Chapter 7: A Dangerous Game

The moment Adrian closed the distance, Lily knew she had two choices.

Step back. Or let this happen.

The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, his gaze locked onto hers, daring her to move, daring her to back down.

She didn’t.

Her breath hitched as his fingers brushed against her wrist—light, teasing, testing.

“Tell me to stop,” Adrian murmured.

Lily’s pulse pounded.

But she said nothing.

Because, deep down, she didn’t want him to.

His hand slid higher, up her forearm, slow and deliberate.

“You drive me insane, Miss Hart,” he murmured.

Her breath caught. “Good.”

Adrian’s eyes darkened, his fingers tightening slightly against her skin.

“Do you know what you’re doing?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lily swallowed. “I think the question is—do you?”

A flicker of something dangerous passed through his gaze.

Then abruptly he stepped back.

Just like that, the moment shattered.

Lily exhaled, heart pounding, as Adrian turned away.

“This can’t happen,” he said, voice tight.

She blinked. “What?”

Adrian’s jaw clenched. “Whatever this is, it stops now.”

Something cold settled in her chest.

“Then why did you let it happen?” she demanded.

A beat of silence.

Then Adrian looked at her, and for the first time, she saw it.

Fear.

But not for her.

But of himself.

And before she could say anything else, he muttered, “Get back to work,” and walked out of the office.

Leaving Lily standing there, heart racing, wondering who had just won this round.

Lily spent the rest of the day distracted.

Every time she looked up, her eyes found his office door.

Every time someone passed by, she half-expected him.

But Adrian avoided her like a plague.

Not in an obvious way. Not in a way that anyone else would notice.

But she felt it.

Every stolen glance. Every time he turned the other way.

He was running.

And Lily wasn’t sure if she should chase him.

By  5 PM, Veronica appeared at Lily’s desk, arms crossed.

“You look like someone who just got thrown out of a penthouse after a one-night stand.”

Lily sighed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Veronica smirked. “Oh, sweetheart, that makes me really want to talk about it.”

Lily exhaled. “It’s… complicated.”

Veronica gave her a long, knowing look. “Let me guess. He almost kissed you, then pushed you away.”

Lily’s eyes widened. “How—”

“Because it’s Adrian Blackwood.” Veronica rolled her eyes. “He’s a control freak. The second he feels something he can’t control? He shuts down.”

Lily frowned. “What do I do?”

Veronica’s smirk returned. “That depends. Do you want to win?”

Lily hesitated.

Then, slowly, she nodded.

“Then make him come to you,” Veronica said. “Make him lose control.”

The next morning, Lily walked into the office like nothing had happened.

She greeted people, filed reports, and completely ignored Adrian.

By noon, she saw the first crack. An email from Adrian

From: Adrian Blackwood

Subject: Status update.

Message: Why haven’t you sent the quarterly report?

Lily smirked. Oh, this was going to be fun.

She typed back.

Lily: It’s on your desk, Mr. Blackwood.

A moment later, her phone buzzed.

Adrian: Come into my office.

Lily hesitated. Then she deleted the email.

And waited.

One hour.

Two.

By 3 PM, her office door slammed open.

Adrian stood there, jaw tight, eyes stormy with frustration.

“You’re playing games, Miss Hart,” he said lowly.

Lily tilted her head. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

He stepped closer. Too close.

“You ignored me.”

Her lips curled. “I was just doing my job.”

Adrian’s eyes darkened.

For a moment, she thought he was going to lose control.

But then he exhaled, voice lowering.

“I hate you,” he murmured.

Lily’s stomach flipped.

Because he didn’t sound like a man who hated her.

He sounded like a man who was drowning in want.

Her voice was barely a whisper. “Liar.”

Adrian’s gaze dropped to her lips.

But Just as quickly as he had entered he stepped back out.

“Get back to work.”

And left.

Lily exhaled, smiling to herself.

Veronica was right.

She was going to win this game.

But Lily’s satisfaction didn’t last long.

Because as soon as Adrian left, her phone buzzed.

It was an unknown number.

She frowned, answering cautiously. “Hello?”

A smooth, dangerous voice responded.

“Well, well. If it isn’t Lily Hart.”

Her blood ran cold.

“Who is this?” she demanded.

A dark chuckle. “A friend.”

Then, the voice turned deadly soft.

“Be careful, Miss Hart. You’re getting too close to something dangerous.”

Lily’s grip tightened on the phone.

“Is that a threat?”

There was a long pause and then the voice spoke again.

“Consider it a warning, Miss Hart.”

Click. The line went dead.

Lily’s heart pounded.

What the hell had she just gotten herself into?