Unmasking the Heart

Chapter 21: Love Triangle

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Joi felt restless as a team of interior designers arrived at the house and headed straight to the bedroom. Their purpose was clear: transforming the space. But instead of engaging, Joi withdrew to the study, stewing over her predicament. She couldn't shake the weight of her decision to stay and the tangled web she had unknowingly stepped into.

Two hours passed, and only then did Joi realize she hadn't had her phone since the previous night. Her purse and phone were still in Adrian's car. Determined to retrieve them, she approached the study.

The door was slightly ajar, revealing Adrian sitting on the sofa, staring at the wall. There was an intensity to his gaze, but Joi couldn't discern what held his attention. She knocked softly. "Can I come in?"

Adrian glanced at her before rising and walking out, closing the door behind him.

Joi frowned at the abruptness. "I was wondering if you saw my purse or my phone..."

"They're in the room," he replied curtly, then returned to the study, shutting the door firmly.

Feeling dismissed, Joi turned and headed to the bedroom.

---

When she opened the door, Joi froze. The room had undergone a complete makeover. The personal touches that once reflected Sophia's presence—photos, work table, and even small trinkets—were gone. In their place was a makeup table with a glowing mirror, elegant and tailored to Joi's tastes.

A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. She approached the table, admiring its polished surface and turning on the mirror lights. Her fingers traced the edges, and for a moment, her anger dissolved into quiet appreciation.

The spell broke when she caught sight of herself in the mirror—still wearing Adrian's oversized polo. Shaking her head, she headed to the bathroom.

---

After freshening up, Joi emerged, her damp hair wrapped in a towel. Spotting a hairdryer and a straightener on the makeup table, she set to work drying and styling her long hair.

The room's transformation felt like a distraction she desperately needed. As she finished, she finally retrieved her phone from the bedside table. Notifications flashed across the screen—several missed calls and a flurry of texts from Emily.

Emily: "Joi… How did it go?" (6:30 AM)

Emily: "You're not home yet. Aren't you going to work? I made your favorite today!" (8:00 AM)

Emily: "Are you going to snub me and waste my efforts because you're with your so-called boss?" (10:00 AM)

Joi winced, feeling a pang of guilt. She quickly dialed Emily's number.

After two rings, Emily picked up. "BITCH! Were you planning to ghost me after winning over the boss's parents?"

Joi held the phone away from her ear, cringing at the volume. "Emily... I'm sorry!" she pleaded, her tone laced with faux innocence.

"You've been gone all night! My efforts were wasted," Emily huffed.

"It's not my fault! My boss put me in a tight spot, and now I can't come home for a while," Joi explained.

Emily's voice shifted to alarm. "What do you mean, you can't come home?"

Joi sighed, pacing the room as she recounted everything. "His father doesn't like me, his mother is... calm but dangerous, and then there's Anna, the fiancée arranged by his parents. She's beyond conniving."

"Wait," Emily interrupted, her voice incredulous. "He has a fiancée?"

"Yup," Joi confirmed, her tone bitter. "And she set me up big time. I'm never letting this go. She's going to pay for everything she's put me through."

Emily's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Oh, she messed with the wrong girl. What exactly happened?"

Joi sat on the bed, recounting Anna's sly tricks. "She gave me a house tour, then conveniently left me in Adrian's room under the pretense of taking a call from her mother. I didn't think much of it and went in. There were pictures of another woman everywhere—Sophia. I figured she was someone special to him. Then I noticed a broken necklace that looked easy to fix, so I tried... only for Adrian to walk in, furious. I thought he was angry about me touching his things, but I didn't even get a chance to explain."

Emily whistled. "Girl, that sounds like a love triangle. Actually, no... maybe a love square?"

Joi laughed. "More like a mess. But I'm not interested in Adrian, so it's not a triangle."

"Sure, sure," Emily teased. "But did he hurt you?"

"No, just a lot of glaring and silent treatment," Joi replied. "I'm just bored without you around. And it's so weird living with him."

"Aww, I miss you too. Who's going to do my makeup for Kofi's party tonight?"

"Wait, what party?" Joi frowned, trying to recall.

"Kofi's birthday! I told you, remember? You promised to do our makeup."

"Oh, shoot! I forgot. I can't go, but I'll figure out the makeup for you."

Before Emily could respond, a knock on the door interrupted them.

"Hold on, let me get that," Joi said, putting the phone down. She opened the door to find Mrs. Catlin smiling warmly.

"Lunch is ready. Mr. Adrian asked me to call you," the older woman announced.

"Thank you," Joi said, following her to the dining room, which she hadn't noticed before.

As she approached, she saw Adrian already seated at the table, his posture relaxed but his expression unreadable. Joi took a seat, careful to keep her distance.

"Emmy, I'll call you back after lunch," Joi said before ending the call.

The tension in the room was palpable, but Joi forced herself to focus on the meal ahead, unsure of what the next interaction with Adrian would bring.