“I only want two things in this world. I want you. And I want us.” 

Adrian’s POV 

After the meeting, I waited impatiently for twenty minutes for Azura, but she didn’t come. Actually, I was not keen on coffee. I already had two cups, which was more than my usual. The crazy wish to see her dove me wild. I was about to yell for Liam in frustration when there was a soft knock on my door, causing my heart to skip a beat. Was it Azura?

Azura opened the door and peered in shyly. Seeing me watching her, she blushed and came in looking too beautiful for her own good. My hungry gaze took in her loose tendril that escaped from her bun and fluttered about her lips as she walked into my office carrying a tray loaded with food.

She placed the tray on the center table and I got up and locked the door, not wanting her to escape. Her eyes widened at my creepiness, but I was beyond caring. As I approached her, she looked like a deer caught in the headlights. I stood in front of her, close enough to inhale her intoxicating scent. 

“You’re late. So, where’s my coffee?” I asked, looking at the tray full of food but no sign of the coffee I had asked for.

“You need food now, not coffee,” she scolded me, making my jaws drop with shock while she looked here and there, avoiding my eyes.

“Really? Interesting! So what else do you think I need?” I asked, going closer to her. My hand seemed to have a mind of its own as it went up to fix that loose tendril behind her ear. I could feel my friend down there get excited when my fingers brushed her soft cheeks. When she trembled like a leaf, her reaction to me surprised me. But more than that, it was my reaction to her, which had me floored. I just couldn’t stop thinking about how the rest of her naked body would feel. Was I getting crazy?

“Please, Adrian, I need to go.” Her voice brought me out of my sinful world and I gazed at her with confusion, seeing her place a lot of distance between us and turn to go. I took a step toward her to block her escape.

“Have lunch with me Azura,” I asked her, wishing in my heart that she would say yes.

“I have work to do,” she said as she tried to move past me, but I was quicker and grabbed her wrist. 

“Then bring me my coffee. I’m not hungry.” My mood just soured, and I know she was staring at me with her mouth hanging open. She didn’t know how stubborn I could be.

She looked into my eyes for a moment. “Alright, I’ll eat with you,” she said, making me want to do a happy dance in my mind. She was so innocent that convincing her was a piece of cake for me. 

‘This is just the start, Azura!’ I added in my mind.

I handed her a plate, and she started serving herself. I noted she had a normal appetite, unlike other girls I knew who always try to impress me with their dieting and figure consciousness. They didn’t know that it actually sickens me. I too served myself and we ate together as friends do. No, scratch that, like couples do! My heart again skipped a beat, and I had to say something before I did something stupid. 

“I’ve never seen you here before,” I said to her, watching her pink lips open and enclose upon the spoon. It made more sinful thoughts enter my head, but I shook them off. 

‘No Adrian! This isn’t the time. It’s too early and she’ll run for the hills, far away from you if she came to know of your thoughts!’ chided my mind.

“I joined yesterday,” she informed me.

“Oh, is this your first job?” I asked her, wanting to know everything about her.

“Oh no, this is my fifth. I started working when I was twelve,” she said with a proud smile, making me gape at her. What?

I nodded, not knowing what to say. She was just a child then, yet her parents made her work at twelve years of age. Wasn’t it child labor? How could they let her?

She finished her food in record time. She must have been hungry. “I’ve got to go, there’s work to be done, and Mr. Wilson, our manager, will not be happy,” she said as she got up to clear the table. 

“Thank you,” she said and left with the empty tray before I could say a word.

I tried to focus on my work and get some of it done. After struggling to concentrate for three hours, I was really relieved when the door opened. However, my happiness turned to disappointment when Theo, my best friend, waltzed in with a grin on his face. 

“Hey, man, where were you since morning?” he asked with a smirk.

“I’ve been here at the office. Why do you ask?” I asked irritatedly.

“Check your phone. I’ve called you a million times already,” he complained, gesturing for me to pick up my phone and check. I rolled my eyes, knowing he was kidding. I picked up and saw two missed calls from him. 

“A million times?” I asked, glaring at him.

“Whatever, you didn’t accept them, so I called your Mr. Liam and he gave me a vivid description of what went on since morning. Your sudden addiction to coffee and to a certain hot barista,” he said cheekily. His eyes shone with excitement, making me groan and want to throttle the big-mouthed Liam. I knew what Theo would be up to now. He would blackmail me and tease me to the end till I gave in to his demands. He was a leech, yet he was stuck with me for the last twenty-two years of my life, and I love him.

“Cut the crap. Why are you here?” I asked him with a smirk.