Aria didn't sleep well that night.
She kept replaying the moment the strange man smiled at her—the way it felt wrong, the way her chest tightened.
But she also remembered something else.
The way Adrian stepped beside her without hesitation.
Like he had been waiting for her to call out for help.
Even though she never did.
The thought stayed in her mind longer than she expected.
The next morning, she went to work a little tired but still determined to act normal.
Her friend Maya noticed right away.
"Aria, you look like someone stole your breakfast."
Aria forced a smile. "I just didn't sleep well."
Maya narrowed her eyes. "If a customer stressed you, I'll fight them."
Aria laughed softly. "No one stressed me. Just… life."
Maya didn't look convinced, but she didn't push.
Meanwhile, Adrian stood in his office staring at the window, hands in his pockets.
He knew what he had to do.
He hated it.
His phone buzzed.
Security Chief:
Do you want us to send two men to watch her building?
Adrian typed back:
Not yet. I'll handle it.
But the truth sat heavy in his chest.
He wasn't handling it.
He was delaying it.
He didn't want Aria to look at him differently once she knew everything.
Later that evening, Aria left work early.
The streets were busy, noisy, normal.
For a moment, she forgot the fear of yesterday.
But when she reached the end of the street, she noticed someone leaning against a black car.
Adrian.
Her heart did a small, confused jump.
"You're here… again," she said, walking closer.
He didn't deny it.
He didn't make excuses.
"I needed to talk to you," he said simply.
The honesty in his voice made her chest tighten.
"Okay. I'm listening."
He glanced around. "Can we talk inside the car? Just for privacy."
She hesitated only a little before nodding.
Inside, the car was warm and quiet.
Adrian rested his hands on the steering wheel for a moment before speaking.
"Aria… what happened yesterday wasn't random. Those men weren't just troublemakers."
She swallowed. "I guessed. But why me?"
His jaw tightened. "Because of me."
Aria looked at him carefully, waiting.
Adrian took a breath. "Years ago, I worked with someone who turned out to be… dangerous. I walked away. He didn't like that."
"And he's trying to scare you?" she asked.
"Not me," Adrian said quietly.
"Anyone close to me."
The words hit her harder than she expected.
"So I'm in trouble… because I helped you that night?"
His eyes softened. "You're not in trouble. I won't let that happen."
"But it is connected to you."
"Yes."
They sat in silence for a few seconds, the weight of everything hanging between them.
Aria finally spoke. "I don't regret helping you. Not for one second. But I… I don't want to be kept in the dark."
He looked at her then—really looked.
Like he was searching her face for something he wasn't sure he deserved.
"You won't be," he said. "From now on, I'll tell you everything you need to know."
Aria nodded slowly. "Then we'll handle this the right way."
He blinked. "'We?'"
"Yes, we."
She smiled a little. "You keep showing up. You keep checking on me. You don't get to act like I'm not part of this anymore."
For the first time that day, he let out a breath that almost sounded like relief.
"Alright," he said softly. "We."
When Aria stepped out of the car, she felt safer… but also more involved than she planned.
Adrian watched her walk toward her building.
Not as someone he r
escued.
But as someone he now felt responsible for.
Maybe even more than that.
And that scared him more than the men following him.