Duncan Apartment. Main Bedroom.
After hydrating herself, Sandra finally pieced together what happened last night.
And then came the overwhelming mix of shame and frustration. 😣
Uh… don't get the wrong idea!
It's not that she couldn't handle certain things.
A woman who could make a playboy savor the legendary "true fragrance" moment had to be a seasoned pro, right? Why would she care about that?
No, what she couldn't stomach was how her sharp journalist instincts and professionalism had—yep, you guessed it—gone out the window again.
The first time was when she went to interview an artsy film director for her school paper.
She showed up at his room, barely got started, and he handed her a glass of wine. Next thing she knew, it was morning, the director was gone, and she had zilch for her story. 🙄
The second time was that whole mess with the baron's son—investigating and gathering evidence.
Sure, the ending turned out perfect, but the process? Ugh, don't even ask.
She'd genuinely been swayed by the guy, flip-flopping so hard she forgot why she was even there.
If he hadn't been dumb enough to spill the beans himself, she'd probably have lost sight of her goal entirely.
And now, here we are—strike three.
Compared to the last two flops, this one hit different. It wasn't just unforgettable—it left her mortified.
Why? Because this was her first big move after making a name for herself.
She thought she'd matured, gotten professional.
But nope! Not only did she forget her purpose again, she'd spilled every detail of why she was there—thanks to Adam's sly nudging.
Yup, she said it!
She laid it all out! 😱
What the heck?!
How could she blurt that out?
Investigations like this are supposed to be hush-hush, catching people off guard. Otherwise, what's the point?
Now? The whole thing's ruined.
Once her target knows her game, only an idiot would let her keep digging.
Her pride as a rising media star? Shattered overnight by Adam—like a wrecking ball through a house of cards.
So infuriating! 😤
Sandra chugged the rest of her water in frustration, only then noticing the girl in front of her grinning cheekily, eyes wandering a bit too much.
"Ah!"
Sandra yelped, suddenly feeling a chill, and yanked the blanket up to cover herself.
How could the classic "playboy's true fragrance" morning-after scene skip that graceful post-night curve show? 😏
In the world of American TV dramas, guys and gals don't seem to feel the cold. Not using a blanket? Total basic move.
Even in freezing weather, they strut around in skimpy outfits, sip ice water during those days of the month when hot tea should be the vibe, or even go barefoot on icy streets.
If you can't imagine it, they're out there doing it.
People call polar bears the toughest creatures, but the men and women in this TV world? They're no joke either.
Kids watching at home, though—don't try this!
These folks are different—they've trained for it, grown up like this, pros through and through!
Oh, and their ice water obsession? It's got reasons.
First, they eat crazy high-calorie stuff, so chugging something cold feels amazing.
It's the same anywhere—after scarfing down a big, meaty meal, an icy drink just hits right.
Second, it's their culture.
They see freezing as the antidote to death—any plant or animal "dies," and bam, it's straight to the freezer to stay edible.
So, ice gets added to everything. Their fridges have built-in ice makers, and every restaurant starts you off with a glass of ice water.
"No worries!"
Juno laughed. "I'm a doctor."
"…"
Sandra was speechless.
What does being a doctor have to do with this?
Last night's guy was a doctor too!
Doctors are terrifying, okay?!
In this TV drama world, public bathhouses? Nope, not a thing—for guys or girls.
Why? Because you never know what kind of weirdo you're sharing the water with…
"Just freshen up a bit. Adam ordered you breakfast—it'll be out there soon," Juno said with a smile. "I'll head out first."
"Wait, he specifically ordered breakfast for me?" Sandra asked, incredulous.
"Yup," Juno nodded. "Should suit your taste. You… still have an appetite, right?"
"…"
Sandra froze, clutching the blanket even tighter.
Once Juno shut the door behind her, Sandra finally had a moment to think.
What's going on here?
Last night, they'd basically interrogated her purpose out of her, and instead of kicking her out, he's… thoughtfully getting her breakfast?
Did he fall for her?
No way!
Sandra quickly tossed that idea—beauty's usual go-to assumption—out the window.
Love doesn't work like that!
Not a chance!
So, he's got some ulterior motive?
That's it!
Her hunch must be spot-on.
Adam Duncan—this dazzling-on-the-outside guy—has something to hide.
That's why he's pretending he doesn't know her real goal, trying to throw her off.
Smart move!
Last night, she'd bared her soul—spilling her mission, no filter, even rambling about her whole life, normal stuff, weird stuff, funny moments, embarrassing ones, all of it.
She'd been half-asleep, half-awake.
Adam probably thinks she doesn't remember that little chat.
After all, when you're stuck in one scene too long, you lose track of time, of yourself—like driving down an endless, empty highway and nodding off.
In that case, playing dumb is his best bet.
What else could he do?
Angrily kick her out?
That'd just scream, "Yup, I've got secrets!"
And does she look like the type to give up easy?
Even if she can't get close, she'd dig from a distance.
As long as she doesn't quit, she'd find his weak spot eventually.
But if he acts clueless, letting her think he's in the dark about her goal, she'd keep "sneaking" closer. If she finds nothing, she'd lose interest and chase a new lead.
Why would she doubt the stuff she worked so hard to uncover?
Clever guy!
But he slipped up.
Her memory's top-notch—even in that hazy state, she knows exactly what she said!
Now, he doesn't know she knows he knows her purpose.
Sure, a lot of what comes next might be a fake-out he's set up.
But no one's perfect. If she gets close, it's way more efficient than snooping from afar. She's got a solid shot at nailing the key scoop.
That's the confidence of a media rising star! 💪
Hmph!
Adam Duncan, you might be a genius, but you'll slip up eventually—and I'll be there to catch you.
When that happens, I'm dropping a bombshell exclusive.
Just wait and see!
With that thought, Sandra's mood lifted. Her worries melted away, and last night's fun crept back into her mind, lingering like a catchy tune.
Seriously—gone from her frown, straight to her heart.
"No rush, no rush, take it slow…" she mumbled to herself.
(End of Chapter)