The next morning came far too quickl
Mei Lin stood in front of the skyscraper, the glass shimmering like a mirror that dared her to blink first. Her reflection looked annoyingly calm. Braided hair, crisp white blouse, black slacks that weren't designer but looked good enough to fake it. The ID badge around her neck felt heavier than it should've — Assistant to Adrian L
She snorted softl
"Assistant. More like emotional chew toy.
Inside, the lobby buzzed with activity — marble floors, high heels, coffee orders shouted like battle cries. The 80th floor required a special keycard, and when the elevator doors slid open again, the memory of yesterday's silence hit her like déjà v
Every pair of eyes turned. Agai
It was almost funny, the way people froze mid-sentence, pretending not to stare. Secretaries whispered behind manicured hands. Interns typed louder to cover up the gossip. Vivian Zhou stood near the reception, pristine as ever in her designer suit, wearing a smile that could cut glas
"Ah," Vivian said sweetly, voice like poisoned honey. "The new assistant. You must be thrilled
Mei Lin gave her a lazy once-over. "Thrilled? Not quite the word I'd use
A muscle twitched in Vivian's jaw. She leaned closer. "Enjoy it while it lasts. People like you don't survive long up here
Mei Lin's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Good thing I'm not people like me, then
The elevator behind her dinged agai
Adrian stepped out, dark suit crisp, presence sharper than the air itself. He glanced once at Vivian, once at Mei Lin — the faintest smirk tugging his lips when he saw Mei Lin's expressio
"Vivian," he said smoothly. "Good morning. I trust you've welcomed my new assistant
Vivian stiffened. "Of course, sir. I was just
"Good," he cut in, already walking past. "Mei Lin, with me
He didn't look back, but she followed anyway, her footsteps light, deliberate. She could feel the stares burning into her back — curiosity, envy, disbelie
Inside the office, Adrian gestured toward a smaller workspace beside his. "That's yours. You'll handle scheduling, reports, and any correspondence I assign
She dropped her bag on the desk. "So… a glorified secretary
He turned, meeting her gaze fully. "No. A proximity test
She blinked. "A what now
His eyes glinted — that wolfish spark she was starting to recognize. "I want to see what happens when you're close to me for too long
She crossed her arms. "That sounds like an HR nightmare
His smirk deepened. "Then let's hope you don't file a complaint
For a moment, the air thickened — not awkward, not tense, just charged. Something unseen pressed between them, a quiet current that neither could name ye
He turned back to his desk, voice clipped. "You start now
She rolled her eyes but sat down, cracking her knuckles. "Fine. But if you expect coffee runs, I bite
"Noted," he murmured. "Let's see if you're as sharp as your tongue
From her desk, she could see the outline of his shoulders, the way he commanded space without trying. But beneath that smooth exterior, something about him felt off toda
His heartbeat was a touch faster. His tone, a little lower. And every time she moved, his eyes flicked toward her — brief, involuntary, almost irritated by his own distractio
Adrian Li never lost focus. But the scent of her — wild jasmine and rain — tugged at him like gravity. His wolf stirred restlessly, pacing behind the mask of professionalis
He told himself it was curiosit
Nothing more
But his instincts whispered otherwis
By midmorning, Mei Lin realized the 80th floor wasn't an office. It was a living, breathing bea
Phones rang like nerves firing. Assistants darted between glass rooms carrying reports as if they were offerings to gods. And in the middle of it all sat Adrian Li, calm as a glacier — the eye of the corporate stor
He didn't speak often during meetings; he didn't have to. His silence carried the weight of a dozen unspoken command
Mei Lin sat to his right, notebook open, pretending to jot down points but mostly watchin
"Mr. Li," one executive stammered, "if we expand the merger, we could
Adrian's gaze cut him off mid-sentence. "Could destroy our leverage," he finished coldly. "Don't guess. Calculate
