Kian sat at his desk the next morning, staring blankly at the Rowland campaign proposal. The words on the screen swam before his eyes, blurring into meaningless shapes. His mind was a tangled mess, replaying the awkward encounter at the bar with Adrian.
It wasn't just that Adrian had shown up—of course, in a city this size, it wasn't impossible for their paths to cross. What unsettled Kian was the calm, almost amused way Adrian had addressed him, as if the man knew exactly how to unnerve him with nothing more than a few words.
Kian, get a grip. He rubbed at his temple, trying to focus. The presentation was due by the end of the day, and he didn't have the luxury of spiraling.
"Morning, Vale."
The deep, unfamiliar voice jolted him out of his thoughts. Kian glanced up to find himself face-to-face with someone he hadn't seen before. The Alpha standing at the edge of his cubicle was tall and broad-shouldered, with tousled dark hair, striking green eyes, and a confident smile that bordered on charming.
"Uh... morning," Kian said cautiously, sitting up straighter.
The Alpha extended a hand. "Marcus Calloway. I just transferred to accounting."
So this was the new Alpha Lila and Elliot had been talking about. Kian hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand, his grip firm but not overly enthusiastic. "Kian Vale. Marketing."
"I know," Marcus said, his grin widening. "Your name's been tossed around a lot lately. Word is you're the brains behind most of this department's big wins."
Kian's eyebrows rose in surprise. "I didn't realize I had a reputation."
Marcus chuckled, leaning casually against the cubicle wall. "You're being modest. People notice talent when they see it."
Kian didn't know how to respond to that, so he simply nodded, unsure whether Marcus's flattery was genuine or just part of his charm.
"I thought I'd come introduce myself," Marcus continued. "Figured it wouldn't hurt to get to know the star players around here."
"Right," Kian said, his tone guarded. He wasn't used to Alphas approaching him with such easy confidence. Most of them either avoided him altogether or looked at him like a puzzle to be solved.
"Anyway," Marcus said, straightening up, "I'll let you get back to it. Just wanted to say hi."
"Thanks," Kian said, his voice a little softer. "Welcome to the company."
As Marcus walked away, Kian couldn't help but watch him for a moment, noting the relaxed way he carried himself. Unlike Adrian, whose presence always felt heavy and demanding, Marcus exuded a kind of effortless charisma that was oddly refreshing.
"Looks like you've made a new friend."
Kian turned to see Lila peeking over the edge of her desk, a knowing smile on her face.
"He was just introducing himself," Kian said, brushing off her comment.
Lila raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. And he just happened to stop by your desk first. Lucky you."
Kian rolled his eyes. "Don't start."
Lila laughed, but she didn't press the issue. "Fine, fine. But for the record, I think he's cute."
Kian didn't respond, turning back to his screen. But as he tried to refocus on his work, he couldn't shake the memory of Marcus's easy smile—or the way it contrasted so sharply with Adrian's intensity.
---
By lunchtime, the office was buzzing with energy. Kian had made decent progress on the campaign revisions, and he decided to take a much-needed break. As he headed toward the break room, he spotted Marcus again, this time chatting with a small group of coworkers.
To his surprise, Marcus caught his eye and waved him over. Kian hesitated, unsure if he wanted to engage, but curiosity won out.
"Kian, hey!" Marcus greeted him warmly. "We were just talking about the company softball league. You play?"
Kian blinked. "Uh, no. Sports aren't really my thing."
Marcus grinned. "Fair enough. But if you ever want to join, let me know. We're always looking for new players."
Kian nodded politely, feeling slightly out of place in the lively conversation. He wasn't used to this kind of attention—especially not from an Alpha like Marcus.
As the group continued chatting, Kian excused himself to grab a coffee. He was pouring cream into his cup when a familiar voice made his stomach twist.
"Making friends already, I see."
Kian turned to find Adrian standing in the doorway, his gray eyes sharp and assessing. The Alpha's presence seemed to suck the air out of the room, and Kian immediately felt the tension return to his shoulders.
"What do you want, Blackwell?" Kian asked, keeping his tone neutral.
Adrian stepped closer, his movements deliberate. "Just checking in. You've been busy today."
Kian narrowed his eyes. "Is there a problem?"
Adrian smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Not at all. I'm glad to see you... socializing. It's good to have allies in this company."
The way Adrian said it—calm, measured, and just a little condescending—made Kian's blood boil. "I don't need your approval," he said coldly.
Adrian's smirk widened slightly, but his expression remained unreadable. "I never said you did. But a word of advice, Kian—be careful who you trust. Not everyone has your best interests at heart."
Kian's jaw tightened. He hated how Adrian could rattle him so easily, how the man always seemed to be two steps ahead. "Thanks for the concern," Kian said dryly, brushing past Adrian on his way out of the break room.
As he returned to his desk, Kian couldn't help but feel like a pawn in some unseen game, caught between Adrian's cryptic warnings and Marcus's easy charm.
For the rest of the day, he threw himself into his work, determined to ignore the lingering tension. But as the sun dipped below the horizon and the office began to empty, Kian couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted—something he couldn't quite name.
---
Later that night, as Kian lay in bed staring at the ceiling, his thoughts drifted back to Marcus's warm smile and Adrian's piercing gaze. Both Alphas were so different, yet both seemed to occupy space in his mind, refusing to be ignored.
With a frustrated sigh, Kian turned over, pulling the blankets tightly around him. He didn't have time for this—not the confusion, not the distractions, and certainly not the feelings threatening to surface.
But as sleep finally claimed him, Kian knew deep down that the waters had been stirred, and there was no going back.