The alert kept flashing on the security screen.
Red.
Persistent.
Warning of movement outside the private floor.
Mia's breath caught as the sound of faint footsteps echoed from the hallway. The noise was muffled, but close enough to make her pulse race.
Adrian moved instantly.
He stepped in front of her, one hand reaching toward the desk where another security switch was hidden under the edge.
"Mia," he said quietly, "stay behind me and don't make a sound."
She nodded, her heart pounding so loudly it felt like it filled the entire room.
The footsteps stopped.
Right outside the door.
A cold creep climbed up her spine.
Adrian's entire body stiffened, his shoulders tense, his jaw clenched. He stared at the door as if he could see through it.
A sharp knock followed.
One single knock.
Not frantic.
Not desperate.
Just deliberate.
Mia stopped breathing.
Adrian didn't move.
The knock came again.
Then a voice — lower, calmer than she expected, far too composed.
"I know you're in there."
It wasn't Adrian's brother.
This voice was different.
Smooth.
Collected.
Dangerous in another way.
Adrian instantly grabbed Mia's arm and pulled her back further into the room.
"That's not him," Adrian murmured.
"Then who—"
Before she could finish, the voice outside spoke again.
"President. Open the door. We need to talk."
Adrian's expression froze. He recognized the voice.
He pressed a button. The camera feed appeared on the wall monitor.
A man in a dark suit stood outside.
Tall.
Clean-shaven.
Expression unreadable.
A badge clipped to the jacket pocket.
Mia whispered, "Who is that?"
Adrian's voice dropped low.
"Internal Affairs division."
Mia blinked. "What? Why would Internal Affairs be here?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately. His eyes darkened.
Because he already knew.
He walked to the door but didn't unlock it. "State your reason."
The man outside replied calmly, "There's been a report filed regarding security breaches and unauthorized handling of a staff member."
Mia's stomach twisted.
Staff member.
That meant her.
Adrian's tone sharpened. "I don't answer vague statements."
The man didn't falter. "We received information that you isolated an employee in a restricted area. We need to verify her safety."
Mia flinched.
Someone had reported Adrian.
Someone in the company knew she was here.
Someone wanted to stir trouble.
Adrian shot a look at her. "Don't worry."
Then he said to the door, "She is safe."
"That needs to be confirmed," the man replied. "Open the door."
Adrian didn't move. "No."
A tense silence followed.
Mia whispered, "Adrian… maybe you should just—"
"No," he said sharply, turning to her. "You're here because you're unsafe outside that door. I'm not exposing you."
She swallowed. "But if they think you're holding me—"
"They can think whatever they want," he cut in. "Your safety comes first."
Before they could speak more, the man outside made another attempt.
"President, if you don't open this door, we will escalate the issue."
Adrian stepped closer to the door, his voice cold and unshakable. "Escalate it."
Mia had never heard him talk like that before—so absolute, so unwilling to bend.
The man outside replied, "Very well. We'll return with higher authorization."
His footsteps faded down the hallway.
The tension in the room eased just a fraction.
Mia clutched her hands together. "Adrian… this is going to cause problems."
"It already has," Adrian said quietly.
"Why did you refuse to open the door?"
He turned to her then — fully turned — and for a moment she forgot how to breathe.
"Because I made a promise last night," he said. "You don't step outside until I'm certain you're safe. I won't break that promise."
His voice trembled slightly — barely noticeable, but Mia heard it.
She stepped closer. "You could get in trouble for this."
"I don't care," he said. "I care about you."
Her chest tightened.
He took a slow breath, as if forcing himself to calm down.
"Someone in the company reported this," he said. "Someone who knows about us being here. Someone who knew you didn't return downstairs."
"Do you think it was your brother?" Mia asked.
"No," Adrian said. "He wouldn't contact Internal Affairs. This is someone inside. Someone who wants to bring me down."
"And they're using me to do it," Mia whispered.
Adrian's expression hardened. "They won't succeed."
There was a pause.
Mia hesitated, then asked softly, "Are you angry… because of me?"
His eyes widened slightly. "No."
"But you look—"
"I'm angry because someone dared to involve you," he said. "I'm angry because you're being dragged into things you shouldn't be facing. I'm angry because I should have kept you away from all this."
She took a breath. "Adrian…"
He stepped even closer.
"I'm not angry at you, Mia. I'm furious at myself."
Her throat tightened. "Why at yourself?"
"Because I let myself get attached," he said. "And now you're paying the price for it."
She looked up at him, heart pounding.
"Adrian… I chose to stay."
He froze.
"I chose to follow you," she said. "I chose to trust you. So don't treat it like you forced me."
His eyes softened — painfully, deeply.
Before he could respond, the security panel beeped again.
A new message flashed on the screen.
Not from Internal Affairs.
Not from building security.
A phone number Adrian knew all too well.
A message only four words long:
I found her location.
Mia stared at the text.
"Adrian… who sent that?"
He answered without looking at her, his voice cold as ice.
"My brother."
Silence crashed around them.
Mia's knees weakened. "He knows where we are?"
Adrian's jaw clenched. "He's getting closer."
Her breath trembled. "Adrian… what do we do?"
He turned to her slowly, eyes fierce, unwavering.
"We prepare."
"To run?" she whispered.
"No," Adrian said. "To protect you."
He stepped closer, cupping her face lightly — a gesture both reassuring and desperate.
"As long as I'm breathing," he said, "he will never touch you."
Before Mia could even process his words—
A sudden bang echoed from the hallway.
Louder.
Heavier.
Closer than before.
Adrian grabbed her wrist.
"It's him."