Chapter 9: Forced Proximity
Elena's alarm buzzed harshly, dragging her from a restless sleep. Her mind immediately went to last night—the kiss, the warmth of Adrian's hand, the way her body had betrayed her thoughts.
Impossible, she muttered under her breath, forcing herself out of bed. It's just a system. Nothing more.
---
Her morning was a blur of calls, emails, and paperwork. She barely had time to breathe before a message from Adrian appeared on her phone:
Meet me at the office. We need to finalize the system-mandated schedule. – A
Elena groaned. The system had already dictated the day's interactions. She had no choice but to comply.
[ System Alert: Mission active – Proximity for extended period. Reward: +20% trust ]
Adrian's arrival at her office punctuated the start of the day. He stood at the door, casually leaning against the frame, eyes scanning her.
"Carter," he said smoothly, voice calm yet commanding. "We're working together today. From start to finish."
Elena blinked. "Working together? All day?"
"Yes. Proximity is key." He stepped inside, placing his coat on the back of a chair. "The system demands it. I comply."
Her cheeks flushed. The system? Or him?
---
The first hour passed in tense silence. Adrian sat across from her, occasionally offering guidance on documents, his presence heavy, almost magnetic. Elena tried to focus, but the subtle touches—the brush of his hand when pointing at papers, the accidental graze of his knee—kept her heart racing.
[ Mission Progress: Proximity +10% ]
She scowled at herself. This is ridiculous.
---
Mid-morning, Ryan appeared unexpectedly outside her office, peering in through the glass wall. His expression was a mix of frustration and concern.
Elena, don't let him—
Elena ignored him, forcing herself to work, but her pulse quickened at the sight. She couldn't let him see her vulnerable. Not now.
[ System Alert: Rival influence detected. Host must act immediately. ]
Adrian's gaze flicked toward Ryan. "He's persistent," he muttered, voice low. Then, almost imperceptibly, he shifted closer to Elena, subtly shielding her from Ryan's view.
[ Bonus Mission: Physical proximity to block rival. Reward: +15% trust ]
Elena's heart thudded. Why does his presence feel… protective?
---
By lunchtime, the tension had grown unbearable. Adrian suggested they take a short walk outside for fresh air. The courtyard was quiet, almost deserted, the city sounds muted by tall buildings.
"Why does the system dictate all this?" Elena demanded, her voice edged with frustration. "Why force me to spend hours with you?"
Adrian's eyes softened. "Because proximity breeds trust. Emotional attachment. The system recognizes potential, and I follow it… but I also want you to understand me."
Her breath caught at the faint intensity in his gaze. Understand him?
---
They walked in silence, each step echoing against the pavement. Adrian's hand brushed against hers once more, lingering slightly. Elena's heart raced uncontrollably.
[ Mission Alert: Accidental intimacy detected – prolonged touch. Target susceptibility +10% ]
She pulled her hand back quickly, cheeks flushing. "Stop! You're… impossible."
"I'm not impossible," he replied softly, voice calm but intense. "I'm precise. And careful. Yet I don't pretend feelings don't exist."
Elena froze. Feelings? With him? Impossible.
---
The next afternoon, a new system alert forced them into a private meeting in Adrian's office.
[ Mission: Initiate prolonged one-on-one interaction. Reward: +20% trust ]
Adrian closed the door behind them, creating an air of privacy that made Elena's pulse quicken. He gestured to a chair beside his desk. "Sit," he instructed.
Elena hesitated, then complied. She couldn't explain why her knees felt weak.
The conversation began with work—company strategies, schedules, and financial plans. Yet the system nudged toward intimacy. Every instruction, every mission, guided Adrian to interact subtly: light touches, soft glances, leaning slightly closer than necessary.
[ Bonus Mission: Subtle intimacy – hand grazing, prolonged eye contact. Target susceptibility +15% ]
Elena felt dizzy, heart pounding. She wanted to resist, to focus, to maintain independence—but she couldn't escape the pull of his presence.
---
Suddenly, Ryan appeared outside the office window, tapping on the glass. Elena's breath caught. "Ryan!" she whispered.
Adrian's gaze sharpened. "He won't interfere here," he said smoothly, moving subtly to block the line of sight.
[ Mission Alert: Rival obstruction successful. Target trust +10% ]
Elena's cheeks burned. Why does it feel like I need him here?
---
The system chimed again.
[ Bonus Mission Activated: Initiate close proximity and first intimate gesture within 48 hours. ]
Adrian's lips twitched into a faint smirk. He leaned slightly closer, just enough that Elena could feel his warmth.
Her breath hitched. "You—stop!"
He ignored her protests, voice soft but commanding. "I am here to guide you. And the system will not wait for hesitation."
[ Mission Progress: Emotional attachment +15% ]
Her cheeks burned, heart racing uncontrollably. She wanted to pull away, yet a small, unspoken thrill coursed through her.
---
By evening, Elena returned home, exhausted and emotionally drained. The day's events replayed relentlessly: the touches, the glances, the way Adrian had subtly kept Ryan at bay, the system's unrelenting commands.
Her phone buzzed with messages from Ryan:
Elena, what's happening? Are you okay?
She didn't reply. She couldn't. Not yet.
[ System Update: Target emotional attachment 75% ]
Adrian, from his penthouse across the city, watched the lights of her building flicker on. He allowed himself a faint, controlled smile.
Two days remain. One intimate gesture achieved. Next: deeper connection.
The countdown pressed relentlessly, and Elena's heart betrayed her more with each passing hour.
The system is playing us both. And I… I don't know if I can resist.