Adley's POV

I slipped my papers into my bag as I finished up my work for the day. I spent the full day working on a presentation and had finally perfected it. I cleaned up my workspace a bit. It was a fairly average day. Once again filled with papers as usual.

The environment was friendly in the workplace although I didn't talk to many people. People liked me but I wasn't close to them. Despite my self-isolating nature, there was one person that I enjoyed interacting with. That person was my coworker, Daviel Prince. He was the only person in my heart. I loved him.

Daviel had been my light for as long as I could remember. He made my heart flutter anytime I saw him. I would daydream about him any chance I had. I was indeed head or heels in love with him.

I met him in the 10th grade in the middle of the year. Daviel had been my secret Santa in our English class. He had gotten me a scrunchie. I always wore it, no matter what. It was at this moment that I fell for him.

It was at that moment I discovered how far I would go for love.

Even if I had to kill.

When I told my father about these feelings he taught me how to ensure that he would be mine. He taught me how to kill and cover it up so that I wouldn't be found. He taught me how to sabotage his relationships

Since then I have made sure that no one would be able to take the role of the girlfriend from me.

No one was going to get in the way of my love.

As life went on I followed him to high school then to college and then to work. I stayed by his side no matter what.

During those years, there was always one person who got in the way and I couldn't get rid of. She was a thorn in my side. A hindrance. I tried so hard to get rid of her but she always saw through my plans. She was strong and intelligent. That Saffron Charles was such a pain. Because of her meddling, I loathed her. She reciprocated those feeling and despised me as well. But then it all changed on this very fateful day.

As I had been packing up, Daviel came over to discuss our latest project. Oddly enough, my heart didn't flutter when I saw him. There was no change is my temperature either. It felt cold and numb. There was nothing.

"You just finishing up, Adley?"

"Yes. You as well?"

Our conversation was normal. There wasn't anything unique. It wasn't different from any other time I spoke with him but usually, I could barely speak without stuttering. For once I felt indifferent in a conversation with him. While I was talking with him, Saffron squeezed herself into the small cubicle with us.

"How's everything going over here?"

When I saw her I could feel my face turn red. Why was it that when she joined, all my old feelings came back. Suddenly everything about her appealed to me. From her crystal eyes to her slender waist. She looked beautiful. Throughout the entire conversation, I could only focus on her. She took over my mind.

I quickly excused myself, hurriedly packing my bag, and left for home. When I got home I was still only thinking about her. As I showered, I thought about her taking a shower. The way that the water might fall on her body. The way that her wet hair would glisten. How she would stretch and bend to clean every inch of herself. Even as I made dinner and eventually went to bed, I only thought of her. I saw her standing in my kitchen, wearing a skimpy nightgown, cooking a late-night snack. I pictured her lying in my bed wearing nothing but her underwear, beckoning me to lay with her.

Why was I thinking like this? I hated her. At least I thought I did. But now I was thinking more of her than I was of Daviel. That stupid Saffron. Now she ruined everything. Even my own thoughts. Had I suddenly forgotten my love and dedication for Daviel? Did I now love her? At this point, I was confused about what love was anymore. If I had drifted from Daviel so easily, then did I ever really love him? Was what I was feeling for Saffron love or fascination? I told myself that I would sleep on this matter. Maybe it'll be gone by the next day.

Unfortunately, it didn't go away. Saffron still occupied my thoughts. She had totally conquered my mind. Every time I saw her at work my yearning grew stronger. She made my heart squeeze when I looked at her. But I couldn't let her know this. If she knew my fascination with Daviel ended, she would leave since her plan of stopping would have succeeded. But maybe her leaving would be a good thing. Possibly if she left everything would go back to how it was. And yet, the thought of her gone hurt me. I couldn't let her leave. I needed her.

Was this her plan? To get my focus on her? If so, two could play at that game. I started to hang out with Daviel more. I didn't get nervous around him anymore so it was easy. Saffron obviously became more suspicious and inserted herself more. I guessed that this was the game I would have to play. For now, I didn't know what my feelings were. For now, I'd have to pretend.