If you'd asked Adriana what she would be doing this morning, she definitely wouldn't have said, "Heading back to MIT after getting a last-minute email from Will." Yet here she was, sitting in the back of an Uber, staring out at the city passing by. Once again.

The email had caught her off guard. Will's words had been brief:

—-

Hi Adriana,

I've gone through your revisions, and they're exactly what we needed. Let's meet to discuss next steps.

Will

—

She had read it a few times, trying to figure out if there was a hidden edge, some sarcasm she'd missed, but there wasn't. His tone had been direct, almost complimentary. But she wasn't letting herself get swept up in that again. Not after the last time. Instead, she sent a response with her availability and made the appointment in her schedule.

She could see the campus now, as her Uber reached its destination. Cara's advice echoed in her head:"Just stay cool, stay professional. Don't let him see he got to you. Handle him like the prick he is, and focus on the job."

Adriana let out a quiet breath, feeling the familiar tension settle back into her shoulders. She smoothed her black tee down with clammy palms and refused to care about her sweat today. Who the fuck cared if Will Lockwood thought she was gross?

When the Uber pulled up to the entrance of the building, she stepped out, squaring her shoulders. The confidence she had felt before was gone, replaced by a steely determination to get through this meeting and nothing more.

When she walked into the now-familiar office, she saw Will already there, standing by the window with a coffee in hand, flipping through a set of had she not noticed the window before?He looked up at her, and for a moment, his gaze softened, as if he was relieved to see her.

"Adriana," he greeted her, his voice warm in a way that made her feel sick with herself for liking. "Your revisions were phenomenal. Exactly what we needed."

She nodded, keeping her tone as neutral as possible. "Glad to hear it."

Will gestured to the chair across from him, and she sat down, keeping her back straight, her expression carefully controlled. She wasn't here to make friends, and she certainly wasn't here to get caught up in whatever game Will Lockwood was playing.

"I have to say," Will continued, sitting down across from her, "you really pulled it together. The board's going to love what you've done. You hit all the right notes."

It was the exact same idea that he'd ripped her a new one for. All she'd done was present it the actual hell?Adriana wanted to laugh, or maybe scream right now. Instead, she simply nodded again, her response clipped. "I'm glad it aligns with what you're looking for."

There was a brief silence, during which Adriana could feel him studying her, trying to gauge her mood. She kept her eyes on the notes in front of her, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing any flicker of the nerves or the hurt he'd caused last time.

Will crossed an ankle over his knee and continued, his tone still confident but more serious now. "We need to finalize the timeline for presenting this. There are key dates we can't miss, and I'd like your input on how we should approach the board."

Adriana looked up, her mind focused on the work. "I'll make sure everything is ready. The stakeholders need to see this as a cohesive, polished proposal that answers all their questions before they even ask them."

Will smiled, clearly pleased. "That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say."

She could feel the familiar tug, the way his approval made something in her chest tighten, but she pushed it away. She wasn't here for his approval. She was here to do her job, and that was it.

He continued, outlining the next steps, his confidence unwavering. It was clear he knew what he wanted and how to get it done, and as much as she hated to admit it, Adriana found herself appreciating that. There was something about the way he laid out the plan, the way he took control of the situation, that made her want to lean into all of it. But she didn't. She couldn't.

"Your ability to take something complex and make it accessible is one of your greatest strengths," Will said. "Not everyone has that." Was that admiration in his voice?

Adriana forced herself to stay neutral. "It's what I'm here to do."

He paused, as if waiting for her to say more, but when she didn't, he pressed on. "I appreciate it. I think we're going to make a real difference with this project."

There it was again, that hint of something in his voice that made her want to soften, to let him in just a little. But she couldn't forget the way he'd made her feel like she didn't belong. The memory of his cutting words.

"I agree," she managed. "Which is why I'm here: to help get this project across the finish line." She forced a smile.

Will nodded, leaning back slightly, but she could see he was still trying to read her. "And you will. With the work you've proposed, the panel won't have a reason to say no."

There was a part of her that wanted to believe him, to let herself feel the pride in her work that his words seemed to invite. But then she remembered how he had torn her down before, and the walls went back up.

When the meeting finally wrapped up, Adriana stood, ready to make her exit. But as she turned to leave, Will's voice stopped her.

"Adriana," he said, and she paused, glancing back at him. "I know we didn't start on the best foot, but I meant what I said. You're making a real impact here."

She hesitated, her heart twisting at the sincerity in his voice. But she forced herself to stay focused. "Thanks. I'm here to help make sure this project succeeds."

Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked out, her heart pounding in her chest. She'd kept it together, kept her distance, but something about the way he had looked at her, the way he had spoken, stuck in her mind as she stepped outside into the warm, sunlit bustle of the campus.

She took a deep breath, trying to clear her head. She had done what she needed to do: she had stayed professional and focused on the work. But as much as she hated to admit it, Will had gotten under her skin. She wasn't going to let herself fall for it, though. Not again. Adriana was here to see this project through and that was all.