Chapter 177
Chapter 177:
“Really?” Sophie exclaimed, caught off guard by Adrian’s sudden concession. Surprise flickered in her eyes, quickly replaced by a spark of excitement.
“There’s just one catch if you want to make this trade,” Adrian said, an enigmatic grin curling into his lips.
Unable to hide her curiosity, she blurted out, “What’s the catch p>
Adrian closed the distance between them, his breath teasing her skin, that playful glint never leaving his eyes. The atmosphere between them sparked with anticipation as he murmured, “When the mask comes off, I want you… to sit on my face and let me p>
He lowered his voice, whispering the rest straight into Sophie’s ear.
“Adrian!” Red with both outrage and humiliation, Sophie shoved Adrian back. She snatched the closest cushion and tossed it straight at him. “You disgusting creep! Absolute jerk! Get out of my sight! I never want to see you again p>
𝘕𝖾𝘸 𝖼𝗁𝗮𝘱𝗍e𝘳𝘀 𝘦𝘃е𝘳y w𝖾𝗲k o𝗻
She whirled around and stomped straight to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her with a force that made the whole frame shake, determined to block out any trace of his shameless words.
Left behind, Adrian bent to pick up the tossed cushion and placed it back on the couch, staring at the door that separated them. His usual playful grin faded, replaced by a hint of seriousness. Only the distant sounds of the television filled the quiet penthouse.
He dropped onto the couch and ran a hand over his face, letting out a deep, weary sigh. For a moment, his tired eyes betrayed the effort of keeping up the charade.
Although she didn’t insist on seeing his face this time, she might make that request again. Unless he found a way to prove he and the founder weren’t the same person, her doubts would never go away.
Morning came, but Sophie was still seething, unable to get over Adrian’s outrageous behavior the night before. Determined to keep her distance, she made sure to sit as far from him as possible during breakfast.
Despite her obvious attempt to avoid him, Adrian didn’t seem to notice—or maybe he just enjoyed pushing her buttons. He strolled over, dangling two ties—one black, one navy—in front of her with a cheeky grin. “Baby, I can’t decide. Which one do you think I should wear p>
Sophie glared at him, making no effort to hide her annoyance. “Honestly? They both look awful p>
“Is that so?” Adrian’s eyebrows shot up, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Maybe you should pick out one for me, then p>
Sophie seized her chance for payback. He wanted her opinion? Fine.
She got up, marched over to his closet, and rummaged through it until she spotted the brightest, most outrageous red tie in his entire collection—a color that screamed for attention. With a victorious little smile, she handed it over. “Wear this! You’ll definitely stand out p>
Adrian paused, eyeing the tie as if it might be a prank. His lips twitched. “You’re really sure about this choice p>
Sophie folded her arms and raised her chin with teasing defiance. “What, you don’t believe me? Then next time, don’t ask if you can’t handle my taste p>
“Of course I trust you,” Adrian replied, quickly recovering his composure. With practiced hands, he looped the bold red tie around his collar, letting the teasing melody linger in his voice.
The sight of Adrian, dressed in a sharp black suit with that blinding red tie, was so over-the-top that Sophie couldn’t help bursting into laughter. Her bad mood vanished on the spot.
Adrian, adjusting his tie in the mirror, caught her laughing and shot her a playful look. “If you say it suits me, maybe I should wear red every day from now on p>
Looking him up and down, Sophie had to admit—against all odds, the tie actually looked good on him. Perhaps it was his build, or just the way he owned it, but the bold color gave him an unexpected charm.
Trying to act unimpressed, she rolled her eyes and grabbed her bag, ready to head out. “Wear whatever you want. See if I care p>