CHAPTER 4: IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
1093 Words
*INT. LUNARLUX MOTORS – ADRIAN’S OFFICE – DAY*
Adrian Lancaster sat behind his sleek glass desk, eyes scanning over a digital report on his tablet. His office overlooked the skyline—clean, modern, and silent except for the soft hum of the city outside.
Victor, his personal assistant, stood in front of him, tablet in hand.
“We’re seeing consistent growth this quarter,” Victor began, flipping through slides. “Online engagement is up by 12%, test drive sign-ups are flooding in, and the new luxury hybrid line is already making waves.”
Adrian nodded, barely looking up. “Good. Keep pushing the sustainability angle. People eat that up.”
Victor hesitated for a beat. “But... we seem to have a rival.”
That caught Adrian’s full attention. He set the tablet down and leaned forward, expression sharpening. “Go on.”
Victor swiped to the next slide, voice lower now. “Nightshade Motors. Their sales have spiked almost overnight. Their new model—*the Eclipse Phantom*—launched with a campaign that’s... alarmingly similar to ours.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “Similar how?”
“Identical messaging. Aesthetic. Even the slogan is a reworded version of ours. It’s like they had access to our pitch decks.”
Adrian grunted, jaw tight. He stared at the screen glowing on the wall — a breakdown of Nightshade Corp’s newest campaign. It was nearly identical to theirs, down to the color palette and the tagline, only slicker, louder... and launched two days ahead of schedule.
“Xavier can be sneaky,” he muttered, pushing a hand through his hair, “but there’s no way he could’ve found out our strategy unless—”
He stopped mid-sentence. His brow furrowed. Then, slowly, his eyes widened.
Victor, watching him carefully, leaned forward. “Unless what?”
Adrian turned toward him, voice low but heavy. “Unless someone’s been leaking information.”
A heavy silence fell between them, thick as smoke.
Victor straightened, scanning the office. “But who? Everyone on this team has been vetted—twice.”
Before Adrian could reply, the sleek glass doors slammed open.
Xavier Black strode in like a storm in a designer suit.
His black-on-black attire was spotless, tailored to his every movement. He looked every inch the billionaire predator — and he dragged proof of his malice in with him. Gripped tightly by the collar, Adrian’s secretary stumbled behind him, her eyes wide with panic, gasping as she struggled against his iron hold.
“It’s rude to talk about someone behind their back,” Xavier said, his voice smooth, laced with arrogance and just enough venom to chill the room.
Adrian stood in an instant. His chair slid back with a sharp screech, but his face remained unreadable — except for his eyes. They burned like frostbitten steel.
“Put her down, Xavier,” he said, voice calm. Too calm.
Xavier raised an eyebrow, amused. “Relax. Just saying hello. You’ve clearly been thinking about me.”
He released the secretary abruptly. She collapsed to her knees, coughing. Victor rushed to her side, helping her up carefully, his eyes never leaving Xavier.
Xavier advanced into the room, his movements slow, deliberate — like he was testing how far he could push before someone snapped. His very presence seemed to warp the atmosphere — heavier, darker, almost electric.
Victor instinctively stepped back. “You’re out of line.”
Xavier smirked, gaze flicking to the large screen on the wall, where Nightshade’s numbers pulsed in bold red. “Looks like you’ve been keeping tabs,” he said. “I’m flattered.”
Adrian didn’t answer. He was watching him — not the man, but the predator beneath. His shoulders tensed slightly, just enough for Victor to notice.
Xavier’s smirk widened. “You know, Adrian, you always did underestimate me. Thought your pretty little fortress was impenetrable.”
His eyes flicked to the trembling secretary, then back. “Turns out even the best wolves let snakes slither in when they’re too busy guarding the front gates.”
Adrian’s hands clenched at his sides, his jaw ticking.
“What do you want?” he asked quietly.
“Oh nothing,” Xavier said, smiling. “I just want to drop a little warning.”
He turned to leave, pausing just at the threshold. “Tell your people to be ready, I'm coming for the throne.”
He vanished through the doors, his shadow lingering longer than he did.
Adrian sighed, he turned to his secretary.
"Are you ok?."
"I guess." she said while coughing.
"Does this mean there's a war coming?" Victor asked.
Adrian turned to him, then to his secretary, he smiled and told her.
"You may leave now."
She then left.
Immediately they left, there was silence, then victor broke the ice.
"Looks like he still has eyes on the throne, and he's planning something, something big." Said Victor.
Adrian remained in silence. Obviously thinking.
"I'll go check on father tomorrow, I don't think he's safe anymore." He said.
Just then a female worker walked in, with a note in her hands. She knocked on the door.
Adrian raised his head up.
"Mary, Come in please." He said as she walked up to Adrian.
"The man who came here said I should give it to you." She said while handing him the note.
Adrian turned to victor as they both shared a glance, then he turned to Mary.
"Thank you."
As he took the note with a smile. She then turned to leave.
"How did he even get here?" Adrian asked as she stopped.
She turned to him.
"He said he's a close religion of yours, that he has an appointment with you. he even provided your father's name." She responded.
Adrian remained in silence, then he turned to her with a smile.
"Ok thank you. But please do me a favor and inform me when next he comes." He said.
"Ok sir."
She then turned and left.
"What's in the letter." Victor asked.
Adrian turned to it.
"Let's find out." He said as he slowly opened it and read it.
"I almost forgot, I heard you have a girlfriend now, she's a bit pretty, lol.
I'll pay her a visit sometime."
Adrian's eyes widened.
Was he talking about Mia.
"Sir, are you ok?" Victor asked seeing the shocking look on Adrian's face but he didn't respond.
So many thoughts were running through his mind.
How did Xavier knew about Mia?
Has he been stalking him?
And most importantly...
Was Mia safe?
---
- Writer
