FINDING ROSE

Chapter 16

Rose pov

The clock on the wall glowed faintly in the dim office 12:03a.m. I let out a quiet sigh, rubbing my eyes before looking across the desk. Adrian was still at it, flipping through papers as though time didn't exist for him. I was already tired and needed some rest, with half of the night gone I didn't have much time to sleep.

"Am I... not going home yet?" I asked carefully, trying to keep my voice steady. It came out softer than I intended, edged with exhaustion.

His pen paused mid-note. For a moment, he didn't look up, and I wondered if I'd overstepped. Then he set it down and leaned back in his chair, his gaze finally meeting mine.

"You've done enough for tonight," he said. "I was going to finish the rest myself."

Relief washed over me, a small smile appeared on my lips, loosening my shoulders. I closed the folder gently, trying not to seem too eager. "Good, because if I see another column of numbers, I might actually lose my mind."

The corner of his mouth twitched, almost a smile, though it vanished quickly. He stood, slipping his jacket back on with practiced ease. "It's late. I'll drop you off."

I blinked. "You don't have to—"

"I know." His tone left no space for argument. He gathered the last of the papers, stacked them neatly, then glanced at me again. "But it's midnight, Rose. You're not taking a cab alone."

Something about the calm certainty in his voice silenced me. I simply nodded, who made me stay till midnight then, I thought to myself rolling my eyes as I pulled my hoodie tighter around me as I rose from my seat.

As we walked toward the elevator, the office felt different, less like a place of work, more like a secret held between just the two of us. And though exhaustion tugged at me, a small, restless awareness stirred, the realization that sharing a car with Adrian at this hour felt like something that didn't belong to the daylight.

The elevator ride down was quiet, only the low hum of machinery filling the space. I tugged at the sleeves of my hoodie, half to fight the chill, half to keep my hands busy under the weight of his presence.

Outside, the street was hushed, the city lights scattering faintly against the pavement. Adrian unlocked a sleek black car waiting at the curb. Without a word, he opened the driver's side door, and I slid into the passenger seat.

The leather was cool beneath me, carrying a faint trace of his cologne. He started the engine, and the silence settled again, broken only by the smooth hum of the car gliding through near-empty streets.

I glanced at the glowing dashboard clock, 12:17 a.m. then at him. His face was calm, profile sharp against the faint glow of the passing streetlights.

"You always work this late?" I asked, my voice softer than I intended.

"Not always," he replied, steady and quiet. "Only when it matters."

Something in the way he said it made me curious, but I didn't push. My fingers played with the cuff of my sleeve as the silence stretched.

Then, unexpectedly, his voice cut through again. "First week in, and you're already working past twelve" His eyes flicked toward me briefly before returning to the road.

I gave a small laugh. "Not exactly how I imagined my glamorous new job." I replied not hiding my sarcasm.

The faintest curve tugged at his mouth, gone almost as quickly as it appeared. "Glamour's overrated."

The words lingered, simple yet weighted, and I found myself staring out the window, watching the city blur by while still aware of every shift of his presence beside me.

When he finally pulled up outside my building, he didn't speak right away. His hand rested on the wheel, eyes forward, as though debating whether to say more.

"Get some rest," he said at last, voice low, measured. "Tomorrow will come quickly."

I nodded, murmured a soft "Thank you," before slipping out. The cool night air wrapped around me as I walked toward the entrance. Even without looking back, I could feel it, his gaze lingering until I was gone from sight.

By the time I stepped through my apartment door, the weight of the night sank into my bones. I kicked off my sneakers, leaving them by the door, and let my bag drop onto the couch with a soft thud. The quiet here was different than at the office, looser, less sharp, and comfortable.

I pulled my hoodie over my head, tossing it onto the armrest before heading straight to the bathroom. The mirror caught me on the way in, hair slightly messy, faint shadows under my eyes. I looked tired it was very obvious, I barely recognized the girl who had been sitting across from Adrian minutes ago, pretending her hoodie and sweatpants didn't make her feel small.

The shower was quick but warm, steam curling around me like a blanket. By the time I stepped out and changed into fresh pajamas, the knot in my stomach had loosened.

Curling up on the edge of my bed, I replayed the evening in my head. The quiet of the office. His voice, low and steady. The way he barely reacted to my appearance, as though sweatpants or heels made no difference to him.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in, It should have been a relief and it was, mostly. But part of me still lingered in that silence, still aware of how sharp his presence felt even when he wasn't looking directly at me.

I exhaled, shaking it off, and reached over to switch off the lamp. Tomorrow would come quickly enough. For tonight, all I wanted was to let sleep blur the edges of everything.

I got comfortable allowing my soft cover embrace me as sleep takes over.