The exec nodded so fast his glasses nearly flew of
Mei Lin fought the urge to smirk. She leaned over, murmuring just loud enough for Adrian to hear, "Do you practice that death stare, or does it come naturally
Without turning, he replied, "Some people use charm to lead. I use efficiency
She scribbled in her notebook: translation: scary work
He noticed — of course he noticed — and the corner of his mouth twitche
Halfway through the meeting, she did what no one else dared: she asked a questio
"Wait," she said suddenly, pointing at the chart. "If the quarterly numbers dropped because of the subsidiary's mismanagement, why keep them at all? You're just feeding a dying limb
The room went silen
Every head turned toward her like she'd just insulted the royal bloodlin
Adrian's eyes narrowed. "You're suggesting we cut an entire branch
She shrugged. "If a wolf's paw gets infected, it doesn't wait for a cure. It severs the rot before it spreads
A few executives blinked. Someone cleared their throa
Adrian leaned back, studying her, the faintest spark of interest glinting behind his restraint. "A ruthless metaphor for a girl from the countryside
"Not ruthless," she said, pen tapping against the table. "Just realistic
He stared at her for a beat longer than necessary — long enough that even the walls seemed to hold their breat
Then he turned back to the room. "Take note. We'll run both projections — the existing model and Ms. Mei Lin's proposed cut
The team scrambled, murmuring, scribbling notes, all of them stealing side glances at he
She didn't gloat, but she did lean back just enough to whisper, "Guess that's a yes
Adrian didn't reply, but his jaw shifted — a subtle sign of suppressed amusemen
As the meeting wrapped, Vivian swept in with a tray of coffee, her timing suspiciously perfect. She placed a cup in front of Adrian, then one near Mei Lin — a little too close to the edge of the tabl
The cup tippe
Hot coffee splashed across Mei Lin's note
"Oh no," Vivian gasped, hand over her mouth, eyes wide in fake horror. "I'm so clumsy
The executives froze again, waiting for chao
Mei Lin slowly looked down at the soaked pages, then up at Vivian. Her smile was calm, dangerou
"Don't worry," she said lightly. "Some people spill coffee. Others just spill insecurity
A few muffled laughs escaped around the tabl
Vivian's expression cracked, her cheeks burning crimson. "You
"Vivian," Adrian said without looking up. His tone could've frozen rivers. "Clean it. Then leave
Her breath hitched. She grabbed tissues, mopping furiously, then stormed out, heels stabbing the floo
Mei Lin sat there, unbothered, quietly amuse
When the room finally cleared, Adrian spoke. "You handled that with restraint
She arched a brow. "You mean I didn't throw the coffee back
"That, too," he admitted, almost smilin
Then his gaze softened — not with warmth, but curiosity. "How did you know about cutting the limb
She hesitated. "In my village, we didn't have fancy doctors. Sometimes survival means making ugly choices
Something in his eyes flickered — respect, maybe, or recognitio
And beneath the polished surface, his wolf stirred again. The pull was stronger now, quieter but undeniable. Every time she spoke, it was like his instincts leaned closer, listenin
He straightened his tie. "You've got sharp instincts, Mei Lin
She smirked. "You sound surprised
"Not surprised," he said. "Just… reminded
She tilted her head. "Of what
He paused — a moment too long — before replying, "Of things I thought I'd forgotten
The words hung there, heavy and strang
For the first time, Mei Lin didn't have a comebac
By noon, the 80th floor smelled of espresso, ambition, and anxiet
Lunch hour didn't exist here—only intervals between survival rounds. The staff either worked through or took their meals in the executive lounge, where even the sandwiches came in minimalist packaging and self-importance was served col
Mei Lin had planned to eat in peace by the windows, legs crossed, boxed noodles balanced on her lap. But the whisper of her name drifted through the glass walls before the first bit
"She's sitting in his lounge now
"Vivian said she used to live off-grid. Maybe she doesn't know how this works.
