Fake Date, Real Fate-Chapter 47: Survival Suits You (Apparently)

My jaw was still locked as Aria zoomed in on one of the auction photos. "Damn. He even looks like he stepped out of a villain origin story."

"Tell me about it," I muttered, lying back against her fluffy headboard. My brain was still buffering from all of it.

Just then, my phone buzzed on her nightstand.

Adrien Walton.

My body went stiff.

Aria’s eyes widened. "Is that him?"

"Obviously."

I picked up the phone, thumb hovering over the screen.

Adrien: "I trust you got home safe."

Aria leaned over my shoulder. "Why is that low-key hot?"

"Shut up."

Before I could even send anything, another message came through.

Adrien: "You handled yourself well tonight. I appreciate that."

"Okay now he’s just being polite," I said, rolling my eyes but my fingers were already typing back before I could stop myself.

"You’re welcome. I survived. Barely."

It took him all of three seconds to reply.

Adrien: "Survival suits you."

I blinked.

"What does that even mean?" I said aloud.

Aria shrugged. "Girl, I don’t know, but if a man like that told me survival suits me, I’d probably blush and die."

Just as I was about to respond, my phone buzzed with a notification.

Adrien: "Send me my schedule for tomorrow. And remove the 10 a.m. call with Delacroix. It’s a waste of time."

I let out a dry laugh.

"Did he just... go full boss mode mid-conversation?" Aria asked, sipping her juice box like it was tea.

"Yup. He didn’t even say goodnight. Man jumped straight from cryptic flirtation to corporate assassin."

Aria looked impressed. "Honestly, I respect the range."

I sighed, already reaching for my iPad. "Why do I feel like I’m never off the clock with this guy?"

"Because you’re not. You’re in the belly of the billionaire beast now babe."

I groaned and opened his calendar, muttering under my breath. "10 a.m. call─deleted. You better hope I don’t accidentally delete your whole schedule."

But of course I didn’t Because I’m a professional. Mostly.

I sent him the updated schedule, resisting the urge to add a passive-aggressive comment like, "Sleep well, boss." Instead, I simply typed, "Done."

He didn’t respond. Well, why would he?

I slammed the iPad shut. "I need to sleep," I declared.

*****

The next morning, I practically sprinted into my working place building. I had a mission – to be the best damn assistant Adrien Walton had ever seen. Professional, efficient, and utterly immune to his... craziness.

I got to my desk, which was big and made of mahogany and brushed steel, and started my computer. The first email was from Adrien. Of course it was.

Subject: Sebastian

Body: Find me everything on his company, his family, and any skeletons lurking in his closet. I want a full file on my desk by noon.

My jaw tightened. So much for charm. He wasn’t even in the office yet and already ordering me around. I took a deep breath and got to work. Sebastian, it turned out, he had a daughter with a penchant for fast cars and a gambling problem. His company was also under investigation for some shady accounting practices.

By 11:55, I had a comprehensive file ready for Adrien’s review. I walked into his office, my heels clicking on the marble floor. Adrien was at his massive desk, staring out the window. He didn’t acknowledge me as I placed the dossier in front of him.

"The file on Sebastian, sir," I said, my voice cool and professional.

Adrien glanced up from his laptop, then reached for the folder without a word. He skimmed through a few pages, eyes narrowing slightly at whatever caught his attention.

"Good work," he said, but his eyes hung on mine just long enough to be awkward.

I didn’t flinch nor did I fidget. I was not about to be the girl who got scared just because a man looked at her with those stupidly intense eyes.

"Would you like me to—"

"Close the door."

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

He didn’t repeat himself. Just went back to flipping through the file like he hadn’t just delivered a line straight out of a thriller movie.

I walked back and shut the door. "Okay. Door’s closed. What now?"

Adrien looked up. "You’re efficient. You know how to keep your head under pressure and you don’t ask questions unless it’s necessary."

"...Is this your idea of a compliment?"

He smirked faintly. "It’s my idea of identifying value."

I raised my brow. "Should I get that printed on a mug for you?"

He smirked but he didn’t answer. Instead, he pushed the file aside and stood up and he started walking towards... me? Nah ─ towards the corner bar cart in his office. He poured himself a glass of water ─ he wanted water, thank God ─ and sipped it.

He set the glass down and leaned back against the bar cart and crossed his arms casually. His gaze pinned me in place like I was some kind of puzzle he was halfway through solving.

"Clear your schedule for tomorrow evening," he said.

I frowned. "Okay... Should I know why?"

Adrien didn’t answer right away.

Then he spoke. "My mother wants to meet you."

Silence filled the room.

I stared at him and blinked in disbelief. "Your what?"

He looked down at me with a blank expression. "Mother. As in the woman who gave birth to me." Well who doesn’t know what a mother is you dimwit.

"She’s having lunch at Bellmare. I’ll take you there directly after our morning meeting." He continued.

"What am I supposed to wear?"

"You’ll be leaving with me. No need to change." He sighed. "I already said that I’m taking you there directly after our morning meeting."

I rolled my eyes.

He then stepped forward— slowly and deliberately — crossing the space between us until he stood just a breath too close. My instincts told me to step back but I didn’t. I stayed still.

Then he raised a hand and for a moment, I thought he might touch my face. I held my breath— but then his fingers stopped just before my temple. He plucked something from my hair and held it up.

"A speck of dust," he said. "Can’t have my girlfriend walking around like that."

I looked him dead in the eye. "You’re having fun with this aren’t you?"

"Absolutely."

"Just use a tissue next time," I said, walking past him and heading back to my desk.

He didn’t respond, but I could feel his smirk as I closed the door behind me.

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