ire froze.


    She opened her mouth to respond but found herself at a loss for words.


    Adrian, noticing her hesitation, gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I know this might be out of the blue, but I had to say it. I''ve been holding it in for too long." His voice was steady, but there was an edge of vulnerability beneath it. "I guess I just need to know... do you feel the same way?"


    Her mind was racing. She hadn''t expected this-at all. The warmth of the evening, the ease of their conversation, all of it seemed to blur into the background. She stared at Adrian, her mind frantically trying to process what he had just said.


    Her heart raced, but her thoughts were tangled. Did she feel the same way? Could she? There was so much history between them-so much friendship, loyalty but romantic feelings?


    For the first time that evening, she found herself unsure of what to say, how to respond. The moment hung in the air between them, heavy with possibility, and ire, usually so quick-witted and sharp, was caughtpletely off guard. Adrian, sensing her inner conflict, smiled gently, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "You don''t have to answer right now," he said softly. "I just wanted to be honest with you."


    ire took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "Adrian, I... I don''t know what to say. This is... a lot to take in."


    He nodded, his smile still gentle. "I get it. It''s okay. Take your time."


    The tension slowly eased, though the air between them felt different now-charged with unspoken feelings and unasked questions. ire forced a small smile, trying to regain herposure. "Thank you for telling me," she said quietly, her voice soft but sincere. Adrian nodded, releasing her hand slowly. "No matter what, ire, I''ll always be here for you. That won''t change."


    ire smiled. "I know. I appreciate that."


    The quiet hum of the jet''s engines filled the cabin as ire and Adrian sat across from each other, both lost in their thoughts. After the unexpected confession Adrian had dropped over dinner in Paris, the whole vibe between them had shifted.


    ire couldn''t shake it-things just felt different now. Not bad, just... different. She nced at him a few times during the flight, but every time their eyes met, she quickly looked away, pretending to be deeply focused on something important.


    In truth, ire liked Adrian. He was smart, charming, and sweet. But love? That was a whole other story. She just wasn''t sure if she was ready to dive into anything serious, especially when her head was so full of business and drama. Yet, there was something about him -something that made her stomach do flips when she thought about his confession.


    The flight dragged on in a sort of awkward silence. Adrian didn''t push for conversation, probably sensing that she needed time to process everything. And ire? She spent the entire trip reying that moment at the restaurant over and over again in her head. When they finallynded in London, the tension still hung in the air like fog. As they stepped off the ne and made their way across the tarmac, ire turned to Adrian, catching him just before they parted ways. "Hey," she said, her voice soft. Adrian looked at her, his expression open and warm despite everything. "Yeah?"


    "I just... I wanted to thank you. Foring with me. It really meant a lot." ire hesitated for a second, her thoughts racing. "And, you know, for everything else."


    Adrian nodded, his smile small but genuine. "I meant what I said, ire. But I''m not gonna push you. Take your time."


    She gave him a smile in return, though it didn''t quite reach her eyes. "You''re a really sweet guy, Adrian. I''m lucky to have you in my life." ire paused, gathering her courage before leaning in to nt a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I''ll think about it, okay?" Adrian''s heart practically stopped for a second as he stood there, frozen in ce. "Okay," he murmured, watching her step into the ck car waiting for her.


    As the car pulled away, Adrian let out a long, deep sigh, his fingers crossed in his pocket. Maybe just maybe she''de around. Maybe they could be more than just friends. For now, though, all he could do was wait and hope.


    The next morning, ire arrived at the office earlier than usual. Even she was a bit surprised by her own punctuality, but after a sleepless night spent tossing and turning in her penthouse, she needed to do something. Anything to get her mind off Adrian.


    She couldn''t stop thinking about him, about his confession, about the fact that she still hadn''t given him a straight answer. It wasn''t that she didn''t like him-she did but the uncertainty was eating her alive.


    What if she made the wrong choice? What if she wasn''t ready? And worst of all, what if she led him on without really meaning to?


    ire sighed, staring at herputer screen, not really seeing anything. Her mind was a million miles away.


    A sudden knock on her office door


    snapped her out of her daze. Matthew walked in, eyebrows furrowed clearly noticing something was off. "Whoa, ire. You okay?" He closed the door behind him and leaned against her desk, arms crossed.


    "Yeah, yeah, I''m fine," she said, waving a hand as if to dismiss his concern. But the vacant look in her eyes said otherwise.


    Matthew wasn''t buying it. He raised an eyebrow and sat down on the edge of her desk, staring at her with suspicion. "You''re zoning out, which is very un-ire-like. What''s going on?"


    She sighed, knowing there was no point in trying to hide it. Matthew had known her too long. "Adrian."


    Matthew blinked, not following. "Adrian Saint Laurent?"


    ire nodded, biting her lip. "He, uh, confessed his feelings to mest night. Over dinner. In Paris.


    Matthew''s eyes widenedically, his jaw dropping slightly. "Wait, what? Adrian?" He blinked again like he was trying to make sure he''d heard her right. "Our Adrian? Mr. Fancy Saint Laurent? Confessed his feelings?" ire couldn''t help butugh at the exaggerated look of shock on Matthew''s face. "Yes, that Adrian."


    Matthew leaned back, shaking his head in disbelief. "Wow. I did not see thating. And... what did you say?"


    "I didn''t," ire admitted, running a hand through her hair. "I told him I''d think about it."


    Matthew''s brows shot up. "You''re actually thinking about it?"


    "Of course I am!" she shot back, sounding almost defensive. "He''s a great guy, Matthew. I just... I don''t know."


    "Well, do you like him?" Matthew asked, his tone lighter now, but with a touch of curiosity. "I mean, you guys have always been close. You wouldn''t even entertain the idea if you didn''t like him a little."


    ire hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, I do. I like him. He''s sweet and kind, and we get along great. But... I don''t know if that''s enough."


    Matthew studied her face for a moment before responding, a grin slowly spreading across his lips. "You''re scared."


    ire shot him a sharp look. "I am not scared."


    "Oh, you''re totally scared," Matthew teased, leaning in closer. "ire Peterson, master of business and taking down rivals, is afraid of a little thing called love."


    ire rolled her eyes, trying to brush him off. "It''s not like that."


    "It totally is!" Matthewughed, leaning back again, clearly enjoying himself. "You''re overthinking it. Look, ire, you don''t have to make some grand decision right this second." Just go with the flow, and see what happens. If you like the guy, spend time with him. You''ll figure it out."


    ire sighed, resting her chin in her hand. "I know. It''s just...plicated. I don''t want to hurt him. And I don''t want to make the wrong choice."


    Matthew smiled softly, his voice


    more serious now. "You won''t hurt him by being honest. He''ll respect whatever decision you make. And as for making the wrong choice? There''s no wrong choice here, ire. But


    the only way to find out is by giving it


    Either you feel it, or you


    a chance.


    ire let his words sink in, feeling the weight of her uncertainty slowly lifting. "You''re right. I guess I''m just overthinking it."


    "Exactly. Now, stop torturing yourself. Take a deep breath, rx, and maybe... give Adrian a callter," Matthew suggested with a wink. ireughed, feeling a bit of her usual confidence return. "Yeah, maybe I will."