She pretended not to hear. People like that always mistook silence for weaknes
Vivian entered a minute later, holding a crystal water glass like a prop in a play. "You're brave, Mei Lin. Most interns take months to sit there
"Guess I skipped the tutorial," Mei Lin said without looking u
Vivian's smile was glossy and hollow. "Oh, no judgment. But the boss prefers a… tidy atmosphere. You might want to be careful not to disrupt the hierarchy
Mei Lin twirled her chopsticks. "Hierarchy's cute. Until it bites back
The temperature dropped a few degrees. Vivian tilted her head, then placed a napkin beside Mei Lin's food—a subtle flick of her wrist, practiced, deliberat
A moment later, Mei Lin noticed the napkin was wet. Not just wet—stick
Her noodles clung to it like glu
A faint chemical scent hit her nose: sugar syru
Sabotage, corporate-styl
Vivian's tone stayed honeyed. "You really should watch where you set things. The tables here are… unpredictable
Mei Lin smiled. "So are the people
She lifted the ruined noodles, flicked them neatly into the bin, and stood up, eyes locked on Vivian. "You trying to test me, Vivian
Vivian's eyes widened, voice dripping mock innocence. "Test? Oh, don't flatter yourself
Mei Lin leaned closer. "Then here's some free advice—next time, make sure your little trick doesn't smell like a dessert bar
Vivian froze. She hadn't expected her to notice, let alone call it out so casuall
The lounge door slid open agai
Adrian stepped in. "Problem
Vivian straightened immediately, switching to her soft-spoken act. "Not at all, sir. Just chatting
Mei Lin didn't move. "She was teaching me about hierarchy
A beat of silenc
Adrian's gaze slid to Vivian, unreadable. "Dismissed for the afternoon
Vivian's face went white. "Sir, I
"Dismissed
Her heels clicked out the doo
When it shut, Mei Lin exhaled softly. "You enjoy terrifying people, don't you
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he picked up her half-empty cup, eyeing it. "You shouldn't eat in here alone. They'll see it as a statement
She smirked. "Good. Let them
Something about her defiance tugged at him again. It wasn't just attraction—it was instinct, an animal recognition that made his wolf stir like a restless shadow. Her scent coiled through the air, grounding and electric all at onc
Adrian set the cup down too hard. "You're making the floor nervous
"Not my problem if your pack can't handle a visitor," she said, folding her arm
His jaw tightened. Pack. The word hit too close to trut
For a moment, neither spoke. The city roared below them, traffic glittering like veins of ligh
Then, softer, he asked, "Why don't you ever back down
"Because people expect me to," she said simply. "And expectations are boring
He stared at her. His wolf growled faintly inside, not in anger—something closer to recognition, to longing. The sound pulsed behind his ribs like a dru
He turned away before it escaped his throat. "Eat. You'll need the energy
"For what
"Your next task," he said. "You're coming with me this afternoon
She raised an eyebrow. "Field trip
"Meeting." His tone left no room for negotiation. "And keep your sarcasm to a minimum
She grinned. "No promises
The elevator ride down was quiet. Too quiet. Adrian stood beside her, hands in his pockets, pulse betraying him. Every breath carried her scent, pulling at something he didn't want to nam
He was used to power, to fear, to obedience. But this—this calm, infuriating steadiness of hers—felt like gravity wearing perfum
And when she brushed his arm accidentally, his control slipped for half a second. His wolf pressed against the cage, whispering in a voice older than reaso
Min
Adrian's eyes darkened, a flicker of gold bleeding throug
Mei Lin glanced up, confused. "You okay
He blinked, forcing his aura back down. "Fine
But his heartbeat said otherwis
The car cut through the city like a black arrow. Glass towers blurred by, reflections chasing each other across the tinted windo
Mei Lin sat beside Adrian in the back seat, watching the skyline rather than him. His presence filled the cabin anyway — cool air, clean cologne, quiet pressur
He scrolled through his tablet, voice steady. "You'll take notes, stay silent, and observe. The investors we're meeting aren't fond of surprises
She smirked. "Then they're going to hate me
His eyes flicked up. "Try not to confirm that yet
The driver pulled up to a steel-and-marble complex on the edge of the business district. Inside waited half a dozen executives who smelled of money and fear. Adrian's aura shifted the moment he walked in — controlled dominance, polished charisma with teeth hidden under sil
Mei Lin followed, blending quiet with curiosity. She could feel the subtle rhythm of the place: lies dressed as negotiations, loyalty traded like currenc
