Kian barely slept that night. The folder Marcus had handed him sat on the coffee table, its contents haunting him with every passing minute. He had gone through the documents twice, each time finding more questions than answers. The emails and memos painted Adrian as someone cold, calculating, and willing to bend the rules to maintain his position.
But there were gaps—details missing that left the story incomplete. Was Marcus twisting the truth, or had Adrian's polished exterior hidden something far darker than Kian was willing to admit?
By morning, Kian was no closer to an answer. He stared at the folder, debating whether to confront Adrian. A part of him feared what might happen if he did. Adrian was powerful, and Kian didn't know if he was ready to face the consequences of challenging him.
---
The office was unusually quiet when Kian arrived. He made his way to his desk, keeping his head down and avoiding eye contact with anyone. But the tension in his chest only grew as the hours passed.
By lunchtime, Kian couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed the folder, tucked it into his bag, and headed for Adrian's office.
---
Adrian looked up as Kian entered, his gray eyes sharp and assessing. "Close the door."
Kian obeyed, his heart pounding as he stepped inside and set the folder on Adrian's desk.
"What's this?" Adrian asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Something Marcus gave me," Kian said, his voice steadier than he felt. "He said it's proof that you've been manipulating people—that you're not as trustworthy as you claim to be."
Adrian's expression didn't change, but a flicker of something unreadable crossed his face. He opened the folder, flipping through the documents with a calm, practiced precision.
When he finished, he set the folder down and leaned back in his chair, his gray eyes locking onto Kian. "And what do you think?"
Kian hesitated, his chest tightening. "I don't know what to think, Adrian. Some of this... it looks bad."
Adrian nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "It does. But tell me, Kian—do you believe Marcus? Do you believe I've been using you?"
Kian's throat tightened, his emotions warring within him. "I don't know. You've always been... controlling. But I've also seen you protect me, guide me. I don't know what's real anymore."
Adrian leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "Let me make one thing clear. Everything I've done, every decision I've made, has been to protect this team—and you. Yes, I've bent the rules. Yes, I've made difficult choices. But I've never lied to you, Kian. And I've never used you."
Kian stared at him, his chest tight. He wanted to believe Adrian, but the doubts Marcus had planted refused to fade. "Why didn't you tell me about this? About the deals, the manipulations?"
"Because I didn't want you to carry that weight," Adrian said simply. "This isn't your burden, Kian. It's mine."
Kian let out a shaky breath, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "But I am carrying it, Adrian. Every time Marcus says something, every time you make a move without telling me—I'm caught in the middle."
Adrian's expression softened, a rare flicker of vulnerability crossing his face. "I never wanted that for you. But if you want the truth, I'll give it to you."
Kian's pulse quickened. "The truth about what?"
"About everything," Adrian said, his voice steady. "But first, you need to tell me something. Do you trust me?"
Kian's breath hitched, the weight of the question pressing down on him. He wanted to trust Adrian, to believe that his protectiveness came from a genuine place. But the doubts were louder now, amplified by Marcus's words and the evidence in that folder.
"I don't know," Kian admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Adrian's jaw tightened, but he didn't look surprised. "Then let me prove it to you."
---
The rest of the day passed in a blur, with Kian barely able to focus on his work. Adrian had said he would "prove" his intentions, but he hadn't elaborated, leaving Kian to stew in his own uncertainty.
By the time the office emptied, Kian was on edge, his thoughts a chaotic swirl of doubt and frustration. He was packing up his things when Adrian appeared at his desk, his expression calm but determined.
"Come with me," Adrian said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Kian hesitated but nodded, grabbing his bag and following Adrian to the elevator.
They rode in silence to the basement level, where Adrian led Kian to a sleek black car parked near the far wall.
"Where are we going?" Kian asked, his nerves fraying.
"You wanted the truth," Adrian said, unlocking the car. "So I'm going to show you."
---
The drive was tense, with Adrian saying little as he navigated through the city streets. Kian stared out the window, his chest tightening with each passing moment.
Finally, they arrived at a quiet, upscale restaurant tucked away in a side street. Adrian parked the car and led Kian inside, where a private room waited for them.
"Who are we meeting?" Kian asked, his voice filled with apprehension.
Adrian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gestured for Kian to sit before taking the seat across from him.
"We're meeting someone who can explain the decisions I've made better than I can," Adrian said, his gray eyes steady.
Before Kian could respond, the door opened, and a middle-aged man in a tailored suit entered. He had an air of authority about him, his sharp gaze sweeping over Kian before settling on Adrian.
"Adrian," the man said, his tone calm but firm. "I hope this is worth my time."
"It is," Adrian replied, gesturing to Kian. "This is Kian Vale. He's the reason I've made the decisions I have."
The man nodded, his gaze shifting to Kian. "You must have a lot of questions."
Kian swallowed hard, his chest tightening. "I do."
"Then let's get started," the man said, taking a seat. "And by the time we're done, I think you'll understand why Adrian has done what he has."
Kian stared at the two men, his heart pounding. The truth he'd been searching for was within reach—but he wasn't sure if he was ready for what it might reveal.