The office was buzzing with its usual mid-morning energy when Kian arrived at his desk. Despite the normalcy surrounding him, an undercurrent of tension gnawed at his resolve. Adrian's ominous statement the previous day—"We'll handle Marcus on my terms"—had left him on edge.
What exactly did Adrian plan to do? And why did Kian feel like a piece in a game he couldn't escape?
He barely had time to settle in before a message from Adrian popped up on his phone.
---
Adrian Blackwell:
Conference room B. Now.
---
Kian sighed, grabbing his tablet and heading toward the conference room. He couldn't help but feel like a student called to the principal's office—except this principal had an unnerving tendency to unearth truths Kian didn't want to face.
When he stepped inside, Adrian was already there, standing near the large glass windows that overlooked the city. His posture was relaxed, but the tension radiating off him was palpable.
"Close the door," Adrian said without turning around.
Kian obeyed, his pulse quickening. "What's this about?"
Adrian turned to face him, his gray eyes sharp and assessing. "I thought it was time we stopped reacting and started taking control."
"Taking control?" Kian repeated, his brow furrowing. "What does that mean?"
Adrian walked over to the conference table, where a sleek folder sat waiting. He opened it, revealing several pages of documents that Kian couldn't make out from where he stood.
"It means we make it clear to Marcus that his tactics won't work here," Adrian said, his tone calm but edged with steel.
Kian stepped closer, his stomach twisting as he glanced at the documents. They appeared to be reports, emails, and financial records—all bearing Marcus's name.
"What is this?" Kian asked, his voice tight.
"Evidence," Adrian replied, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "Marcus has been overstepping his boundaries since the day he arrived. Requesting access to files he doesn't need, probing into projects that aren't his responsibility, and, most recently, trying to get you to undermine me."
Kian's blood ran cold. "How did you even get all this?"
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "I have my ways."
"That's not an answer," Kian said, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Are you spying on him?"
Adrian's smirk widened slightly. "I don't spy, Kian. I observe. There's a difference."
Kian shook his head, his chest tight. "This feels... wrong. What if you're overreacting? What if Marcus is just—"
"Just what?" Adrian interrupted, his voice sharpening. "Curious? Friendly? You saw him for what he is last night, Kian. Don't let your doubt cloud your judgment."
Kian clenched his fists, torn between anger and reluctant agreement. Marcus's behavior had crossed a line, but Adrian's approach felt calculated—cold in a way that left Kian uneasy.
"What do you plan to do with this?" Kian asked, gesturing to the folder.
Adrian leaned back against the table, his expression unreadable. "That depends. I could take it to HR, escalate it to the higher-ups, or confront him directly. But I wanted to talk to you first."
"Why?" Kian asked, his voice quieter now.
"Because you're the one he's targeting," Adrian said simply. "And I won't move forward without your input."
The sincerity in Adrian's tone caught Kian off guard, his chest tightening. For all his dominance and control, Adrian was giving him a choice—a rare moment of agency in a situation that felt largely out of his hands.
Kian took a deep breath, his thoughts racing. "If we go to HR, it could ruin his career."
Adrian nodded. "It could. But it would also send a message to anyone else who thinks they can pull the same stunt."
"And if you confront him directly?" Kian asked.
Adrian's smirk returned, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Then we find out exactly how far he's willing to go."
Kian swallowed hard, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. He didn't want to be the reason someone lost their job, but he also couldn't ignore the way Marcus had manipulated him.
After a long moment, Kian spoke. "Confront him. But... don't escalate unless you have to."
Adrian's expression softened slightly, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "Fair enough. But if he steps out of line again, I won't hold back."
Kian nodded, though the knot in his chest remained.
---
The confrontation came faster than Kian expected.
By mid-afternoon, Adrian called Marcus into his office under the pretense of discussing a financial report. Kian stood outside the door, unable to hear the conversation but acutely aware of the tension radiating from within.
The minutes dragged on, each one heavier than the last. Kian's mind raced with possibilities, his stomach twisting with a mix of dread and anticipation.
When the door finally opened, Marcus emerged, his expression carefully neutral. His green eyes flicked to Kian, lingering for a moment before he walked away without a word.
Kian stepped into Adrian's office, his pulse racing. "What happened?"
Adrian was seated at his desk, his posture relaxed but his expression icy. "We had a... conversation."
"That's it?" Kian asked, his frustration bubbling to the surface.
"For now," Adrian said, leaning back in his chair. "I made it clear that his behavior hasn't gone unnoticed and that any further overstepping will have consequences."
Kian let out a shaky breath, a mix of relief and lingering tension coursing through him. "Do you think he'll back off?"
Adrian's smirk returned, though it was colder this time. "He'd be smart to. But if he doesn't, I'll be ready."
The certainty in Adrian's tone was both reassuring and unsettling, leaving Kian wondering just how far the Alpha was willing to go to protect his team—and his position.
---
That night, as Kian sat in his apartment, the weight of the day finally began to settle. The confrontation with Marcus had resolved nothing, only deepened the tension that seemed to follow Kian wherever he went.
His phone buzzed on the coffee table, pulling him from his thoughts.
---
Adrian Blackwell:
Marcus won't bother you again. But keep your guard up. This isn't over.
---
Kian stared at the message, his chest tightening. He wanted to believe Adrian, to trust that the confrontation had put an end to Marcus's manipulations.
But deep down, he knew this was only the beginning.