Chapter Twelve: Unfinished Business

(Ariadne Asselina Ildelfonso's POV)

Gavyn was relentless.

It had been days since the incident at the bar, and I had done everything in my power to avoid him.

But Gavyn Del Herrera was not the kind of man who accepted avoidance.

He didn’t just pursue—he made sure everyone saw it.

And it was driving me insane.

"Ari, I think you have a problem," Bella mused as she stirred her coffee.

I barely looked up from my laptop. "I have several."

Alexa smirked. "Yes, but this one is six feet tall, devastatingly attractive, and apparently has made it his mission to win you back."

Ahsirt leaned in. "And he’s making sure everyone knows it."

My fingers tensed on the keyboard. "He’s being annoying, not romantic."

Bella raised an eyebrow. "Annoying is when a guy sends too many texts. Annoying is when he calls you ‘babe’ after a day of knowing you. Gavyn?" She let out a breath. "Gavyn is making a statement."

"And what statement is that?" I challenged.

Ahsirt grinned. "That you’re his."

I nearly choked on my drink. "Excuse me?"

Alexa chuckled. "You might want to take a step back and look at this from an outsider’s perspective. Since we arrived in London, he’s been practically glued to your side."

"Because we’re work partners."

Bella gave me a look. "Work partners don’t look at each other the way he looks at you."

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "You’re all overreacting."

Ahsirt grinned. "Are we? Because yesterday, he made a point to carry your coffee order from the shop, even though you were fully capable of carrying it yourself."

"And today," Alexa added, "he walked into the meeting room and pulled out your chair before sitting down next to you like you were the only person in the room."

Bella took a sip of her coffee. "And let’s not forget the way he got into a staring match with Arzhael at the bar. That was… intense."

I exhaled sharply. "You’re all reading into things too much."

Alexa smirked. "Oh, honey. We’re not reading into anything. We’re just watching the story unfold."

Later That Day.

I stepped into the conference room, feeling the weight of eyes on me the moment I entered.

And of course—there he was.

Gavyn sat at the far end of the table, dressed in his usual tailored suit, looking every bit the composed, powerful man that he was. But the moment he saw her, something shifted in his expression.

He stood.

Walked.

Crossed the room with effortless ease.

"Ariadne," he greeted, voice smooth, as if the entire room wasn’t watching their every interaction.

I nodded stiffly. "Gavyn."

A smirk played on his lips. "You’re avoiding me."

"Or maybe I’m just busy."

"Busy avoiding me," he corrected, taking another step forward.

My jaw tightened. "What do you want?"

Gavyn tilted his head slightly, as if considering. Then—

"Have dinner with me."

Silence.