The next morning, Kian walked into the office with a weight in his chest that refused to lift. The conflicting tension between Adrian and Marcus had become a thread running through his days, pulling tighter with every interaction. Adrian's warnings rang in his ears, but they were hard to trust when coming from someone so controlling.
He wanted to believe Marcus was simply friendly, an ambitious newcomer looking to fit in. But there was something about Marcus—something calculated beneath the charm—that made it hard to completely dismiss Adrian's words.
Kian settled into his desk, opening his laptop to review the final client feedback on the Rowland campaign. He was mid-email when a shadow fell over his cubicle.
"Morning, Kian."
He glanced up to find Marcus standing there, holding two cups of coffee. His easy smile and relaxed stance were almost disarming.
"Morning," Kian said, sitting up straighter.
"I thought you could use this," Marcus said, setting one of the cups on Kian's desk. "Figured you'd be drowning in last-minute revisions."
Kian blinked at the gesture, unsure how to respond. "Thanks, but you didn't have to."
Marcus shrugged. "Consider it a peace offering for crashing your meeting yesterday."
Kian offered a small smile, though his nerves were already on edge. "You didn't crash it. Adrian asked you to be there."
"Still," Marcus said, his green eyes sharp and watchful. "I know how intense Blackwell can be. I didn't want to add to the stress."
Kian forced a laugh, unsure how to respond. He hated that every word Marcus said made him second-guess himself, as though there were layers of meaning hidden beneath the surface.
"Speaking of Blackwell," Marcus said, his tone casual, "he seems to have a lot of confidence in you."
Kian tensed. "What do you mean?"
Marcus leaned against the cubicle wall, sipping his coffee. "You're clearly one of his top people. The way he talks about your work—it's obvious he values your input."
Kian's cheeks flushed, though he wasn't sure if it was from pride or discomfort. "Adrian expects results. That's all it is."
"Maybe," Marcus said, his tone thoughtful. "But I think it's more than that. He seems... protective of you."
Kian's stomach twisted, his mind racing. Was Marcus fishing for something, or was this just harmless observation? "I wouldn't read too much into it," he said carefully.
Marcus tilted his head, studying Kian for a moment before flashing another easy smile. "Fair enough. Anyway, I should get back to it. Good luck with the campaign."
As Marcus walked away, Kian let out a shaky breath, his hands trembling slightly. He glanced at the coffee cup on his desk, his unease growing.
---
By midday, Kian was no closer to untangling the web of doubts in his mind. He decided to take an early lunch, hoping some fresh air would help clear his thoughts. As he stepped out of the elevator into the lobby, he spotted Adrian standing by the reception desk, deep in conversation with the head of HR.
Kian froze, debating whether to slip past unnoticed, but Adrian's sharp eyes caught his movement. The Alpha's expression shifted, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face before he excused himself and approached Kian.
"Taking a break?" Adrian asked, his tone neutral.
"Yeah," Kian replied, keeping his voice even.
Adrian's gaze flicked over him, as though assessing his mood. "How's the final prep for Rowland coming along?"
"It's done," Kian said. "The team's reviewing it now before the client presentation."
Adrian nodded, his gray eyes lingering on Kian for a moment longer than necessary. "Good. I'm expecting big things from this campaign."
Kian resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I'll deliver."
Adrian's lips curved into a faint smirk. "I don't doubt it."
Before Kian could respond, Adrian's tone shifted, dropping lower. "What did Marcus want this morning?"
Kian stiffened. "How do you know he—"
"I saw him leave your desk," Adrian said, his expression unreadable. "What did he want?"
"He brought me coffee," Kian said, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "It's not a crime, Adrian."
Adrian's eyes narrowed. "It's not about the coffee. It's about his intentions."
Kian let out an exasperated sigh. "You keep saying that, but you haven't given me a single concrete reason to distrust him. What exactly are you accusing him of?"
Adrian's jaw tightened, his voice dropping. "I'm not accusing him of anything—yet. But I've been in this business long enough to recognize when someone's playing a game. Marcus is positioning himself, Kian, and he's using you to do it."
Kian's frustration boiled over. "And what if you're wrong? What if he's just trying to be nice? Not everyone is out to get me, Adrian."
Adrian's expression softened, but the intensity in his gaze didn't waver. "Maybe not. But I'm not willing to take that risk."
Kian shook his head, his chest tight with anger. "You don't get to decide that for me."
Adrian's smirk returned, though it was laced with something darker. "No, I don't. But you should ask yourself why he's so interested in you. People like Marcus don't do anything without a reason."
Kian opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat. The truth was, he didn't know why Marcus had taken such a sudden interest in him.
"I can take care of myself," Kian said finally, his voice quieter now.
Adrian's gaze softened further, a flicker of something almost like concern crossing his face. "I know you can. But that doesn't mean I'll stop watching out for you."
Kian's breath hitched, his emotions swirling in a chaotic mix of frustration and... something else. He didn't want to admit how much Adrian's protectiveness affected him, how it left him feeling both smothered and strangely safe.
Without another word, Kian turned and walked away, leaving Adrian standing in the lobby.
---
The rest of the day passed in a haze of meetings and final checks for the Rowland campaign. Kian threw himself into his work, trying to drown out the noise in his head. But no matter how hard he tried, the tension between Adrian and Marcus loomed over him like a dark cloud.
By the time he left the office, the sky was tinged with the warm hues of sunset. Kian's feet carried him to the train station on autopilot, his mind too distracted to focus on his surroundings.
He was halfway home when his phone buzzed with a message.
---
Adrian Blackwell:
Be careful, Kian. I mean it.
---
Kian stared at the screen, his chest tightening. He wanted to brush off Adrian's warnings as paranoia, but a part of him couldn't shake the feeling that the Alpha was right.
What if Marcus isn't as harmless as he seems?
As Kian stepped off the train and made his way home, the question followed him, lingering in the corners of his mind like a shadow he couldn't escape.