🔹

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves as I stood in front of the mirror, ready in my semi-formal blue outfit. It was a sky blue pair of crop top and shorts with a same colored blazer.

Yes, it's my first day at work.

I walked out of the closet to find Adrien dressed in his white shirt and navy blue pants, with a tie in hand and eyes darted at his phone. He probably heard my footsteps so he spoke to me.

"Crys, please help me with the tie." When he looked up at me, his face flashed with surprise.

"Wow. You.. look perfect for a new start." I smiled coyly at his compliment. Adrien had been very supportive when it came to my work. He kept his dislike towards Evan aside and was genuinely happy to see me so excited to work. The best thing was that he knew and understood that my excitement was because of my work and not because of Evan.

I must say, I really love it when he acts possessively. But what's even better is, even though it doesn't matter in our relationship, Adrien isn't insecure.

I took the tie from his hand and stepped closer to slide it around his neck. This has kind of been our thing now.

"Excited?" He asked, pushing a strand of my hair behind my ear. I nodded with a grin. "Since it's your first day, I was thinking if I can drop you at work. Martin can accompany you starting tomorrow."

"I'd be glad if you drop me, and about tomorrow, I don't have to go every day. Only twice a week and if there is an event, then maybe a bit more often for planning it." I told him.

We had our breakfast with Lily who wished me luck for my first day and Adrien and I took off for Evan's main club. Vida Grand. (Live Grand)

The ride was short as the destination wasn't far from our home and we spent it with small talk. Adrien asked me to call him when I get off work so he can take me back home since Martin was on a leave but I refused because his working hours were far longer than mine and I didn't want to disturb him. I frankly told him that for today and today only, Evan could drop me to which he said nothing.

When he pulled over in the driveway of the club, we turned towards each other with tiny smiles gracing our faces.

"See you." I told him and unclipped my seat belt. Before I could reach the door, Adrien tugged on my wrist and I looked at him.

I was taken aback when he leaned forward and kissed my cheek. "Best of luck." I smiled at him, our faces close enough to let us feel our breaths on each other.

"Thank you." He let go of my wrist and I got out. Waving at him last time, I walked inside while he reversed the car. I looked around in the driveway, suspicious if he had kissed me because Evan was around but he wasn't and that warmed my heart.

As I entered Vida Grand, I was welcomed by a few employees. Alice and Denise, the waitresses, Greg and Jeremy, the bartenders and Chris, the head chef who was also one of Evan's closest friends. I had to report myself to Evan so I asked Alice for him and she led me to his cabin somewhere in a hallway that was only for the staff to enter.

She informed me that he had gone out for some work and I could wait in his room and she returned to her work.

Since he wasn't in there, I didn't bother knocking on the door and opened it only to witness a highly inappropriate scenario.

Evan was vigorously making out with a blonde girl who sat on the top of his desk. If I had come in a minute later, they would have literally ended up swallowing each other.

I darted my eyes away from them but then slowly glanced up when I sensed no movement. God, this is embarrassing.

They stopped when they heard the click of the door and Evan looked up while the girl turned her head around. Evan froze in his place while the girl groaned on seeing me. Both their hair and clothes were messy. The first few buttons of Evan's shirt were open.

"Who the hell are you? And don't you know how to knock?" She shrilled.

"Uh..I-"

"She's a friend." Evan beat me to the answer but I continued anyway.

"A friend and the new Event Manager that was appointed. And I was told that Evan is not her at the moment so I didn't knock. I am sorry to interrupt you." I was about to close the door and get out of there but Evan stopped me.

"Wait, Crystal." He looked at the blondie and gave a fake sad smile. "You should leave."

She groaned and climbed down the table then fixed her tank top and hair. She gave me a glare while walking out but turned around when Evan called for her.

"Olive. Don't forget to wash up before you enter the kitchen." I ducked my head down to resist the chuckle.

"Of course, Mr. Sanders." She gritted her teeth and showered fiery glare at both of us.

"Just a reminder." Evan smiled guiltily at her and then at me when she was out.

"I'm sorry you had to see that." He sighed and scratched his neck. I didn't say anything and looked elsewhere. Not even it's okay. Because having to witness your best friend getting laid by someone in his office is not okay.

I sat down on the chair in front of his desk while he excused himself to wash up quickly. When he was back, the awkward air around had vanished because of Evan's silliness that never failed to make me laugh.

"So, was she the girl who Adrien saw with you at his hotel?" I asked out of curiosity.

"No. This is Olive. Our assistant chef. That was..." He bit the inside of his cheek. He was thinking of who that was. Goodness. ".. I don't remember who that was." He shrugged. I shook my head at him.

"That night at dinner, Ethan was saying that your parents want you to get settled too." I told him.

"Tsk. Not happening. Settlement, commitment, they aren't really my thing."

"So you plan on being this... playboy all your life?"

"Hey, stop with those judgy eyes. And being a playboy is fun and fun is what I live for. Commitments do nothing but tie you to the ground."

"That's not true. Look at Ethan. He is about to start a family and yet he is living his desired life." I tried to debate.

"Oh, please don't compare me to that nerd. He probably cannot even spell fun." Evan rolled his eyes.

"But still, don't you too want a family of your own?"

