CHAPTER 1
The music was too loud.
Or maybe it was just her mood.
Laughter spilled across the private lounge, glasses clinking, heels tapping against polished floors.
Everything glittered—expensive, effortless, fake.
Elena leaned back into the velvet couch, one leg crossed over the other, swirling the amber liquid in her glass like she had nowhere else to be.
"Truth or dare?" someone asked again.
She rolled her eyes.
"We're still playing this?"
"You lost, Elena," her friend sang, grinning. "So choose."
A pause.
Elena tilted her head slightly, then smiled. Not soft. Not warm. Something sharper.
"Dare."
A few of them exchanged looks. Then one leaned forward, lowering her voice like it was something dangerous.
"Drug him."
Silence—just for a second.
Then laughter.
"Elena's famous CEO?" someone added. "Your 'almost forever'?"
Another voice, teasing, cruel: "Make him sleep with someone… unexpected."
"Someone old," someone else chimed in.
"Like… really old."
The laughter grew louder.
But Elena didn't laugh.
She just took a slow sip of her drink, eyes unreadable.
"You people are insane," she muttered.
"Too scared?" someone challenged.
That did it.
Elena set her glass down gently, almost thoughtfully.
"Fine," she said. "Let's make it interesting."
By the time Adrian arrived, the room had already shifted.
The music was softer now. The energy… anticipatory.
Like they were waiting for something.
Or someone.
He stepped in without hesitation, presence alone enough to pull attention. Dark suit, loosened tie, expression already slightly impatient.
"Elena."
Her name left his mouth like it always did.
Familiar. Controlled.
She smiled, standing. "You're late."
"I had work."
"You always do."
He didn't respond to that. Just glanced around briefly. "What's this?"
"Nothing serious," she said lightly. "Just drinks."
He hesitated.
Just for a moment.
Then sat.
That was all it took.
Across the room, Lina stood near the entrance, clutching a folder a little tighter than necessary.
She hadn't meant to come this far inside.
She was just supposed to deliver documents.
That was it.
Her supervisor had been very clear.
"He's at the hotel. Don't mess this up."
She swallowed, glancing around.
Too many people. Too loud. Too… unfamiliar.
Then she saw him.
Adrian.
Even from a distance, he looked exactly the same.
Maybe sharper now. Colder.
But still him.
Her chest tightened unexpectedly.
Focus, she told herself.
This wasn't high school.
She took a step forward—
—and stopped.
Because Elena had just handed him a drink.
"Relax," Elena said, pressing the glass into his hand. "You look like you're about to fire someone."
"I might," he replied dryly, but he drank anyway.
Half of it. Maybe more.
Lina hesitated near the hallway, unsure if she should interrupt.
This didn't feel like the right moment.
But she couldn't just stand there forever.
A few minutes passed.
Then something changed.
Adrian shifted slightly, his expression tightening.
"You okay?" Elena asked, too casually.
He blinked once. Then again.
"Just… tired."
"Long day," she said smoothly.
He nodded, but his hand tightened slightly around the glass.
Lina noticed.
Something about it felt… off.
"Elena," she said quietly when she finally approached, "I was told to deliver these—"
"Oh," Elena cut in, glancing at her briefly.
Then smiling.
That smile.
Too quick. Too sharp.
"He's in room nine," she said, pulling a key card from the table and sliding it toward Lina. "Take it to him there. He'll need it."
Lina frowned slightly. "But he's—"
"He'll be there," Elena said, already turning away.
Conversation over.
Something didn't sit right.
But Lina didn't question it.
She couldn't afford to.
So she took the card.
And left.
The hallway was quiet.
Too quiet compared to the lounge.
Her footsteps echoed softly against the carpet as she found the room.
She hesitated.
Then knocked.
No answer.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
Her grip tightened around the key card.
"…Sir?" she called softly.
Nothing.
A small breath.
Then she slid the card in.
The door clicked open.
Inside, the room was dim.
The curtains were half-drawn, the air heavy with something she couldn't quite place.
"Sir?" she called again, stepping in.
Still nothing.
But then—
Water.
Running.
Her eyes shifted toward the bathroom.
The door was slightly open.
Her heart picked up.
"Sir…?"
She moved closer, pushing the door gently.
And then—
She froze.
He was in the tub.
Water running over his shoulders, shirt half unbuttoned, tie gone, hair damp like he had run his hands through it too many times.
His breathing was uneven.
Heavy.
Not normal.
Not okay.
"Sir—!" she rushed forward instinctively.
"Are you alright?"
His head lifted slowly.
And then his eyes found her.
Not focused.
Not fully.
But locked on her like she was the only thing in the room.
"...you," he muttered.
Lina stepped back slightly, startled. "You don't look well, I think you should—"
"Don't go."
The words were quiet.
But firm.
She hesitated.
Everything in her told her to leave.
This wasn't her place.
This wasn't safe.
But he looked—
Wrong.
Vulnerable in a way she had never seen before.
"I'll call someone," she said quickly.
"No."
He reached out suddenly, fingers brushing her wrist.
Not tight.
Just enough to stop her.
"Stay."
Her breath caught.
Just for a second.
Something wasn't right.
She knew that.
But walking away felt… worse.
And she didn't understand why.
"Please," he added, softer now.
That did it.
She stepped closer.
Carefully.
Like approaching something fragile.
Or dangerous.
Maybe both.
And that was the moment everything shifted
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just… quietly.
Like a door closing somewhere neither of them could see.