Elena spent the rest of the afternoon trying—and failing—to focus.
She had returned home hours ago, yet her mind remained trapped inside Volkov Industries.
Inside that hallway.
Inside that moment.
Inside Sophia Kane's smile.
It annoyed her.
More than it should.
Elena tossed her phone onto the couch and groaned.
"What is wrong with me?"
No answer came. Of course not. The apartment was empty. Adrian was still at work. Probably with Sophia. The thought appeared before she could stop it. Immediately, she regretted it.
"Seriously?" she muttered to herself.
She stood and headed toward the kitchen. Food usually helped. Unfortunately, so did overthinking. And she was doing plenty of that. By the time evening arrived, she had convinced herself she was being ridiculous. Sophia was beautiful. Confident. Successful. She worked with Adrian. That was all. Nothing more. Nothing less. At least that was what Elena told herself. Then the front door opened. And everything she had practiced saying disappeared. Adrian stepped inside. His tie was loose.
His sleeves were rolled up.
He looked tired.
For some reason, Elena noticed that immediately.
"You're home late," she said.
Adrian looked surprised.
"Are you keeping track?"
"No."
The answer came too fast.
His mouth twitched.
Not quite a smile.
But close.
Elena hated that she noticed.
"Long day?" she asked.
"Very."
He placed his keys on the table.
For a moment neither spoke.
Then Adrian glanced toward her.
"You seemed uncomfortable today."
Elena nearly laughed.
Uncomfortable?
That was one way to describe it.
"Your employees stare a lot."
"They stare at everyone."
"They definitely stare at me more."
Adrian considered that.
"Fair point."
The corner of Elena's mouth lifted despite herself.
Silence settled between them again.
Not awkward.
Just... different.
Lighter.
Then Adrian's phone rang.
The change was immediate.
His expression hardened.
He answered without looking away from her.
"Volkov."
A pause.
Then another.
The amusement vanished completely from his face.
Elena sat up straighter.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
"I'll handle it," Adrian said coldly.
The call ended.
"What happened?" Elena asked.
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
His jaw tightened.
"Someone leaked information from the company."
Her stomach dropped.
"What kind of information?"
"I don't know yet."
The fact that he admitted uncertainty surprised her.
Adrian always seemed to know everything.
"We'll find out."
The calmness in his voice was somehow more frightening than anger.
Before Elena could respond, another notification appeared on Adrian's phone.
He checked it.
Then froze.
Only for a second.
But she noticed.
His eyes darkened.
Dangerously.
"What?"
Slowly, Adrian turned the screen toward her.
A photograph filled the display.
Elena's heart stopped.
It was taken earlier that day.
At Volkov Industries.
A picture of her standing outside the conference room.
Watching.
Waiting.
Someone had been watching her.
And beneath the photo was a single message.
**Tell me, Adrian...**
**How long can you protect her?**
For the first time, Elena saw something she had never seen before.
Not anger.
Not irritation.
Not control.
Fear.
Real fear.
And somehow...
That terrified her more than the message itself.