The next morning began with chaos.
Elena was in the kitchen making tea for her father when the knock at the door came—hard, sharp, urgent. She froze, her hand tightening on the teacup.
Her father, already seated with his blanket wrapped around his shoulders, frowned. "Who could that be at this hour?"
Before Elena could answer, the knock came again, louder.
She hesitated, then opened the door—only to find a suited man standing there, tall and severe, his expression unreadable.
"Miss Elena Carter?"
"Yes?"
He handed her a sealed envelope. "You've been served."
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
But he was already gone, leaving her clutching the envelope in stunned silence.
Her father coughed softly. "What is it, darling?"
Elena tore it open, her eyes skimming the papers inside. Her stomach dropped.
It was a legal notice. A lawsuit. Her name and Adrian's were both printed clearly at the top. The accusation? Fraudulent engagement.
Her hands shook as she read the words again. Fraudulent engagement. Someone had reported that her relationship with Adrian wasn't real. That it was a sham for financial gain.
Her mind spun. Only one name came to her lips.
Victor Harris.
---
Two hours later, Elena was in Adrian's penthouse, pacing across the polished floor while Adrian stood calmly at the window, reading the notice she had brought.
His face gave nothing away, but his grip on the paper was tight enough to crumple the edges.
"It's him, isn't it?" Elena demanded. "Victor Harris. Who else would do this?"
Adrian finally turned, his eyes sharp as glass. "Of course it's Harris. He's been waiting for a crack in my armor. And he thinks he's found it."
Elena's heart pounded. "What does this mean? Are we in trouble?"
"We're not," Adrian said, tossing the notice onto the desk. "He can't prove anything. As long as we play our roles, Harris doesn't have a case."
Elena gaped at him. "Play our roles? Adrian, this isn't a game! He's attacking us—me—personally!"
Adrian's voice dropped, smooth but firm. "Exactly. Which is why you can't lose your composure. That's what Harris wants—to rattle you. To make you slip."
"I'm not one of your executives, Adrian," she snapped. "I'm not trained for this!"
"No," he agreed, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming. "But you're stronger than you think. You proved that at dinner. You'll prove it again now."
Elena's chest rose and fell rapidly. His confidence in her was unexpected—steady, unshakable. It scared her almost as much as Harris's attack.
"What if I can't?" she whispered.
Adrian's hand brushed hers—light, fleeting, but enough to still her trembling. His gaze locked on hers, softer now, almost vulnerable.
"Then I'll be there to catch you," he said quietly.
Her breath hitched. For one dangerous second, the world outside the penthouse—the lawsuits, the enemies, the games—faded away. All that remained was him.
But before the moment could deepen, Adrian pulled back, his face hardening again.
"We'll fight this," he said. "And we'll win."
---
That afternoon, Adrian brought Elena with him to Blake Enterprises. If Harris wanted to play dirty, Adrian was prepared to go to war.
The office buzzed with tension—phones ringing, assistants rushing, lawyers in sharp suits moving in and out of conference rooms. Everywhere they went, eyes followed them.
"Let them watch," Adrian murmured as they walked through the lobby, his hand resting lightly against the small of Elena's back. "The more they see us together, the stronger our case looks."
Elena nodded stiffly, forcing herself to meet the curious stares with confidence she didn't feel.
Inside Adrian's office, his legal team was already waiting. Papers were spread across the table, strategies outlined. Adrian slipped seamlessly into command, his voice cool and steady as he issued orders.
"Elena will continue to appear at all public functions by my side," Adrian instructed. "We'll give the press exactly what they want to see—an engagement beyond reproach."
Elena's stomach twisted. This wasn't just a business move anymore. This was her life. Her name. Her reputation.
When the lawyers finally left, Elena sank into the chair opposite Adrian, her head in her hands. "I don't know if I can do this."
Adrian leaned forward, his voice softer than she'd expected. "You can."
Her eyes lifted to his. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because," he said simply, "you've already stood up to me. And Harris is nothing compared to me."
Despite the chaos, despite the fear, Elena laughed—short, breathless. "That's not exactly comforting."
Adrian's lips curved faintly, but the steel in his eyes never wavered.
"Harris thinks he can use you against me," Adrian said. "What he doesn't realize… is that you're not my weakness, Elena. You're my weapon."
Elena's heart skipped a beat. She didn't know whether to feel terrified or… proud.
Maybe both.
---
That night, back at her apartment, Elena stood by the window, staring at the lawsuit papers spread across her table.
She thought of Adrian's words. You're my weapon.
The idea unsettled her. But it also lit something inside her—a determination she hadn't felt before.
If Harris wanted a war, then fine. She would stand by Adrian's side.
Because somewhere deep down, she knew this wasn't jus
t about survival anymore.
It was about something far more dangerous.
Something that felt an awful lot like love.