The following day, Layla sat by her window, staring at the rain-soaked city below. She hadn't slept much. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Adrian—his cold eyes, his ruthless strength, the way he had stood in the shadows outside her building like a silent guardian.
It should have scared her. And it did. But what unsettled her more was the part of her that felt… safe.
She shook her head, forcing herself to focus. She had work to do, errands to run. Life had to move on. But when she stepped out of her building, her heart nearly stopped.
Adrian was there.
Leaning casually against a sleek black car parked at the curb, dressed in another perfectly tailored suit. He looked like he belonged to a different world entirely—a world of power, money, and secrets.
"Good morning," he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Layla froze. "Were you… waiting for me?"
His gaze flickered, unreadable. "I wanted to make sure you got to where you need to be. Safely."
Her pulse raced. "That's… not necessary."
He tilted his head, studying her. "Maybe not. But necessary and right are not always the same thing."
Before she could argue, he opened the car door for her. "Get in."
Layla hesitated, every instinct screaming at her not to. Yet curiosity burned stronger. Against her better judgment, she slid into the leather seat. The car smelled faintly of cedar and something darker, something sharp that reminded her of him.
The ride was silent at first. She kept her eyes on the city blurring past the window, but the air between them pulsed with unspoken questions. Finally, she turned to him.
"Why are you doing this, Adrian? You don't even know me."
For the first time, his grip on the steering wheel tightened. A shadow crossed his expression.
"Maybe I know you more than you think." His voice was low, almost harsh. Then, softer: "And maybe I want to make sure you don't end up like… someone I once knew."
Layla's chest tightened. She opened her mouth to ask, but his phone rang—sharp, cutting through the tension.
Adrian's jaw clenched as he answered. "Yes?"
His tone was different now. Colder. Commanding.
She couldn't hear the other voice, but she saw the change in him. The calm mask cracked for a moment, revealing steel and fury beneath.
"I told you not to call me unless it was urgent," he hissed into the phone. Silence. Then his knuckles whitened against the steering wheel. "Keep them away from her. If they come near, I swear I'll—" He stopped, catching himself, then ended the call abruptly.
Layla stared, her breath caught in her throat. "Them? Who were you talking about?"
Adrian's eyes flicked to hers, sharp and unreadable once again. For a heartbeat, she thought he might actually tell her the truth. But instead, he forced a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Nothing you need to worry about."
But Layla wasn't fooled.
For the first time, she saw the truth: Adrian wasn't just mysterious. He was dangerous not because of what he did last night… but because danger was already following
him.
And now, somehow, it was following her too.