He thought for a few seconds, then shrugged. "It doesn't excite me as much as my current life does. At least not for now. I'll think about it later. Maybe when I find someone like you." He winked at me and I chuckled.

We brushed off the topic and started to discuss work. He gave me a tour of the club and it honestly fascinated me.

Since it was my first day, Evan also made me cut a cake with the staff to celebrate my welcome. For the first time in life, I had been this excited to work. Thanks to Evan.

I bid goodbye to Evan when he dropped me home and walked inside the building. When I reached the top floor, I unlocked the penthouse and walked into the dark living room. Surprisingly, the lights of our room were turned on and I assumed that Lily might have left them on after cleaning the room. I shut the door of our room and took my blazer and sandals off before stretching my arms. Just as I removed my crop top and stood there in just my bra and shorts, the door of the room yanked open.

I was too shocked to react when I saw Adrien there with an equally shocked face. I stood there frozen for a few seconds while Adrien's wide eyes scanned my half naked body.

Oh my god.

When the realisation hit me, I picked my blazer from the bed and covered myself with a scream and turned around. "Aaaaahh"

"I am sorry, I am so sorry. I- I didn't know you were in here. I am really sorry. Why didn't you lock the door?" I peeked at him through my shoulder and saw that he too had turned around and was freaking out just like me.

"I was all alone in the house, so I didn't lock. When did you even come?"

"I had come before you. I was on the balcony and didn't see you coming. I am sorry."

I could sense all the blood in my body run to my neck and cheeks. Adrien just saw me half naked and I wanted to drown myself in the bathtub out of embarrassment.

"You can apologise later. First go out and let me change." He immediately did what I asked him to and I let out a breath that I was holding. I quickly changed into my pyjama shorts and t-shirt and gathered the courage to open the door.

He was standing beside the door, leaned to the wall and ruffled his hair awkwardly on seeing me. His ears were tinted red making me believe that what just happened was as embarrassing to him as it was for me.

"How are you home early?" I asked. Drifting away from the incident was the best way to cover our embarrassment.

"I finished work early. I wanted to be here when you come home. But it didn't quite go as I thought it would." He smiled awkwardly. I nodded in agreement.

"Let's have dinner. Whatever Lily cooked smells delicious." He told me and we walked to the dining room together. While having our dinner, which for sure was one of the tastiest foods I had eaten, I reported to Adrien the events of today. I obviously skipped the part when I walked in on Evan and Olive's intimacy. Adrien didn't need to know that.

P.S. Remind me to thank Lily later for her efforts for me.

The thick tension between us was replaced by some refreshing talks. Just to get a reaction out of him, after the dinner I over excitedly told him about what Evan did for me.

"He also got me a cake for me to cut in front of everyone to celebrate my welcome." I boasted and he unnoticeably rolled his eyes and gave me a sarcastic smile.

"Congratulations." I giggled at it.

After a minute of silence, Adrien asked me. "Cakes or Ice cream?"

"Huh?"

"Do you like cakes more or ice cream?" He repeated and after a bit of thinking, I replied. "Ice cream."

He grinned proudly and took my wrist in his hand, pulling me towards the refrigerator. When he opened the door of the freezer, I gasped.

"What is this?" I looked at it with wide eyes and a huge smile. The freezer was filled with ice creams of every possible flavour in chocolate.

"I wanted to do something more special, like cooking food, but even though I own a chain of largest restaurants, I can't cook to save a life. So I did the next best thing that you would love. Although it's not much." He told me. He had no idea how much I loved it.

I had no idea how I got the courage, but I moved closer to him and held his shoulders, pushing myself up and kissed his cheek. He stilled a bit at my sudden move and when I leaned back and looked at him, his eyes met mine with such intensity that I forgot to breathe.

"It's more than enough. Thank you." I told him and he passed me a heart-warming smile. "The pleasure is mine."

He served me a scoop of every flavor in a large bowl and we went to the living room to watch a movie. While I had my ice cream, I simultaneously fed it to him too while he was selecting something to watch.

I hadn't realised that some ice cream had smudged on the corner of my lower lip until Adrien had wiped it with his thumb and absentmindedly licked it off his fingers.

Can someone stop him from being so adorable? My heart is going to forget how to beat normally.

While watching the movie, sitting on the couch, we finished the ice cream. My head was resting on Adrien's arm that was around me on the head rest. But it was disappointing when he removed it until he laid down and put his head on my lap. I sat awkwardly, still watching the movie, not knowing how to react. It wasn't long before he took my hand and put it on his head, wanting me to caress it and I gladly did. He snuggled in my lap while my fingers worked on his scalp.

A few minutes later, when I felt his eyes on me, I looked down at him and raised my brows.

"It's Sophie's birthday in a few days. She is throwing a party and we are invited."

I smiled at the information and nodded. I would have loved to attend the party for Sophie but the last time I had been at one, it did not end up well.

"We can avoid it if you don't want to go." Adrien said, as if he could read my mind. I didn't want him to avoid his best friend's birthday because of me.

"We must go. I'll be happy to see her." I told him but he didn't look satisfied. I once again assured him. "Don't worry about me on her birthday. Let it be special for her. We should go."

He sighed. "Are you sure?" I nodded. "Okay. I promise I will never leave you alone." I smiled.

And I wish you could keep that promise, forever.

🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️