Adrienne woke up early, feeling a sense of anticipation for the day ahead. As she sipped her coffee, two of her friends, Cathy and Indi, entered the cafeteria. The atmosphere was casual, as they enjoyed these moments before the official start of the workday. It was an ordinary scene, a glimpse into the rhythm of their office lives.The walls of the coffee shop, painted in warm tones of chocolate and caramel, created a cozy ambiance. Adrienne couldn't help but smile when she noticed Lax, the manager of Coffee Corner, behind the counter. Lax was someone she found attractive, and Cathy, being a frequent visitor, often engaged in a playful flirtation with him."Oh, Adrienne, we ran out of coffee beans? We just received a fresh batch from Baguio. Are you here to restock?" Lax asked, his voice friendly and welcoming."Yes, in case my boss asks for coffee. I wouldn't want to disappoint him. You know how he dislikes instant coffee," Adrienne replied with a smile.Lax smiled back, appreciating
Although Adrienne wanted to go to work, the doctor stopped her. She also realized that she would just be a burden to Pedro. As much as she wanted to be useful to him, she couldn't contribute anything in her current condition.Although, her condition had slightly improved, her fever hadn't gone down. She still felt body aches and dizziness, which caused her to fall asleep."Wake up, girl. No one will kiss you to wake you up. Are you a princess? I won't kiss you either because we're not losers!" said the familiar voice.It was just Cathy.She half-sat to support her back. She wasn't as dizzy anymore. She still felt a bit unwell, but it was more manageable."What time is it, Cathy? Where are the couple?" she asked her friend.Cathy sighed. "Girl, it's already time to go home. Just a few steps more and you'll be doing overtime at the doctor's clinic. Let's go home. And Miko and his annoying wife are no longer here. They were excited to go home because, you know, they're going to have thei
-Pedro's POV-If Adrienne were anyone else, Pedro would have been infuriated. He had no tolerance for employees who frequently fell ill or caused delays in their work. Sickness was not to be brought into the office, and he despised employees who appeared paralyzed by their ailments.However, Adrienne was an exception. She had been his dedicated secretary for a significant period of time, rarely taking a day off. In fact, she had only been absent from work a couple of times in the past ten years. As a result, Pedro decided to let it slide this time.Though he acknowledged that the day had been particularly chaotic for him, everything felt different when Adrienne was by his side. With her efficient assistance, his tasks were effortlessly accomplished without any hiccups. She was his reliable anchor in the storm of his daily responsibilities.After his final meeting concluded, Pedro sought out the company doctor to inquire about Adrienne's condition."Where is she?" he inquired in his de
It had been three days since her boss had unexpectedly appeared at her apartment, and Adrienne's heart refused to calm down. She felt restless, consumed by a whirlwind of emotions. During this time, she sensed that her fever had subsided, but the warmth Pedro's visit had ignited within her remained.They had shared breakfast together and engaged in conversation, albeit mostly business-related. Yet, for Adrienne, it was enough. She didn't feel entitled to complain anymore. Against all odds, a glimmer of hope had ignited within her. Though uncertainty loomed, she held onto that flicker of hope, cherishing it despite the odds stacked against her."Hey, you've been staring at your coffee for a while now. It's been three days! Is it because of Mr. Lassiter?" Cathy interjected, breaking Adrienne's thoughts."Cathy, can you please let me savor this moment? It's too good to be true, but here it is! He visited me! I'm genuinely happy," Adrienne replied, her voice filled with a mix of excitemen
Cathy's words echoed in Adrienne's mind, striking a painful chord of truth. She had been a fool, allowing herself to be hurt and trapped in a fantasy that would never come true. For years, she had been blind to the pain that stabbed her heart each time she saw Pedro with someone else. Perhaps her heart had turned to stone, or maybe it had all been an illusion because now she felt an intensified pain and jealousy coursing through her.All she had wanted was to enjoy a simple seafood meal, but instead, she found herself witnessing a scene that pierced her heart with anguish. The jealousy consumed her, drowning her in its suffocating grip. She had grown accustomed to the feeling, or so she thought, but the hurt still lingered.The next day, she woke up early, finding her boss absent once again. He had likely spent the night in another bed, with his flavor of the day. Adrienne couldn't decide if she should be hurt or not. After all, she wasn't the type of woman Pedro Lassiter would be int
The deal between Pedro Lassiter and the renowned business tycoon, Mr. Himura, went smoothly. Adrienne could see that her boss was happy and in a good mood. They had successfully closed a significant and important deal, and she was glad to have played a small part in helping the person she secretly loved.Now they found themselves in a cozy cottage, surrounded by plenty of food, all prepared by Pedro himself. He treated Adrienne to a meal, and she hesitantly asked, "Isn't it too much food you ordered, Mr. Lassiter?"Pedro grinned, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "This is still not enough to celebrate what you've accomplished. You know how challenging it is to please and gain the heart and trust of Mr. Himura, but thanks to your help, we sealed the deal."Adrienne nodded, though she knew deep down that her contribution had been indirect. "It is my pleasure to be of assistance, Mr. Lassiter. Does this mean we'll be heading home tomorrow?"Pedro shook his head. "We've booked this pla
PEDRO was not asleep at that time. He heard his secretary's confession to him. But he knew he couldn't reciprocate her feelings. He might just end up hurting Adrienne in the end. His secretary was one of the women he valued and respected. There was no reason for him to do anything that would harm her.His mood improved because he closed his deal, again, thanks to his secretary. It's as if Adrienne had become his lucky charm. He didn't know how he would function without his versatile secretary.Pedro also treated Adrienne to a meal. It was simple, but he knew it made the girl happy. It was just a simple way of expressing his gratitude for how diligent, loyal, and important Adrienne was to him.Pedro suddenly left, but he saw a woman. She was easily tempted, so he gave her a passionate kiss. It lasted a few minutes, and when he returned to the cottage, Adrienne was no longer there.He thought about returning to their room, but the woman wasn't there either. He decided to wander into a b
Adrienne woke up with a throbbing headache and aching body, the remnants of a wild night she couldn't fully recall. Her memories were hazy after the drinking began, a familiar pattern from her college days when alcohol had a swift and potent effect on her. She peered at her disheveled reflection in her phone's camera, noting her unkempt appearance and foul breath.To her surprise, Pedro entered the room looking tired and sleep-deprived. Her eyes involuntarily landed on the hickeys adorning his neck, igniting a pang of jealousy within her. Unbeknownst to her, she had caused those marks."Mr. Lassiter?" she called out tentatively."Pack your things, Miss McBride. Our flight is this afternoon," Pedro stated with an air of weariness.Adrienne's confusion grew since their departure was scheduled for the following day. She replied, albeit apprehensively, "Okay, sir," falling back on her default response even when she didn't feel like complying.Before leaving, Pedro turned to her, his expre