Adrian had barely settled at his new desk when the summons came.
"Mr. Vale," a voice said firmly. He looked up to find the receptionist from earlier standing beside him, her tone brisk. "Mr. Kael would like to see you in his office. Now."
The words carried the weight of command. Around him, subtle glances darted his way from colleagues, curious and cautious. Some pitied him, others smirked knowingly. Being summoned by Lucian Kael on day one was not normal. It was a test.
Adrian rose smoothly, masking the flicker of nerves beneath his calm exterior. He followed the path across the floor, each step a silent drumbeat. The closer he drew to that corner office, the sharper the air felt—as though crossing an invisible threshold.
The glass door parted with a soft hiss.
Inside, Lucian's office was an empire in itself. Minimalist, yet commanding. Dark wood, polished steel, the skyline stretching endlessly beyond the windows. No clutter, no weakness. Just order and control.
Lucian Kael stood with his back to the door, hands clasped behind him as he stared out over the city. His posture was perfect—unmoving, deliberate, a silhouette carved against the light.
"Close the door," he said, without turning.
Adrian obeyed, the quiet click of the lock sounding louder than it should.
For a moment, silence ruled. The city roared beyond the glass, but inside the office, it felt as if time had slowed, reduced to the rhythm of Lucian's measured breaths.
Finally, Lucian turned.
His gaze locked onto Adrian with surgical precision. Cold, unreadable. Yet behind it, something sharp—curiosity laced with calculation.
"You've been here less than two hours," Lucian said evenly, "and already, half the office is watching you. Do you know why?"
Adrian kept his voice steady. "Because they're waiting to see if I'll fail."
Lucian's brow lifted slightly. "Or waiting to see if I'll make you fail."
The words landed like steel on glass. Adrian didn't flinch.
Lucian moved to his desk, sliding a slim file across the surface. "This is a proposal draft from one of our senior teams. It's riddled with errors. Too cautious, too short-sighted. I want you to find every weakness in it. Every blind spot. And I want it on my desk before the end of the day."
Adrian stepped forward, picking up the file. "Understood."
Lucian's eyes narrowed. "Do you? This isn't busywork, Vale. I want to see if your performance lives up to your mouth. If you can't deliver, you'll save us both time by walking out now."
Adrian's lips twitched, a hint of defiance surfacing. "You don't intimidate me, Mr. Kael."
The silence sharpened.
For a long moment, Lucian simply stared at him, unreadable. Then, the faintest curve touched his mouth—not a smile, but something darker. "Good. Fear bores me."
Adrian inclined his head, gripping the file tighter. "Then I'll make sure you're not bored."
Lucian leaned back in his chair, studying him with the quiet intensity of a predator testing its prey. "We'll see."
Adrian turned, the weight of Lucian's gaze burning into his back as he left the office.
The test had begun. And it wasn't about the proposal.
It was about survival.
to be continued...........