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
The following evening, Adrienne and Pedro found themselves still in the office, engrossed in their work on their laptops. As the clock struck 8 pm, their gazes met, a silent acknowledgment of their shared fatigue."How about dinner?" Pedro suggested, breaking the concentration."Okay, sir," Adrienne responded, accepting the invitation.Pedro reached for his car keys, ready to leave, but Adrienne halted him, saying, "I actually have some food with me, if that's okay with you."Adrienne felt a surge of gratitude as Pedro didn't refuse her offer. She didn't want to expose her lack of culinary skills and potentially embarrass herself further.To her surprise, Pedro ate heartily, clearly enjoying the meal. Overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment, Adrienne watched him savor each bite."This tastes divine! Did you cook this?" Pedro asked, genuinely impressed.Adrienne nodded, her cheeks tinged with a blush. "Yes, Sir. I'm glad you find it delicious."For the first time, Pedro's smile reac
"This is impossible! It can't be happening!" Pedro exclaimed in disbelief, his voice filled with frustration.After dropping Adrienne off at her condo unit, Pedro remained in his car for a while, deep in thought. Running his hand through his hair, he muttered to himself, feeling as though he had lost his sanity.The previous night had left him restless. It was only now that he truly noticed the captivating features of his secretary—her thick eyebrows, smooth skin, gentle face, perfect lips, and mesmerizing eyes. After years of working together, the realization of Adrienne's beauty struck him like a thunderbolt.But Pedro couldn't accept it.He couldn't allow himself to be attracted to his secretary. Yes, something had transpired between them, but in Pedro's mind, everything that had happened in Claybourne was a colossal mistake. Furthermore, Adrienne didn't even remember the events.He wiped his face, attempting to clear his thoughts. Determined to regain control, he quickly drove his
It was around eight in the evening, and Adrienne found herself standing in a convenience store. She gazed sadly at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes still swollen from tears. In her hands, she held a pair of chopsticks and a cup of noodles, contemplating her next move.Just then, Cathy arrived, still wearing her jacket but clearly disturbed by something. Concern etched on her face, she approached Adrienne and inquired about her puffy eyes."What happened, my friend? You were so happy earlier. Why do your eyes look swollen now?" Cathy asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.Overwhelmed by her emotions, Adrienne couldn't hold back her tears any longer. Cathy instinctively patted her, trying to offer comfort and reassurance."Stop crying, girl. People might think you're being mistreated!" Cathy urged, hoping to ease Adrienne's distress."I'm sorry, Cathy. If I could handle this on my own, I wouldn't bother you," Adrienne managed to say between sobs."Oh, Adrienne! You're no di