Chapter 4 The Bet That Started Everything

• **Lily’s POV**
• I had discovered something important about Adrian Cole during my first week at Cole Enterprises.
• The man was impossible.
• Not difficult.
• Not complicated.
• Impossible.
• There was a difference.
• Difficult people could be understood. You could study their habits, figure out what annoyed them, and eventually learn how to deal with them. Adrian was different because every time I thought I understood him, he did something unexpected and ruined my entire theory.
• One minute, he was the cold CEO who looked like smiling required a company approval form. The next minute, he was making jokes and acting like he was a normal person.
• It was confusing.
• And honestly, a little unfair.
• People should come with warning labels.
• Something like:
• Warning: Adrian Cole. Looks serious. Secretly sarcastic. May cause unnecessary arguments and confusion.
• That would have saved me a lot of trouble.
• Unfortunately, nobody warned me.
• So I had to learn the hard way.
• My second week at Cole Enterprises started with a meeting that I was completely unprepared for. Not because I did not prepare for the work.
• I did.
• I spent the entire night reviewing the presentation, checking my notes, and practicing how I would explain my ideas. I even stood in front of my mirror and practiced my introduction.
• Which was embarrassing.
• Especially because my reflection looked like it was judging me.
• “Good morning, everyone. My name is Lily Bennett, and today I will be presenting…”
• I stopped.
• I stared at myself.
• “Why do I sound like a news reporter?”
• I tried again.
• This time, I sounded like someone applying for a job on a cooking show.
• After several failed attempts, I gave up.
• There were some things you could not fix. Confidence was apparently one of them.
• When I arrived at the office, I walked into the conference room carrying my laptop and notes.
• Everyone was already there.
• Including Adrian.
• Of course.
• Because apparently the universe enjoyed making sure I was never fully comfortable.
• He sat at the head of the table, looking completely relaxed. Meanwhile, I was trying to remember how breathing worked.
• I took my seat.
• Adrian glanced at me.
• “Prepared?”
• I nodded. “Very.”
• “Good.”
• A pause.
• “Your coffee survived today?”
• I looked at him.
• Seriously?
• He was still talking about that?
• “Yes.” I lifted my coffee cup. “I have improved my relationship with beverages.”
• A few people around the table laughed.
• Adrian looked amused.
• “I am glad.”
• “Why?”
• “Because I would prefer my employees to destroy my competitors instead of my clothes.”
• I tried not to laugh. But failed in my attempt.
• “That was almost funny.”
• “Almost?”
• “Do not get too excited.”
• He smiled.
• And I hated that I noticed.
• The meeting began.
• I presented my ideas and surprisingly, everything went well. I expected questions that would make me nervous, but Adrian did not try to embarrass me. He listened carefully and asked questions that actually helped improve the project.
• That was something I was slowly learning about him. Behind the intimidating personality was someone who genuinely cared about doing things well. It was annoying when someone you wanted to dislike turned out to have good qualities.
• After the meeting ended, everyone left except me and Adrian.
• I packed my things.
• “You did well.”
• I looked up.
• “Thank you.”
• “You were nervous.”
• I immediately denied it.
• “No, I wasn’t.”
• He raised an eyebrow.
• I sighed.
• “Okay. Maybe a little.”
• “A little?”
• “Fine. A lot.”
• He smiled.
• “I noticed.”
• “How?”
• “You tapped your pen twelve times before starting.”
• I looked at him.
• “You counted?”
• “I notice things.”
• That answer surprised me. Because it sounded less like a CEO and more like someone who actually paid attention.
• I looked away.
• “That is slightly creepy.”
• He laughed.
• “Most people call it observant.”
• “Most people are afraid of you.”
• “Are you?”
• I opened my mouth.
• Then closed it.
• The annoying thing was that I did not know how to answer. Because the truth was complicated.
• Was Adrian intimidating?
• Yes.
• Was I afraid of him?
• Not really.
• “Sometimes.”
• He looked curious.
• “When?”
• “When you act like you are five seconds away from firing everyone in the building.”
• His expression changed.
• “Do I do that?”
• “Yes.”
• “Interesting.”
• “You are not denying it.”
• “I am thinking about it.”
• I shook my head.
• “You are unbelievable.”
• “And you are very comfortable insulting your boss.”
• I smiled.
• “Should I be worried?”
• “Probably.”
• My eyes widened. “That was not comforting.”
• He laughed.
• Actually laughed.
• Again.
• And once again, I was caught off guard. I had expected arrogance. I had expected coldness. I had not expected humor.
• Later that afternoon, I was having lunch with Emma at a small café near the office. She had been my best friend since college, which meant she knew exactly when something was bothering me. And unfortunately, she was very good at noticing things.
• “So.” She took a sip of her drink. “Tell me about him.”
• I looked up. “Who?”
• She gave me a look.
• “The CEO.”
• I immediately became defensive. “There is nothing to tell.”
• “That means there is something to tell.”
• “No.”
• “Yes.”
• “No.”
• “Lily.”
• “Emma.”
• She smiled.
• “You only use my name like that when you are avoiding something.”
• I sighed. “Fine.”
• She leaned closer. “What is he like?”
• I thought about it. “Annoying.”
• She blinked. “Only annoying?”
• “Very annoying.”
• “Anything else?”
• I looked away. “Confusing.”
• Her eyes widened. “Confusing?”
• “Yes.”
• “Explain.”
• I played with my straw.
• “One minute he acts like he owns the entire world.”
• “He probably does.”
• “Emma.”
• “What? He is rich.”
• I ignored her.
• “And the next minute, he says something funny and acts normal.”
• She smiled slowly.
• “Lily.”
• “What?”
• “You like him.”
• I nearly choked.
• “What?”
• “You heard me.”
• “No, I don’t.”
• “You are defending him.”
• “I am describing him.”
• “You are describing him with a smile.”
• I immediately stopped smiling. “I am not.”
• “You are.”
• “I am not.”
• “Lily.”
• “Emma.”
• She laughed.
• “This is going to be entertaining.”
• I pointed at her. “Do not start.”
• But deep down, I knew something had changed. Because a week ago, Adrian Cole was just the arrogant stranger who ruined my morning.
• Now?
• Now I was thinking about his smile and that was very dangerous.
• ——-
• The next morning, I walked into the office and found a message waiting for me.
• From Adrian.
• My office. Ten minutes.
• I stared at the screen.
• My first thought was panic. My second thought was annoyance. My third thought was curiosity. And unfortunately, curiosity always won.
• I grabbed my notebook and headed toward his office.
• I had no idea that this meeting would lead to the beginning of the biggest challenge of my career.
• A challenge called Adrian Cole.