The next morning, Kian walked into the office with his stomach in knots. Adrian's response to his message—"Come to my office first thing tomorrow morning"—had left him restless all night.
The hallways were quiet, the usual hum of the office not yet in full swing as most employees hadn't arrived. Kian made his way to Adrian's office, his footsteps feeling heavier with each step. When he reached the door, he hesitated before knocking.
"Come in," Adrian's voice called, calm but firm.
Kian stepped inside, finding Adrian seated at his desk, his sharp gray eyes focused on a set of documents. The Alpha looked up as Kian entered, gesturing for him to close the door.
"Sit," Adrian said, motioning to the chair across from him.
Kian obeyed, his heart pounding as he settled into the seat. "You said we needed to talk."
Adrian set down the documents, leaning back in his chair. His expression was unreadable, but there was an edge to his gaze that made Kian's chest tighten.
"I had another conversation with HR this morning," Adrian began, his tone measured. "It seems Marcus has been under review for some time now, even before I stepped in."
Kian frowned, caught off guard. "What? Why?"
Adrian's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Because he has a history of crossing lines. Digging into projects that don't concern him, leveraging coworkers for personal gain—it's a pattern, Kian. One that HR has been quietly documenting."
Kian's stomach churned. "Why didn't they say anything?"
"Because they didn't have enough to act on," Adrian replied, his tone hardening. "Until now."
Kian's pulse quickened. "You gave them something, didn't you?"
Adrian's smirk widened slightly, though it lacked humor. "I gave them enough to make it clear that Marcus isn't just a liability—he's a threat to the integrity of this team."
The weight of Adrian's words settled over Kian like a heavy blanket. He should've felt relieved, knowing that Marcus's manipulations were being addressed. But instead, all he felt was unease.
"What happens to him now?" Kian asked, his voice quieter.
"That depends," Adrian said, his tone softening. "HR will likely issue a formal warning, possibly a probationary period. If he steps out of line again, he's gone."
Kian exhaled slowly, the tension in his chest easing slightly. "So it's over?"
"For now," Adrian replied, his gaze steady. "But I need you to be honest with me, Kian. Did he say anything to you yesterday?"
Kian hesitated, his mind flashing back to Marcus's cold, calculating demeanor in the meeting room. "He... accused me of feeding you information. Said you were using me as a pawn."
Adrian's jaw tightened, his gray eyes narrowing. "Of course he did. Classic deflection."
Kian shifted uncomfortably. "Was he wrong?"
Adrian's expression softened, though the intensity in his gaze didn't waver. "I've never used you, Kian. I've protected you. There's a difference."
The sincerity in Adrian's tone caught Kian off guard, leaving him unsure how to respond.
"Marcus wanted you to question me," Adrian continued, his voice quieter now. "To plant a seed of doubt so you'd start pulling away. Don't let him win."
Kian swallowed hard, his chest tightening. "I don't know who to trust anymore."
Adrian leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "Trust yourself. Trust your instincts. You've always been good at reading people, Kian. Don't let someone like Marcus cloud your judgment."
Kian nodded slowly, though the unease in his chest didn't fully dissipate. "What happens if he tries something else?"
"Then I'll deal with it," Adrian said firmly. "But for now, focus on your work. Let me handle the rest."
Kian exhaled, the weight of Adrian's presence both reassuring and overwhelming. "Okay."
---
The day passed in a haze, Kian's mind spinning with everything Adrian had said. Marcus was noticeably absent from the office, and whispers circulated about an "incident" involving HR.
By lunchtime, Kian found himself sitting alone in the break room, staring at his untouched sandwich. He couldn't shake the feeling that the situation with Marcus was far from over.
"Mind if I join you?"
Kian looked up to see Lila standing nearby, a concerned expression on her face.
"Sure," he said, gesturing to the seat across from him.
Lila sat down, her gaze searching his. "You've been quiet today. Is everything okay?"
Kian hesitated, unsure how much to share. "It's been... a lot lately."
Lila nodded, her expression softening. "You mean the whole thing with Marcus?"
Kian's stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"
Lila leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "People are talking, Kian. Marcus hasn't been around much, and everyone knows he's been under scrutiny. Did something happen between you two?"
Kian's throat tightened. "Why would you think that?"
"Because he was always hanging around you," Lila said simply. "And now, suddenly, he's in trouble? It's not hard to connect the dots."
Kian looked away, his chest tightening. "I didn't do anything."
"I didn't say you did," Lila said quickly. "But if he's causing problems, you shouldn't have to deal with it alone. You know you can talk to me, right?"
Kian nodded, though the weight of her words lingered. "Thanks, Lila."
---
By the time the workday ended, Kian felt drained, his mind heavy with unanswered questions. He packed up his things and headed for the elevator, hoping a quiet evening would help him clear his head.
As he stepped into the lobby, his phone buzzed with a new message.
---
Marcus Calloway:
You think this is over? Think again.
---
Kian's breath hitched, his pulse quickening as he stared at the message. The weight of Marcus's words was suffocating, the implication clear—whatever game he was playing, it wasn't finished.
With shaky hands, Kian opened his messages with Adrian and typed a single sentence.
---
Kian Vale:
We have a problem.
---
The reply came almost instantly.
---
Adrian Blackwell:
Come to my apartment. Now.
---
Kian stared at the screen, his chest tight with dread and anticipation. Whatever storm was brewing, it was about to reach its breaking point. But he didn't.