Chapter 23: Mr Hottie

The sharp scent of finishing spray lingered in the air as Joi stepped back, admiring her work.

"And… done!" she announced, a wide grin on her face.

Debbie turned to the mirror, her jaw dropping. "Damn, Joi! If you're this good now, you'll be unstoppable as a licensed cosmetologist. I don't even recognize myself!"

"Stop hyping me up!" Joi laughed, her cheeks flushing.

Emily clapped her hands together dramatically. "She's not just our bestie. She's a genius."

"Okay, okay, that's enough! My ego can only take so much," Joi said, pretending to fan herself.

Emily's eyes sparkled mischievously. "But, seriously... does anyone else feel like something's missing?"

Debbie frowned. "What do you mean?"

Emily leaned forward, a playful glint in her eyes. "Joi didn't play any music while doing your makeup. That never happens."

Joi chuckled nervously, busying herself with cleaning her brushes. "I guess I just forgot."

Debbie smirked. "Or maybe you're scared your ice-cold fiancé will throw a fit?"

Joi froze for a moment before shaking her head. "He's not my fiancé. And no, it's not about him."

Emily pouted. "Come on, just one song. You can't leave me hanging without your legendary playlist!"

After a moment's hesitation, Joi gave in. "Alright. But only one."

She connected her phone to the speaker, scrolling through her playlist with a smirk. "Perfect," she murmured, hitting play on Hit and Run by Shenseea.

The upbeat music filled the room, and Joi couldn't help but sing along. Her voice was clear and vibrant, perfectly in tune. Emily and Debbie joined in, dancing and laughing as they cleaned up.

By the time the song ended, they were breathless, their sides aching from laughter.

"Okay, that's it," Joi said, turning off the music.

"Noooo!" Emily whined.

"You're such a buzzkill," Debbie teased, crossing her arms dramatically.

Their teasing was interrupted by the sound of the study door opening. Adrain emerged, his presence commanding immediate attention. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, revealing a glimpse of his chest, and his sleeves were neatly rolled up.

Emily and Debbie fell silent, their jaws dropping slightly.

"Mrs. Catlin," Adrain called, his deep voice cutting through the quiet.

When no response came, his brows furrowed. "Mrs. Catlin!" he repeated, his tone sharper.

Joi stepped forward. "She went to the grocery store. We were running low on supplies."

Adrain's gaze shifted to Emily and Debbie, his expression unreadable as he took them in. Without another word, he turned back to Joi. "Get me a cup of coffee," he said curtly before retreating to his bedroom. The door clicked shut behind him.

"Jeez, Joi," Debbie whispered. "Your boss is like an angel straight out of hell. Where did you find this guy?"

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Angel? More like Lucifer himself—but damn, what a package."

Joi shook her head, laughing as she headed to the kitchen.

---

Later, after her friends had left, Joi carried a steaming cup of coffee to Adrain's bedroom. She knocked lightly before entering, only to find him lying on the bed, his face pale and slick with sweat.

"Here's your coffee," she said, setting the cup on the bedside table. But as she took a closer look, her brow furrowed. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Adrain muttered, his voice hoarse.

Ignoring his protest, Joi pressed her hand to his forehead. "You're burning up! You need a doctor."

Adrain weakly pushed her hand away. "I don't need anything."

Joi rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath as she left the room.

---

A short while later, Joi returned with fever medicine and a glass of water.

"Take this," she said firmly.

Adrain's eyes flickered open, his irritation evident. "I don't need it."

"I'm not leaving until you take it," Joi replied, crossing her arms.

With a resigned sigh, he swallowed the pills and drank the water. "Happy now?"

"Very," Joi said, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips.

She left the room but returned moments later with a damp towel. Sitting beside him, she began dabbing his forehead.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice laced with irritation.

"Letting you rest," Joi replied with a small smile.

"This isn't resting," Adrain grumbled, but his protests faltered as her gentle touch soothed him.

Without thinking, Joi leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Adrain's eyes snapped open in surprise, but he quickly deepened the kiss, his hand brushing against her cheek.

For a moment, everything else melted away.