The morning began with the usual hum of keyboards and chatter. Elena walked into the break room, craving her first cup of coffee. The machine, however, had other plans. It sputtered, hissed, and then let out a dramatic clunk before refusing to cooperate.
"Not again," Elena muttered, pressing the button repeatedly. Nothing.
A colleague sighed. "This machine has been cursed since last month."
Elena frowned, determined. "I need caffeine. I refuse to lose this battle."
Adrian entered quietly, carrying a stack of files. He noticed the growing crowd around the machine. Without a word, he set the files down and examined the buttons.
Marcus Wu, trailing behind, froze. Oh no. Not another demonstration of skill. If he fixes this machine in seconds, the rumors will explode again. I'll be finished.
Adrian pressed a few buttons, tilted the water container, and gave the machine a firm tap. It sputtered back to life, whirring cheerfully as hot coffee poured into the cup.
The crowd gasped. "He fixed it!"
Elena blinked, impressed. "You… actually revived it?"
Adrian handed her the steaming cup. "Machines just need patience."
Elena laughed softly, accepting the cup. "Or maybe they just need you."
Marcus clutched his head dramatically. Patience? He practically resurrected a dead coffee machine. Now they'll think he's an engineer too. I'll die of stress before this charade ends.
The rest of the day, whispers spread. "He fixed the coffee machine!" one intern exclaimed. "What can't he do?"
Another joked, "Next week he'll probably repair the elevator."
Elena overheard, her cheeks warming. She tried to ignore it, but her mind kept circling back. Why does everyone notice him so much?
Later, Elena found Adrian at his desk. She leaned against the divider, teasing lightly. "So, you're a barista now?"
Adrian looked up, amused. "Hardly. I just pressed a few buttons."
She smirked. "A few buttons that no one else could figure out."
He shrugged. "Maybe I was lucky."
Elena laughed, shaking her head. "You're strange."
Adrian's eyes softened. "Strange isn't always bad."
Late in the afternoon, Elena hurried down the staircase with a stack of folders in her arms. She was distracted, replaying the coffee machine incident in her head. Her heel caught the edge of a step, and suddenly she was tilting forward, the folders scattering like leaves.
Her breath caught. I'm going to fall—
But before she could hit the ground, strong arms wrapped around her. Adrian had moved faster than anyone thought possible, catching her mid‑fall.
For a heartbeat, time seemed to freeze. Elena found herself cradled against his chest, her hair brushing his shoulder, her eyes wide as she looked up at him. It felt like a scene from a fantasy novel — the heroine rescued at the last moment by the calm, unshakable hero.
Adrian's voice was low, steady. "Careful. Stairs aren't forgiving."
Elena's cheeks burned. She scrambled upright, clutching the folders. "I… I didn't mean to—thank you."
He released her gently, his expression unreadable but his eyes softer than usual. "You're safe. That's what matters."
Marcus, who had witnessed the entire scene from the landing above, nearly fainted. She fell into his arms like a heroine in a drama! If she ever suspects he's the CEO, I'll be finished. Absolutely finished.
He muttered under his breath, "I'll die of a heart attack before this charade ends."
That evening, Elena walked outside, still replaying the moment on the stairs. She shook her head, embarrassed at how her heart had raced.
A familiar car slowed beside her. The window rolled down, and Adrian's voice called gently, "Miss Li. Let me take you home."
She smiled faintly, teasing. "What's next? You'll catch me every time I trip?"
He chuckled softly. "If I'm nearby, yes."
By evening, Elena packed her things. She stepped outside, the cool breeze brushing against her face. As she walked down the quiet road, a familiar car slowed beside her.
The window rolled down, and Adrian's voice called gently, "Miss Li. Let me take you home."
She smiled faintly, teasing. "What's next? You'll fix my apartment lights too?"
He chuckled. "Only if they break."
She hesitated, then slid into the car. The ride was calm, the silence comfortable. Elena sipped the coffee she had saved from earlier, glancing at him. "You know, you're making it hard for me to believe you're just an assistant."
Adrian kept his eyes on the road, his tone even. "Believe whatever makes you comfortable."
Her lips curved into a small smile. "Comfortable, yes. But curious too."
Marcus, meanwhile, sat at his desk long after everyone had gone, muttering to himself. "Coffee machine, projector, barbecue… He's building a résumé of miracles. If she ever finds out he's the CEO, I'm finished. Absolutely finished."
He buried his face in his hands. "I'll die of a heart attack before this charade ends."