Adrian's POV
The moment the door opened, Sophie's voice rang out.
"Daddy!"
"Sophie?" I called out, the surprise clear in my voice. I wasn't expecting her.
I pushed back my chair and stood up just as she ran straight at me, crashing into me with so much force that I had to steady myself before lifting her. A small smile broke through anyway.
"There you are," I said, my voice softer than it had been all morning.
I carried her up easily and spun her once, just enough to make her laugh. My eyes caught Elena. She was standing outside, still as a statue, watching through the open blinds.
I set Sophie down.
"Adrian."
I turned. Isabel was already walking toward me, a smile on her face, her arms open as she expected it.
"Isabel," I said, before pulling her into a brief hug.
I glanced once more toward the glass. Elena was still there. Still watching. My hand moved to the control panel beside me. I pressed it and the blinds slid shut.
I pulled away and walked back to my seat. Sophie climbed onto my lap, settling comfortably.
Isabel folded her arms, her lips forming a small pout.
"Adrian, if I didn't come to you, you wouldn't come to me."
"I've been busy," I replied.
She didn't look convinced. "If you are this busy when our engagement is next month…"
I cleared my throat lightly. "Yeah, about that—"
She cut in immediately, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You're not about to dump me right now."
I frowned. "Why would you even say that? We're not dating."
Her expression hardened.
"You should know better than to take my parents seriously," I added. "We can call this engagement off."
"No," she said, firm and immediate. "I won't call it off. You know I won't." Her voice softened, but there was something stubborn beneath it. "Why are you still like this, Adrian? After all these years, you're still like this."
A knock came before I could respond. The door opened, and Elena stepped in quietly with a tray. Our eyes met the moment she walked in, but she looked away almost immediately.
"Excuse me," she said calmly. "I brought your coffee."
"Just drop it and go," Isabel said, her tone sharp.
Elena nodded slightly. She placed the tray down carefully. Then Sophie's voice cut through.
"Wow," she said, her eyes lighting up. "You're so beautiful. You look like my favorite princess… Cinderella."
Elena paused, then smiled softly. "Thank you, little miss."
Sophie turned to me, her face bright with excitement. "She looks like Cinderella, right, Daddy?"
Elena's eyes lifted to mine, waiting for my reply. I held her gaze for a few seconds longer than I should have.
"You're still here?" Isabel snapped.
Elena blinked. "Sorry, ma'am." She turned to leave.
"Baby," Isabel said to Sophie, loud enough to carry, "you can't say things like that to Daddy. You'll make Mommy jealous."
Elena paused for the briefest second at the door before stepping out.
I exhaled slowly and looked at Isabel. "Don't get your hopes up. There's no engagement happening between us."
Her expression changed instantly. "Why are you still like this?" she snapped. "It's been three years, Adrian. Three good years, and you're still not over her. Let the living live. You deserve to be happy."
I said nothing.
"You know how much I love you," she continued, her voice softer now. "Just give me a chance. I'll make you happy."
I let out a quiet scoff. "Do you even hear yourself? You're talking about your best friend."
"Yes," she said without hesitation. "And I know she wouldn't want this for you."
My jaw tightened. I reached up and loosened my tie slightly, irritation rising. She noticed immediately.
"I picked Sophie up from school today," she said quickly, changing the topic. "She's doing well with her play."
"I'm the princess. And my prince will come and find me," she said, her excitement adding something that made no real sense but still made me laugh.
Isabel let out a quiet breath and picked up her coffee.
"I'm hungry," Sophie suddenly declared.
"Then let's go eat," Isabel said quickly.
"I don't—" I started to respond.
"Think about her," she cut in.
Sophie immediately pouted. "Dadddyyyy, I'm hungryyy."
I looked at her for a moment, then smiled. She's so cute.
A while later, I stepped out of the office with Sophie in my arms, resting comfortably against my shoulder. Isabel walked beside me.
Elena stood up immediately from her desk.
"I'm stepping out," I informed her. "I won't be back today. You can close when it's time."
"Yes, sir," she replied, bowing slightly.
We walked into the elevator, and the doors slid shut.
*****
Elena's POV
The moment the elevator doors closed, I dropped back into my chair.
"So he's actually married…" I murmured.
The words felt strange in my mouth. I stared at nothing for a moment, trying to understand what I was feeling. It wasn't clear.
I picked up the file in front of me and forced myself to focus, but my mind kept slipping.
My grip tightened around the pen in my hand.
Before I realized it—
Snap.
The pen broke in two. I stared at it like it was Mr. Kingston.
"How dare he," I muttered under my breath. "How can he kiss me when he has a wife?"
My chest tightened.
"Is my boss that kind of man?" I added quietly.
The question lingered longer than I wanted.
By evening, I closed up from work and headed home. I walked slowly, not even paying attention to where I was going. My head stayed down the whole time, and I kept sighing without meaning to.
Everything felt off, but I couldn't explain why. Then a voice cut through my thoughts.
"Why do you look like a living corpse?"
I stopped completely.
That voice.
I lifted my head slowly, as if my body needed time to accept what my mind already struggled to comprehend.
When I finally saw her, my eyes widened in shock.
"Maya?!" I called out her name, my voice breaking as I stared at her.