CHAPTER 14 — CLOSE CALLS
The office was unusually quiet for a Monday morning. Usually, the first hour buzzed with the chatter of employees, the clatter of keyboards, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee. But today, every sound felt muted, every movement cautious. Aria Sarmiento felt it the moment she stepped through the glass doors: tension, like a heavy weight pressing down on the usual hum of routine.
She tried to brush it off. Perhaps she was overthinking. But her instincts, sharpened by the events of the past weeks, screamed otherwise.
Lucien had been unusually absent this morning, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something or someone was watching. Every shadow in the office felt sharper, every glance from colleagues more calculating. She felt exposed, vulnerable, and incredibly aware of how dangerous the world could be beyond the walls of her office.
Her phone buzzed. A message flashed on the screen, sending a jolt through her:
"I see you. Don't think you can hide."
Aria's hand trembled as she read it. Her pulse raced, and her breath caught in her throat. She knew immediately that this wasn't just a prank or random intimidation. Someone had discovered them her and Lucien and was threatening her.
Before she could even think about what to do, Lucien appeared behind her, his sharp gray eyes scanning the office floor. He didn't speak immediately. He simply watched her, like a predator observing prey, calculating the next move.
"Aria," he said finally, voice low and commanding, sending shivers down her spine. "Show me your phone."
Her hands shook as she handed it to him. His gaze fell on the message, and the normally unflappable composure he maintained seemed to falter for just a fraction of a second.
"This is serious," he muttered, sliding the phone back into her hand. "Someone knows. Someone is close. You need to be careful more careful than ever."
Aria's chest tightened. "I… I don't know what to do, sir," she whispered.
"You do exactly what I say," he said, stepping closer. The proximity made her pulse skyrocket. He didn't touch her, not yet, but the air between them vibrated with tension both protective and forbidden. "Trust me, Aria. I won't let anything happen to you."
She nodded, though the fear and adrenaline coiled in her stomach made it hard to breathe.
The day passed slowly. Every time she moved, every time she passed a colleague, she felt Lucien's gaze on her, sharp, alert, protective. At one point, she almost dropped a stack of files when someone brushed past her a little too closely. She swiveled quickly, only to catch the subtle smirk of a co-worker who was clearly enjoying the tension in the room. Lucien appeared instantly, intercepting her path with a presence so commanding it made the smirk vanish immediately.
"You're fine," he murmured, though his eyes never left the colleague. "Stay close to me."
Aria nodded, her cheeks flushed. Every protective word, every watchful gaze, made her feel both safe and achingly vulnerable. She realized, painfully, how deeply she depended on him—not just for safety, but emotionally, for the bond they had begun to share.
By late afternoon, Lucien decided to escort her to the parking garage, citing "precautionary measures." Aria felt a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment as she followed him, aware of the whispering glances from other employees as they left the building together.
The drive to her apartment was tense but quiet. Lucien's eyes flicked constantly to the rearview mirror, scanning the streets for any sign of threat. Aria gripped her seatbelt tightly, heart hammering in her chest, not just from fear, but from the close proximity of Lucien's presence. Every shift of his body, every glance toward her, sent shivers through her in ways she couldn't explain.
"You're safe," he said finally, breaking the silence. His voice was soft, almost intimate, yet carried the weight of absolute authority. "No one will touch you. Not now. Not ever."
Aria's chest tightened with a mixture of fear and something more—something dangerous, intoxicating. "I… I trust you, sir," she whispered.
He didn't answer immediately. He simply drove, eyes flicking to her occasionally, gray eyes softening with an intensity she had never seen in a professional setting. Then, almost unexpectedly, he reached over and brushed a strand of hair from her face. The gesture was small, casual, but it made her heart leap.
"This isn't just about danger," he murmured, voice low. "It's about us. And I will not allow anything or anyone to harm what we have."
Aria felt warmth spread through her, a mix of reassurance and longing. "I… I feel the same, sir," she admitted softly. "Even if it's forbidden, I… I can't stop thinking about you."
Lucien's gaze softened, and for the first time, he allowed a faint smile to touch his lips. "Good," he murmured. "Because from now on, we face everything together. Danger, threats… anyone who tries to come between us."
Her heart thudded violently in her chest. The forbidden attraction, the dangerous tension, and the ever-present threats outside their bubble made her feel alive in a way she hadn't before. Every glance, every word, every touch was magnified by the danger surrounding them, making the bond between them stronger, deeper, and impossible to ignore.
When they arrived at her apartment, Lucien insisted on escorting her to the door. She hesitated, knowing that the proximity, the closeness, and the intensity of the moment would make her emotions impossible to control.
"I'll be here," he said softly, his gray eyes locking onto hers. "No matter what happens, Aria. You are mine to protect. And I will not fail you."
Her breath hitched. The words, the intensity, the promise it was all forbidden, impossible, and utterly intoxicating. "Thank you, sir," she whispered, feeling both fear and longing swirl inside her.
As he watched her step inside and close the door, Aria realized one undeniable truth: danger had never felt so personal, so immediate, so intertwined with desire. Their forbidden love had become more than stolen glances and whispered words it was now a matter of survival, trust, and the unspoken understanding that they would face the world together, no matter the cost.
Outside, the city continued to bustle, oblivious to the storm that had entered their lives. But inside her apartment, Aria sat down, heart racing, knowing that nothing would ever be the same.
Because danger had found them and it had only made their forbidden bond stronger.