In Love: Against All Odds

The Universe Just Pulled the Ultimate Prank on Me

I Knew You Were Trouble – Taylor Swift 🚦😬
"Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground..."

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The next day started like any other, but there was something off in the air—an unspoken tension that made my skin crawl. I woke up groggy, my head still heavy from yesterday's chaos, but I managed to drag myself out of bed.

 Adri was already up, moving around the apartment as she got ready for work. Normally, we'd chat about random things—our projects, celebrity gossip, or the latest office drama—but today? Silence.

It wasn't the comfortable kind, either. It was the type of silence that felt like a storm was brewing beneath it.

I glanced at her as she sipped her coffee, eyes slightly unfocused like she was stuck in some deep thought. Ever since that weird run-in with Jade, she'd been different—quieter, distracted. I'd tried asking her about it, but she always brushed it off with a forced smile, telling me not to worry.

Which obviously just made me worry more.

As Adri slipped on her heels, I cleared my throat. "I'll come a little later to Arymeline," I muttered, rubbing my temple.

Adri paused, looking at me with concern. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, even though I wasn't entirely sure. "Yeah, just need a bit more time."

She hesitated, then grabbed her car keys and held them out to me. "You want me to leave the car?"

I shook my head. "Nah, I'll just take a cab."

She gave me a lingering look like she wanted to say something else, but instead, she nodded. "Alright. See you at work."

With that, she grabbed her bag and headed out the door, the faint sound of her car's engine fading as she drove off, leaving me alone in the stillness of the apartment.

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I took my time getting ready, hoping the extra minutes would help clear my mind. They didn't. I still felt like my nerves were on high alert, and the worst part? I had no idea why. Maybe it was because I was still reeling from seeing Patrick yesterday.

That moment had shaken me more than I wanted to admit.

Why now?

Sipping my now-cold coffee, I tried to shove the intrusive thoughts aside. I had actual work to focus on. Deadlines weren't going to wait for me to sort through my emotional baggage.

After a deep breath, I grabbed my bag, called a cab, and headed out.

The city buzzed around me as I slipped into the backseat, watching the skyline blur past.

One thing was for sure—I needed to get my head together before stepping into Arymeline.

By the time I stepped into the office, everything felt normal on the surface—the familiar sounds of clicking keyboards, quiet conversations, and the low hum of the air conditioning. But I wasn't normal. I felt like I was walking straight into a trap.

And, oh boy, I was right.

As I made my way to my desk, my gaze automatically drifted towards Adri's workstation. She was standing there, stiff as a board, eyes locked onto something—or someone—across the room.

My stomach twisted. I followed her gaze and felt my entire body lock up.

There he was. Patrick.