The office was quiet by the time most of Kian's coworkers had filtered out, leaving the fluorescent lights humming softly overhead. Kian sat at his desk, staring blankly at the glowing screen of his laptop. Adrian's cryptic message from the night before—"Stay late tomorrow. We need to talk."—replayed in his mind like a broken record.
He glanced at the clock on his monitor. 6:47 PM. Adrian hadn't given him an exact time, but Kian knew better than to leave before hearing what the Alpha had to say.
Finally, Adrian appeared at the edge of Kian's cubicle, his presence as commanding as ever. Dressed in a crisp dark suit, he looked composed, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that set Kian on edge.
"Come with me," Adrian said simply, turning on his heel without waiting for a response.
Kian grabbed his tablet and followed him, his heart pounding in his chest. They moved through the deserted office, the muted sound of their footsteps filling the silence. Adrian led him to one of the smaller, more private conference rooms.
"Close the door," Adrian instructed as he walked inside.
Kian obeyed, his stomach twisting with unease. Adrian stood by the window, staring out at the glittering city skyline, his hands tucked into his pockets. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of the silence pressing down on Kian like a lead blanket.
Finally, Adrian turned to face him, his expression unreadable. "Have you thought about what I said?"
Kian frowned, crossing his arms defensively. "Which part? The one where you told me to trust you, or the part where you basically accused Marcus of trying to destroy us?"
Adrian's lips curved into a faint smirk, though there was no humor in it. "Both."
Kian let out a shaky breath, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "I don't know what to think, Adrian. Marcus is... persistent, but I can't tell if he's actually dangerous or if you just see him as a threat."
Adrian's eyes narrowed, the sharpness in his gaze intensifying. "I'm not paranoid, Kian. Marcus isn't just another ambitious Alpha. He's calculated, manipulative, and willing to use anyone to get what he wants—including you."
Kian opened his mouth to argue, but Adrian raised a hand, silencing him.
"I've been in this business long enough to recognize the signs," Adrian continued, his voice low and measured. "The way he's been circling you, the questions he's been asking—it's not about building relationships. It's about finding leverage."
Kian's stomach churned, Adrian's words digging into the doubts that had already taken root in his mind. He wanted to believe Marcus's intentions were harmless, but the pattern of behavior was becoming harder to ignore.
"So, what do we do?" Kian asked, his voice quieter now.
Adrian's smirk faded, his expression turning serious. "We don't do anything. I do. You stay out of it."
Kian's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I'll handle Marcus," Adrian said firmly. "But I need you to trust me and keep your distance from him. No more conversations, no more lunches, no more drinks. Understood?"
Kian bristled at the commanding tone but didn't argue. "Fine."
Adrian studied him for a moment longer, his gray eyes searching for something Kian couldn't quite name. Then, as if satisfied, he nodded. "Good."
---
The next morning, the tension in the office was almost palpable. Marcus was nowhere to be seen, and Kian couldn't decide whether that made him feel relieved or unsettled.
By lunchtime, whispers began to circulate. A few coworkers mentioned seeing Marcus in a closed-door meeting with HR earlier that morning, his expression uncharacteristically grim. Others speculated about the sudden uptick in Adrian's meetings with senior management.
Kian tried to keep his head down, focusing on his work, but the unease gnawed at him. Whatever Adrian had planned, it was already in motion—and Kian was powerless to stop it.
Later that afternoon, Kian was sorting through emails when Marcus appeared at his cubicle. His usual easy smile was gone, replaced by a cold, almost predatory expression.
"Can we talk?" Marcus asked, his tone clipped.
Kian stiffened, glancing around the office. "I'm kind of busy right now."
"It won't take long," Marcus said, his green eyes sharp.
Kian hesitated, every instinct screaming at him to refuse. But the intensity in Marcus's gaze made it clear he wouldn't take no for an answer. Reluctantly, Kian stood and followed him to a nearby meeting room.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Marcus turned to face Kian, his expression hard. "What did you tell Blackwell?"
Kian blinked, caught off guard. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb," Marcus snapped, his voice low but venomous. "Blackwell's been gunning for me since the day I arrived, and now HR is breathing down my neck. This isn't a coincidence, Kian."
"I didn't say anything," Kian said, his voice trembling despite his best efforts to stay calm. "If HR is involved, it's because of something you did, not me."
Marcus let out a humorless laugh, his green eyes glinting with anger. "You think Blackwell's some kind of saint? He's using you, Kian. He's manipulating you just like he manipulates everyone else in this office."
Kian's chest tightened, Marcus's accusation cutting deeper than he expected.
"Let me guess," Marcus continued, his tone mocking. "He told you to stay away from me, right? Said I'm dangerous, untrustworthy. Typical Blackwell tactics."
Kian swallowed hard, his mind racing. He wanted to defend Adrian, but the weight of Marcus's words left him speechless.
"I don't know what kind of hold he has on you," Marcus said, his voice softening just slightly. "But you need to wake up, Kian. Blackwell doesn't care about you. You're just a pawn in his game."
Before Kian could respond, Marcus stepped past him, opening the door. "Think about it," he said over his shoulder before disappearing down the hall.
---
That evening, Kian sat in his apartment, staring blankly at the darkened screen of his laptop. His mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts, Marcus's accusations clashing with Adrian's warnings.
Was Adrian protecting him, or was he just using him as leverage in his own power struggle? And if Marcus really was as dangerous as Adrian claimed, why did Kian still feel drawn to the Alpha's charm?
With a shaky breath, Kian picked up his phone and opened his messages.
---
Kian Vale:
We need to talk.
---
The reply came almost instantly.
---
Adrian Blackwell:
Come to my office first thing tomorrow morning.
---
Kian set the phone down, his chest tight with anticipation. Whatever tomorrow brought, he knew it would change everything.