Adrian felt the weight of the coming interview on his shoulders as he walked into a small convenience store near the bus stop. He grabbed a chilled bottle of water from the fridge, hoping the cold rush would calm his nerves.

As he turned toward the counter, he noticed her—Anya. Dressed casually, hair slightly tousled from the morning breeze, she was scrolling through her phone while waiting to pay for her items.

Their eyes met.

She raised a brow, that familiar spark of arrogance dancing in her gaze. “Well, well. Didn’t expect to see you here,” she said lightly, her tone sharp enough to cut.

Adrian clenched his jaw, forcing a thin smile. “Yeah, life’s full of surprises.” He paid for his water quickly, but her words lingered, baiting him into a conversation he didn’t want.

“You look nervous,” she teased. “Big day? Or just… another errand?”

That did it. He slipped the cap off his bottle, took a long drink, then looked her dead in the eye.

“I don’t like post-grads who have nothing to do with their lives,” he said calmly but firmly. “People who waste time, drifting with no direction—it’s not something I admire.”

The smirk fell from her lips. Before she could fire back, he stepped past her and walked out, leaving only the sound of the bell above the door swinging behind him.

Later that afternoon, after a warm exchange with the hotel management, Adrian’s heart swelled with cautious relief. The interview had gone well. They even thanked him for choosing their establishment, promising him a solid place in their team.

Then, the manager led him into the executive office. Behind the massive desk sat a man of authority, radiating both power and kindness.

“Adrian kai, welcome,” the man said, standing and shaking his hand. “I’m Raymond Elodie, the owner of Regal hotel. You’ll be working closely with our staff, and I hope you’ll take pride in being part of this family. After all…” His smile widened. “This hotel will soon belong to my daughter. She’s the future here.”

Before Adrian could process the words, there was a knock on the door. The owner gestured warmly. “Ah—here she is. Let me introduce you.”

The door opened.

Anya stepped inside.

Her eyes landed on Adrian. Shock flickered first, then disbelief. Adrian froze, the bottle of water he’d carried earlier suddenly heavy in his hand.

“You…” he muttered under his breath.

“You?” she echoed, just as stunned.

The silence between them stretched, electric and suffocating, as her father looked between them, completely unaware of the storm that had just ignited.