reverberated from the depths of the couch. Startled, Hailey turned her attention toward the source of the unexpected noise, and her jaw dropped in astonishment as her eyes landed on a figure nestled within the folds of the blanket.
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