Unmasking the Heart

Joi applied the finishing spray on Debbie's face with a satisfied smile.

"And... done!" Joi exclaimed, stepping back to admire her work.

Debbie turned to the mirror, her eyes widening. "Damn, Joi! When you become a certified cosmetologist, you'll own this game. I look like a completely different person!"

"Aww… Thank you," Joi said, her grin stretching ear to ear.

"That's our baby sis," Emily chimed in, giving Joi a proud look. "She's the best."

"Oh, stop it, you guys. My head's going to explode from all this praise," Joi joked, laughing.

Emily's eyes narrowed mischievously. "But… did anyone else notice?"

"Notice what?" Debbie and Joi chorused, their expressions puzzled.

"Joi didn't play music while doing makeup. That's a first!" Emily teased.

Debbie joined in, smirking. "Don't tell me it's because of your cold fiancé. Afraid he'll lose his mind over a little music?"

Joi looked down, focusing on cleaning her brushes with alcohol. "I… don't know. I'm not really close to him."

"Oh, come on," Emily pouted. "Just one song. It won't be loud. You've spoiled me with your makeup playlist!"

Joi hesitated, but after realizing Adrain hadn't left his study since her friends arrived, she relented. "Okay. One song. But that's it."

Connecting her phone to the speaker, Joi searched through her playlist. "I know exactly what fits my mood right now," she said with a smirk, tapping on Hit and Run by Shenseea.

As the music filled the room, Joi began singing along, her voice smooth and vibrant. Emily and Debbie wasted no time dancing and hyping her up. By the time the chorus hit, all three were singing at the top of their lungs, laughing as they cleaned up the brushes together.

When the song ended, Joi turned off the music.

"Aw, Joi!" Emily protested.

"I knew you were a joy killer," Debbie teased, crossing her arms dramatically.

"Come on, we agreed to one song. Remember, this isn't my house," Joi replied, laughing at their antics.

Their laughter was cut short by the sound of the study door opening. Adrain stepped out, his presence commanding immediate attention. His chest was partly exposed, his shirt unbuttoned at the top, and his sleeves were neatly rolled to his forearms.

The room fell silent as the three women turned to look at him. Even with his cold, unfriendly expression, Emily and Debbie couldn't help but gawk.

Without sparing them a glance, Adrain called out, "Mrs. Catlin."

No response.

His brows furrowed. "Mrs. Catlin!" he repeated, his tone sharper.

Joi quickly stepped forward. "She went to the grocery store. She said we were low on supplies."

Adrain's gaze finally shifted to Emily and Debbie, who were still staring at him, their expressions betraying their admiration. His frown deepened.

"Get me a cup of coffee," he ordered curtly before retreating to the bedroom. The door slammed shut behind him, jolting Emily and Debbie out of their trance.

"Jeez, Joi! Your boss is an angel straight out of hell. Where on earth did you find this beauty?" Debbie squealed.

"That's a question for Emily," Joi said, laughing as she headed toward the kitchen.

Emily leaned against the kitchen island, grinning at Debbie. "I'm not a matchmaker, but this is what I call sheer luck."

"This isn't luck!" Joi called over her shoulder. She waved her finger playfully as she brewed the coffee.

The three dissolved into laughter, chatting and joking until the coffee was ready. Joi carried the steaming cup to the bedroom, where she found Adrain lying on the bed, his face pale and glistening with sweat.

"Here's your coffee," Joi said, placing it on the bedside table. She hesitated, noticing his discomfort. "Are you okay?"

Adrain's eyes fluttered open, his voice hoarse. "I'm fine."

Joi ignored his protest and pressed a hand to his forehead. "You're burning up! You need to see a doctor."

"I said I'm fine," he replied coldly, brushing her hand away.

"Right," Joi muttered, rolling her eyes as she left the room. "Let him deal with it himself if he wants to act like a child."

---

After Emily and Debbie left for the party, Joi returned to the bedroom with fever medicine and a glass of water.

"Take this," she said, holding out the medicine.

Adrain frowned, barely opening his eyes. "I don't need it."

"I'm not leaving until you take it," Joi insisted, her tone firm.

With a resigned sigh, Adrain swallowed the pills and drank the water. "There. Now let me rest."

Joi nodded but returned moments later with a damp towel and a bowl of water. Carefully, she dabbed his forehead, ignoring his protests.

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

"Letting you rest," she replied with a warm smile.

"This isn't resting!"

Joi leaned down and kissed him softly, silencing his complaint. Adrain's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly seized the opportunity, deepening the kiss.