The crash outside Adrian's office echoed again, louder this time. Mia felt her breath lock in her lungs. The air in the room turned heavy, thick with a tension she could almost taste.
Adrian moved in front of her, blocking her from the door completely.
"Don't move," he said.
His voice was firm, but it wasn't cold. It was protective. Controlled. Like a man standing at the edge of something dangerous and refusing to let it reach her.
Another thud shook the wall.
Mia whispered, "Adrian… is it really him?"
Adrian didn't answer. His jaw tightened. His eyes stayed fixed on the door as though he expected it to burst open at any moment.
For a few seconds, the entire building seemed to hold its breath.
Then came a slow tapping.
Not a crash.
Not a slam.
Just a single, deliberate knock.
Tap… tap… tap.
Mia shivered. The sound was too calm. Too intentional.
Adrian turned his head slightly toward her. "Stay behind the desk."
She hesitated. "Adrian—"
"Please," he said quietly. "Just listen."
The word "please" hit harder than the crash did. Adrian didn't beg. He didn't even ask. But now, something in his voice made her move quickly behind the desk, crouching low.
Adrian stepped toward the door.
The tapping stopped.
Silence stretched.
Then a voice slid through the wood, smooth but unsettling.
"Brother… open the door."
Mia's heart dropped.
Adrian didn't move. "You shouldn't be here."
"I missed you," the voice answered. "You don't visit anymore. You don't talk. You don't listen."
"That's not true," Adrian replied. His tone was calm, but there was tension beneath it. "But breaking into my office won't fix anything."
The man outside let out a breathy laugh.
"You think I'm here for you?"
Mia stiffened.
Adrian immediately shifted, positioning himself between Mia's hiding spot and the door.
"What do you want?" Adrian asked.
"Simple," the voice said softly. "I want the girl."
Mia slapped a hand over her mouth to stop the gasp from escaping.
Adrian's voice sharpened. "You're not going anywhere near her."
The man outside hummed. "You care too much. It's disgusting, really. You used to be smarter. You used to know better than to get attached."
A cold chill ran down Mia's spine.
He knew about her.
He came here for her.
Adrian exhaled slowly. "She has nothing to do with you."
"That's where you're wrong," the man answered. "She has everything to do with you. And that makes her part of my world."
Adrian stepped closer to the door. "If you touch her—"
"You'll what?" the voice said. "Lose control again? Like last time?"
Mia didn't know what "last time" meant. But the silence that followed made it clear it wasn't something Adrian wanted her to hear.
The man chuckled quietly.
"I can hear her breathing," he whispered. "She's scared."
Mia buried her face in her hands for a moment, trying to steady her breathing, but it only made it worse.
Adrian's calm finally cracked.
"You're not coming in," he said, voice hardening. "I won't let you."
"Adrian," the man said softly. "Open the door."
"No."
A pause.
Then the handle rattled violently.
Mia flinched. Adrian lunged forward and held the handle down from inside, keeping it shut.
"Stop this," Adrian warned.
"Let me in, brother," the man whispered. "Or someone else will get hurt."
Suddenly heavy footsteps approached in the hallway. Security. More than one, judging by the sound.
The man outside clicked his tongue. "Always ruining my fun."
Adrian pressed his ear to the door, listening carefully. The footsteps stopped. Someone shouted, "Sir, step away from the door!"
The man laughed again.
"No need to shout. I'll see myself out."
There was a faint shuffle—then silence.
A moment later, security knocked from outside.
"President, he ran. We're tracking him now."
Adrian didn't open the door immediately. He waited. Listened. Only when the hallway was completely still did he unlock it and step halfway out.
"Double security on every floor," he ordered. "Lock down the exits. No one leaves without clearance."
"Yes, sir."
Adrian shut the door again and turned.
Mia was still crouched behind the desk, shaking from adrenaline she couldn't hide.
He crossed the room quickly and knelt in front of her.
"Mia," he said softly. "It's okay. He's gone."
She looked up at him, her voice barely there. "Adrian… he wanted me. He came for me."
Adrian didn't hesitate. His hand reached out and gently brushed her hair back from her face.
"He won't touch you," he said. "Not while I'm here."
"But why me?" she whispered. "Why does he even care about who I am?"
Adrian stayed silent for a moment, considering how much to tell her.
Then he said, "Because he knows I care."
Mia felt her heartbeat slam against her ribs.
His voice was low, steady, full of something raw.
"You asked me earlier why I warned you first," he said. "Why I'm acting like this."
He looked directly at her.
"It's because you matter to me. More than anyone else has in a very long time."
She blinked at him, stunned.
Adrian stayed there, kneeling in front of her like the world outside didn't exist.
But reality crashed back quickly.
He stood, exhaled, and offered her his hand.
"We can't stay here. It's not safe."
Mia took his hand. It was warm. Too warm. Like it grounded her.
"Where are we going?" she asked quietly.
"My private floor," he said. "Only I have access. No one else."
She swallowed hard.
Being alone with him… after everything he just said…
But she didn't pull her hand away.
As he led her out of the office, she realized something terrifying.
The danger wasn't just his brother.
It was the way her heart reacted to Adrian.
And she wasn't sure which one scared her more.