The office was unusually quiet when Kian arrived the next morning. The hum of keyboards and soft murmur of voices was subdued, the energy in the air thick with a tension that mirrored his own unease. He set his bag down at his desk, steeling himself for what promised to be another grueling day.
His mind hadn't stopped spinning since the encounter with Adrian and Marcus the day before. Adrian's cryptic warnings about Marcus lingered, pulling at the edges of Kian's thoughts, while Marcus's charm continued to cloud his judgment.
Kian exhaled sharply and flipped open his laptop, determined to bury himself in work. But as he sifted through emails, a new message caught his eye.
---
Subject: Impromptu Team Meeting
Kian,
We need to discuss the final rollout for the Rowland campaign. Meet me in the boardroom at 10 AM.
— A. Blackwell
---
Kian groaned under his breath. It was barely 9:30, and Adrian was already starting. He could feel the weight of the Alpha's presence even through the sterile text of the email.
Still, there was no point in procrastinating. Kian opened the campaign documents, combing through the finer details as he mentally prepared himself for whatever critique Adrian had in store.
---
At precisely 10 AM, Kian walked into the boardroom, laptop in hand. To his surprise, Marcus was already there, seated at the far end of the table. He offered Kian a friendly wave as he entered.
Kian frowned. "What are you doing here?"
"Adrian asked me to sit in," Marcus replied casually. "He said it might be good for me to get some insight into how marketing operates."
Kian's stomach churned. Marcus's involvement didn't sit right with him—especially not after Adrian's warnings—but before he could respond, the door opened again.
Adrian stepped in, his presence commanding as always. His gray eyes swept over the room, landing briefly on Kian before flicking to Marcus. "Good. You're both here."
Kian tensed as Adrian took a seat at the head of the table, setting down a sleek black folder. "Let's get started."
For the next thirty minutes, Adrian dissected the campaign strategy with his usual meticulous precision. He pointed out minor adjustments, suggested bolder language for the pitch, and emphasized the importance of anticipating client feedback.
Kian took notes, his mind focused on keeping up with the rapid-fire discussion. But every so often, his gaze drifted to Marcus, who sat quietly, watching Adrian with an expression Kian couldn't quite read.
When Adrian finally leaned back in his chair, signaling the end of the meeting, Marcus spoke for the first time.
"I have to say, this campaign is impressive," Marcus said, his tone smooth. "It's clear a lot of thought went into it."
Adrian's gaze narrowed slightly, but he inclined his head. "Thank you."
Marcus turned to Kian, a hint of admiration in his smile. "And Kian, you really are the brains behind this, aren't you? You've done an amazing job."
Kian felt his cheeks flush, caught off guard by the compliment. "Uh, thanks," he mumbled, unsure how to respond.
Adrian's smirk tightened, his sharp eyes darting between the two of them. "Kian's work speaks for itself. He doesn't need validation to know he's good at what he does."
The tension in the room shifted, a subtle but unmistakable undercurrent of challenge threading through Adrian's words. Marcus's smile didn't falter, but there was a flicker of something in his expression—something calculated.
"Well," Marcus said, standing and straightening his tie, "I'm glad I got to sit in. This was enlightening."
Adrian didn't respond, his gaze following Marcus as he left the room. When the door clicked shut, Kian turned to Adrian, his frustration bubbling over.
"What the hell was that?" Kian demanded, his voice low but sharp.
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "What was what?"
"You know what I'm talking about," Kian snapped. "The way you shut him down like that. What's your problem with him?"
Adrian leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but edged with something cold. "I don't trust him."
Kian threw up his hands. "You've made that abundantly clear. But you still haven't told me why."
Adrian's gray eyes darkened, his voice dropping. "Because I've seen his type before. Charming, ambitious, always looking for an angle. He's not here to make friends, Kian. He's here to position himself, and you're his way in."
Kian's stomach twisted. "You don't know that. Maybe he's just trying to fit in."
"Or maybe he's trying to use you," Adrian countered, his voice cutting through Kian's defenses. "You're talented, Kian. You're on your way to becoming one of the best in this company. That makes you a target for someone like Marcus."
Kian stared at him, his mind racing. He wanted to dismiss Adrian's words as paranoia, but a small, insidious voice in the back of his mind whispered that there might be truth to them.
"Why do you care?" Kian asked finally, his voice quieter now.
Adrian's expression softened, though his tone remained firm. "Because whether you like it or not, you're part of my team. And I protect what's mine."
Kian's breath hitched, the weight of Adrian's words settling over him like a heavy blanket. He wanted to argue, to push back against the possessiveness in Adrian's tone, but the sincerity in the Alpha's eyes made it impossible.
"I can handle myself," Kian said, his voice steadier than he felt.
Adrian nodded slowly. "I know you can. But that doesn't mean I'll stand by and let someone take advantage of you."
The room fell silent, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. Kian finally broke the stare, gathering his things and heading for the door.
As he reached the hallway, Adrian's voice stopped him.
"Kian."
He turned, his hand on the doorframe. "What?"
Adrian's smirk returned, faint but unmistakable. "Be careful who you trust."
Kian didn't respond, slipping out of the room and shutting the door behind him.
---
The rest of the day passed in a blur of work and uneasy thoughts. Kian couldn't shake the memory of Adrian's warning—or the way Marcus's smile had seemed just a little too polished.
By the time he left the office, his head was pounding with unanswered questions. He barely noticed Marcus catching up to him in the lobby until the Alpha spoke.
"Hey, Kian. Got a minute?"
Kian turned, forcing a small smile. "What's up?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to grab a drink," Marcus said, his tone light. "You've been working hard, and you deserve a break."
Kian hesitated, Adrian's words echoing in his mind. Be careful who you trust.
"I appreciate the offer," Kian said carefully. "But I've got a lot on my plate right now."
Marcus's smile faltered, but only for a moment. "No problem. Rain check?"
"Yeah," Kian said, though his voice lacked conviction.
As Marcus walked away, Kian couldn't help but feel like he was standing on the edge of something dangerous, the lines between trust and suspicion blurring with every step.