Amara's pov
The hum of the servers felt like a countdown. Every monitor flicker, every line of code pulsing on my screen reminded me how tight the margins were. Julian's sabotage wasn't done not by a long shot.
Marcus leaned against my desk again, arms crossed. "Still staring at it like it's going to fix itself?"
I shot him a glare. "Keep talking. Maybe it'll confuse the virus out of the system."
He chuckled, clearly unimpressed. "You really are untouchable."
Before I could respond, Adrian appeared behind me, calm as ever. "You're not untouchable, Amara. You're brilliant, but even you have limits."
I refused to let my pulse betray me. "And that's why you're here?"
His lips curved slightly, dangerous. "Partially."
I tried to focus on the lines of code, but the air around him seemed to hum. He didn't need to touch me to make my heartbeat accelerate. Every glance, every word from him was a calculated pull and somehow, I was caught in it.
---
Ethan strolled in from the side, coffee in hand. "Looks like someone's working hard. Or hardly working, depending on your perspective." He winked at me, grin teasing, but there was genuine warmth in his eyes. "Don't overdo it, genius. Even superheroes need breaks."
Adrian's jaw tightened, half amused, half annoyed. "Ethan, not now."
"Relax, little brother. I'm just here to keep the fun alive," Ethan said, leaning casually against the desk. He glanced at me. "Don't worry, I know my brother can handle a storm."
I clenched my teeth but couldn't help a small smile. He had a way of making chaos feel… lighter, even when the stakes were high.
Adrian rolled his eyes, lips twitching. "Don't distract her."
Ethan held up his hands innocently. "Distract? Me? Never."
---
Adrian's assistant appeared at the doorway, clipboard in hand. "Lunch in twenty, sir. Don't forget."
Ethan grinned. "See? Even your assistant knows we should eat. Lunch is non negotiable."
Adrian shot him a glare, but the corner of his lips twitched. "Dont distract her Ethan"
Ethan backed away, hands raised, playful. "Relax, I'm just making sure everyone survives the day including our genius coder here."
I caught Adrian's glance from the corner of my eye. There was that same intensity, that sharp focus but now it was laced with something more. Something unspoken. I hated that I noticed it. I hated that it mattered.
---
Another error blinked on the screen. Julian had embedded it deep this time, subtle but dangerous. My stomach tightened. I couldn't fix this one alone.
Adrian leaned closer, his shoulder brushing mine. "We'll fix it. Together."
I gritted my teeth. Pride battled necessity. "Fine. Together."
His proximity made it impossible not to notice the small details: the faint scent of his cologne, the way his eyes lingered a fraction longer than necessary, the subtle heat radiating from him.
"You've improved," he murmured, voice low and intimate. "Even with sabotage, you move like a predator. Efficient, precise."
I bit back a retort. Praise from him was dangerous it always carried that undertone of ownership I hated, yet secretly craved.
---
Ethan snorted softly. "You two are ridiculous. But I have to admit… it's kind of fun watching you bicker and cooperate at the same time."
I shot him a glare, though part of me appreciated the levity. Adrian just rolled his eyes, lips twitching into that smirk I hated and loved simultaneously.
"Assistant said lunch in twenty," Ethan added casually, glancing at the clock. "I vote we survive this sabotage first, then celebrate with food."
Adrian's gaze flicked to me, sharp and calculating. "Survive first," he said. Then softer, almost possessive, "Then maybe we can eat."
My pulse skipped. The words weren't a question. They weren't a request. They were a command, subtle but unmistakable.
---
Marcus muttered something, defeated, and stepped away. "You really are untouchable, huh?"
I shot him a sharp glare. "Try me again, see how untouchable I can be."
Ethan leaned casually against the desk, smirk in place, and gave Marcus a pointed look. "Careful, Marcus. Don't poke the genius too much, or you'll regret it."
Marcus froze slightly, clearly caught off guard by Ethan's protective tone. "I'm just saying…"
Ethan's grin widened, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yeah, well, some of us know when to back off. Especially when it involves someone worth protecting."
I felt heat rise to my cheeks, partly embarrassed, partly… something else. Adrian's jaw tightened beside me, lips twitching but I could see the corner of a small, approving smirk.
Marcus muttered under his breath, clearly defeated, and finally backed away.
Adrian leaned closer again, dangerous and steady. "Rest up after this. We'll need all your fire for the next round."
I didn't ask what he meant. Deep down, I knew. The thrill of danger, the pull of Adrian, the playful but protective distractions of E
than… it was intoxicating and infuriating all at once.
Because despite my pride, skills, and stubbornness, I had no choice but to rely on him.
And I didn't trust him one bit.