Half an hour in, an older man leaned forward. "Mr. Li, your acquisition model is aggressive. Perhaps too aggressive for the board's taste
Adrian smiled thinly. "Aggression built this company
The man countered, "Or it could destroy it
The room rippled with tension. Mei Lin's instincts hummed — that itch in the air before a stor
She spoke before thinking. "Or it could save it. Depends who's steering the ship
Every gaze snapped to her. Adrian's to
The executive frowned. "And you are
"Someone who's been on sinking boats before," she said evenly. "Sometimes you patch the leaks. Sometimes you throw the captain overboard
A stunned beat. Then Adrian laughed — short, low, genuine. "She's new," he said to the room. "But she's not wrong
The tone shifted; respect replaced skepticism. The deal closed faster than anyone expecte
When they stepped outside, the wind hit sharp and clean. Adrian glanced at her. "You shouldn't interrupt executives mid-debate
"Did I mess it up?" she aske
"No," he admitted. "You made them listen
She grinned. "Then you're welcome
He turned away, but a ghost of a smile betrayed him. Something in his chest eased and tightened all at once. His wolf, usually buried under layers of control, pushed closer to the surface. It didn't growl or demand — it simply watched her through his eye
She walked ahead, sunlight catching her braid, and for one irrational second he imagined following that light foreve
He blinked the thought away. "Get in the car
The drive back was quieter than before, but not empty. The silence between them felt alive — a thread drawn too tight to ignore. Every time she shifted, he noticed. Every time he looked out the window, she caught his reflection doing i
When they returned to the tower, she stepped out first. "So," she said lightly, "did I pass your proximity test
He paused, meeting her gaze. "The day's not over yet
For an instant, the air changed — warmer, heavier, electric. Then a phone rang, shattering i
He turned away, voice clipped. "Prepare the evening brief
She watched him walk off, something unreadable in her eye
Under her breath: "What are you hiding, wolf man
She didn't mean him to hear it, but he di
And the part of him he fought hardest to silence answered anyway, deep in his chest
Maybe the same thing you ar
--
By evening, the 80th floor had thinned out. The chatter faded to the low hum of air vents and the occasional ping of an elevato
Mei Lin was still at her desk, surrounded by files she hadn't asked for and tasks no one had explained. She skimmed through reports with diagrams that made no sense — charts tagged Division
Her gut said the W didn't stand for Wes
Adrian's door opened. "Still here
She didn't look up. "I was told assistants aren't allowed to leave before the boss
"True." He came closer. "But most assistants aren't you
She raised an eyebrow. "Was that supposed to sound flattering
"Observational." He leaned against her desk, crossing his arms. "You handled yourself well today
She made a mock bow. "Thank you, Alpha of Spreadsheets
A quiet laugh escaped him before he could stop it. The sound startled them bot
He gestured toward the folder in her hand. "That's what you'll focus on tomorrow. Division W. It's… specialized
"Specialized how
"You'll find out," he said, too smoothl
She studied him. "You mean you don't trust me yet
He didn't deny it. "Trust is earned
She closed the folder slowly. "So is loyalty
That landed harder than he expected. His jaw shifted, his wolf stirring again, sensing something beneath her words — a resonance that hummed the same frequency as his ow
"Don't stay too late," he said, breaking the moment. "Security gets jumpy after midnight
"I can handle jumpy
He hesitated, half-turned toward the door. "I'm beginning to believe that
When he left, she exhaled, shoulders dropping for the first time that day. The office felt different without him — emptier, but still charged, as if his presence lingered in the air itsel
She opened the file again. Pages full of coded research, animal genetics, and neurological patterns — but one line stood ou
> Subject Zero: anomaly demonstrates regenerative and empathic capabilitie
Her pulse skipped. Regenerative. Like heal
She shut the folder quickly, staring at the city lights. "What are you running, Adrian Li
In his office, Adrian poured himself a drink and stared out over the skyline. He'd been fighting the edge of instinct all day — that pull that had no logic, that quiet voice calling her name in the back of his hea
His wolf had been silent for years. Now it paced restlessly, muttering the same word over and ove
Mat
He pressed a hand to his chest, willing it to stop. "No. Impossible
But deep down, even the human part of him knew — whatever Mei Lin was, whatever secret power hummed beneath her skin — it was connected to him in a way he couldn't und
End of Chapter