Chapter Eleven: Unrelenting Pursuit

(Ariadne Asselina Ildelfonso's POV)

The morning after the bar confrontation, I woke up with a dull ache behind my eyes and a heaviness in my chest that no amount of sleep could erase.

I had managed to escape last night. But I knew—deep in my bones—that Gavyn wouldn’t let me go so easily.

And I was right.

Because the moment I stepped into the office that morning, there he was.

Gavyn Del Herrera.

Standing near the reception desk, casually sipping his coffee like he belonged here, like he had every right to be in my space.

My steps faltered, heat creeping up my neck as I caught the way my coworkers were looking between us, whispering.

Bella’s eyes widened in barely restrained curiosity. Ahsirt, who was leaning against her desk, shot me a smirk like she was watching the opening act of an entertaining drama.

I forced myself to keep moving, acting as though his presence didn’t send a sharp jolt through my entire body.

Gavyn, of course, didn’t miss a beat.

“Morning, Ariadne.” His voice was smooth, familiar, and far too comfortable.

I clenched my jaw and kept walking.

Not today. Not here. Not in front of everyone.

But Gavyn had never been one to respect boundaries, and today was no exception.

He fell into step beside me with ease, effortlessly keeping pace as I made my way toward my office.

“Did you sleep well?” His tone was light, teasing.

I shot him a glare. “What are you doing here, Gavyn?”

He smiled, unfazed. “Just checking in on my favorite team partner. Is that a crime?”

I exhaled sharply. “It should be.”

Before I could escape into my office, he reached out—not touching me, but just enough to block my path.

His voice lowered, the teasing edge slipping into something more serious. “We need to talk.”

I glanced around, noting the way people were watching—some pretending not to, others openly staring.

“I’m at work,” I hissed.

He tilted his head. “So?”

“So,” I gritted out, “whatever conversation you think we need to have can wait.”

His gaze darkened. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

I scoffed. “If you were anyone else, you’d take the hint.”

Gavyn smiled at that—slow, knowing, infuriating. “But I’m not just anyone else, am I?”

Damn him.

The worst part? He was right.

Before I could say something I’d regret, Bella suddenly appeared, practically vibrating with excitement. “Good morning, Mr. Del Herrera,” she greeted with too much enthusiasm.

I shot her a glare, but she ignored me completely.

Gavyn turned his attention to her with a charming smile. “Good morning. Bella, was it?”

Bella beamed. “Oh, you remember!”

Of course, he did. Gavyn never forgot details when they were useful.

I took the opportunity to sidestep him and push open my office door. “Enjoy your fan club, Gavyn.”

But before I could shut the door behind me, his voice reached me.

“I’ll see you later, Ari.”

The casual way he said it sent a shiver down my spine.

He wasn’t done. Not even close.

And I had the sinking feeling that this was only the beginning.

The next few days were a relentless siege.

Everywhere I turned, Gavyn was there.

In the hallway? He’d somehow be walking in the same direction.

In the cafeteria? He’d casually slide into the seat across from me, ignoring my scowl and the amused glances from my colleagues.

During meetings? He made sure to sit within my line of sight, always watching, always smirking like he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

And worst of all—he didn’t even try to be subtle.

“Did you miss me, Ariadne?” he’d ask, far too loudly, making sure people heard.

“Not even a little,” I’d shoot back, my face burning as Bella and Ahsirt barely contained their laughter.

But the more I resisted, the more persistent he became.

Flowers started appearing on my desk.

Coffee, perfectly made to my preference, would be waiting for me each morning.

Even small, ridiculous things—like my favorite pen that had gone missing—somehow found their way back to me with a note attached: “I believe this belongs to you. – G”

It was infuriating.

It was humiliating.

And worst of all—it was working.

Because no matter how hard I tried to ignore him, I couldn’t ignore the way my heart reacted every time he was near.

The way my pulse stuttered when I caught him staring.

The way my body remembered every touch, every kiss, every whispered promise from a past I had sworn to bury.

And I hated it.

Hated him.

But most of all—

I hated the part of me that still wanted to believe in him.

By the end of the week, I had reached my limit.

I stormed into the executive wing, ignoring the startled glances from the secretaries, and pushed open the door to the private conference room where I knew Gavyn would be.

Sure enough, there he was, seated at the head of the table, reviewing some documents.

His lips curled into a knowing smile the moment he saw me.

“Ariadne,” he greeted smoothly. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

I slammed the door behind me and crossed my arms. “What the hell are you doing?”

Gavyn leaned back in his chair, completely at ease. “Being persistent.”

I let out a sharp laugh. “Oh, is that what you call it? Because I call it stalking.”

His smile didn’t waver. “If I were stalking, I wouldn’t be this obvious.”

I clenched my fists. “You’re making a spectacle of this.”

His gaze darkened slightly, the amusement dimming. “Am I?”

“Yes!” I exploded. “Everyone’s talking! My coworkers are gossiping! Bella and Ahsirt practically have a betting pool on what you’re going to do next!”

Gavyn shrugged, entirely unbothered. “Let them talk.”

I stared at him, incredulous. “You don’t care at all, do you?”

His expression sobered. “Oh, I care, Ariadne. I care a lot.”

Something in his voice sent a shiver down my spine.

Before I could step back, he was in front of me, his presence overwhelming.

“I care enough to fight for you,” he murmured. “I care enough to remind you—every single day—that I’m not the man who walked away five years ago.”

I swallowed hard. “Gavyn…”

His fingers brushed against my wrist, featherlight. “And I care enough to show you that no matter how much you push me away, I’ll still be here.”

My breath hitched.

Because the way he was looking at me—

It wasn’t playful anymore.

It wasn’t teasing.