ually knew him. The man was practically a walking ice s

en seen him sm

toic expression like he was judging the en

lings himself looking genuinely desperate ea

he felt a little sorry

ce she agreed to his wild proposal, an

at the hell w

and his last wish is to see me married" sob story

Yeah, no thanks. Not

ying this was all just a fever dream or a bad

in fog? Mercury in retrograde? Anything to explain why the most e

y Coldplay started

That ringtone?

. Adrian

rse had j

hone out, and saw his na

he secretary voice. S

, he

e are

tside, sir. Is there

switch to full

eyes narrowing in on Bianca like hawks. Yeah,

he office. Now.

Beep

ly? Tha

athing, and the man had alre

ero chill. Zero

tle flicker of hope p

he came to his senses! Maybe he found some s

great. I could go back to being underp

orry girls, I gotta run. Emer

brow. "Trouble i

and practically jogged to

still, by the time she reached the front

a? Yeah, she wasn't exactly a gym rat. Her cardio c

he could, trying to look like she

p breath. Le

rt, untied her hair then re-tied it again, bec

urvived worse.

ked on t

me

readsheets look. Adrian was seated behind his desk, flipping t

Clear my schedule for tomorrow afternoon

t.

cancellation speec

silence. Adrian f

ear what I

heard y

ing to the hosp

to his papers like

ca s

eeting the dying grandfather

throat. "I'm n

posal aside and opened his laptop

cursed him internal

n, slowly but surely, lik

nk I can go throu

f before she coul

s,

our word." His tone was sharp, his eyes lockin

serious

. That one sentence had

you." Her words came out fas

expressio

thin, displeased line. He stared at her. Long,

his wasn't some minor schedul

mal. And yeah, okay, he got t

e I'm so done with everything exhales. Then

sted. That perfectly composed, always in control

e still look good even

time, opening his eyes. "I'm asking f

ate. And that shook her mor

then reality hit her like a truck. This wasn't some work tas

mporary. And fake or not, she knew the moment she said "y

voice was calm, but her chest was

*