The hum of the city filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn's office as she sat reviewing a proposal. The sun had long set, casting a glow over the skyline, but Evelyn remained oblivious to the beauty outside. Her focus was solely on her work—a necessary distraction from the turmoil bubbling beneath the surface.
She had barely touched her dinner, a half-eaten salad sitting on the edge of her desk, when a faint sound broke her concentration. It was subtle, like the whisper of fabric against metal. Evelyn's hand paused mid-note, her senses prickling.
Before she could process the unease, the lights in her office flickered and cut out, plunging the room into darkness.
Her pulse quickened as she reached for her phone, but the device slipped from her grasp, clattering to the floor. Panic surged as she crouched to retrieve it, but a faint glint near the window stopped her cold—a reflection that didn't belong.
A split second later, the glass shattered.
Evelyn screamed, diving beneath her desk as shards rained down around her. The sharp crack of a silenced bullet echoed in the room, the realization sending a cold wave through her. Someone was trying to kill her.
She fumbled for the panic button installed under her desk, her fingers trembling. The sound of heavy footsteps outside her office door only deepened her dread.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and she braced herself for the worst. But instead of an attacker, Adrian's figure emerged, his silhouette imposing even in the chaos.
"Stay down!" he barked, his voice sharp with authority.
Before she could argue, Adrian moved with practiced precision, flipping the desk for cover and crouching beside her. Another bullet whizzed past, embedding itself in the wall behind them.
"Who—?" Evelyn started, her voice trembling.
"No time," Adrian cut her off. He reached into his jacket, pulling out a concealed weapon that made Evelyn's eyes widen.
"You're armed?"
Adrian's lips tightened, but he didn't respond. Instead, he shifted his focus to the broken window, scanning the shadows outside.
A second later, he fired two precise shots into the darkness, a muffled cry confirming his mark. The remaining footsteps retreated, fading into silence.
Adrian rose cautiously, his movements fluid and deliberate as he checked the perimeter. Once satisfied, he turned to Evelyn, who was still crouched on the floor, her breathing uneven.
"It's safe now," he said, extending a hand to help her up.
Evelyn hesitated, her mind racing. Adrian's quick response had saved her life, but the weapon, his calm under fire—it raised questions she wasn't ready to ask.
"What just happened?" she demanded, her voice rising.
"You were targeted," Adrian said bluntly. "And whoever it was, they were professionals."
"Why would someone want to kill me?" she whispered, more to herself than him.
Adrian's jaw tightened. He had his suspicions, but sharing them now would only complicate things further.
"We'll figure it out," he said instead, his voice steady. "But for now, you need to leave. You're not safe here."
Evelyn stared at him, her fear giving way to determination. Whoever was behind this, she wasn't going to let them win.