Chapter Four:Welcome to The Lion's Den
1460 Words
Her heart pounded faster than her thoughts could keep up with.
A soft knock on the door.
“Elena?” her mother’s voice came through, muffled and gentle.
She hadn’t even heard her come in. Elena sat up slowly, wiped her face, and opened the door.
“What’s wrong?” her mother asked, stepping in, noticing the mess of tissues and untouched food.
Elena didn’t say a word. Instead, she picked up her phone and passed it to her.
.. Her hands trembled as she mumbled, “He wants to humiliate me, mother. He will make my life miserable.”
Her mother’s face dropped as she read through and then watched the segment. Adrian’s face was on-screen, stone-cold, as a reporter read out his official statement demanding disciplinary action against “students who openly disrespect and challenge professional dignity.”
“He’s targeting me. "I know it. "And the school... they’re going to let him,” Elena whispered, her voice breaking. “I can’t handle this pressure.”
Her mother pulled her into a hug. “You were brave, my girl. You stood for something. That kind of fire doesn’t go unnoticed.”
And she was right. It didn’t.
Within two days, Elena’s name was everywhere. She had unknowingly become a symbol for the underprivileged—students who never got opportunities, communities abandoned by the rich, families who felt invisible.
Memes popped up. People reposted her quote from the seminar:
"How many lives have you changed with your wealth, Mr. Adrian? Or is it only your balance sheet you’ve grown?"
People loved it. The poor saw themselves in her. Students looked up to her. Even civil rights activists started tagging her on social media, calling her “the voice that shook the room.”
But Elena didn’t want the attention. She wasn’t trying to be famous. She just wanted peace.
On the other side of town, inside the luxury walls of Adrian’s estate, there was no peace either.
CRASH!
Adrian hurled his tablet across the room. It shattered into pieces against the wall. His assistant, Max, flinched.
“Sir—”
“Don’t speak,” Adrian growled, pacing like a caged beast.
“But sir, maybe this is just a phase. She’s young. A law student on scholarship, probably looking for some relevance. If we ignore her, the noise will die down. These things don’t last.”
“Shut up, Max!” Adrian snapped, stopping in his tracks. His eyes burned with something darker than rage. “Wanna-be’s don’t get invited to billionaire seminars. They make TikToks and throw tantrums online. This one—she’s smart. She planned it. You think it’s random she asked that question? You think it’s by accident she’s trending?”
Max stepped back, unsure of what to say.
Adrian ran his hands through his hair, still fuming. “If she’s a nobody, why is she hiding now? "Why hasn’t she done interviews or podcasts?”
Silence.
Adrian's jaw tightened. She’s hiding because she knows what she did. And I’ll find her.”
“Sir, what exactly are you planning?”
Adrian stared out the window, his fists clenched.
“I’ll break her. I’ll make her work under me. She’ll serve me with that same mouth she used to insult me. I’ll crush her pride until she learns her place.”
“But—” Max hesitated.
But sir…he said ..
“Don't get me upset” Adrian grumbled…
_______________________________________
Elena resumed at Adrian Law Group on Monday morning with her heart pounding so loud, she could barely hear the surrounding voices. She wore a plain cream top tucked into faded black pants — clothes her mother had neatly pressed the night before. She didn't look anything close to someone stepping into one of the top law firms in the city, but it was the best she had. And honestly, it was all too much for her already. She didn’t want to impress anyone.
"Good morning," a kind-looking secretary greeted her with a smile. Welcome to Adrian’s Legal Group. You must be one of the new interns?"
"Yes, ma’am," Elena responded softly, her voice barely rising above a whisper.
The secretary stood and gestured for her to follow. “Mr. Adrian is expecting you.”
Elena’s feet turned to stone. Her hands shook slightly as she clutched her bag tighter. The walk down the long hallway felt like a silent walk to her own sentencing. She hadn’t seen him since that fateful day. Since the seminar. Since the disaster.
The door opened slowly.
Adrian was already seated at his desk.
“Good morning, sir,” Elena greeted as she bowed her head lightly.
Silence.
Painful, long silence.
She dared not lift her head until she heard his voice.
“Elena Hart,” Adrian said finally, grumbling her name as it left a bad taste in his mouth. “Hmm. You’ve got guts.”
Her lips pressed together. She didn’t respond.
"You’ll be working directly under me," he continued sharply. Hand in hand. Everywhere I go, you go. Every meeting, every event, every case — you’re there. You will be my PA, you will be my assistant, and… you will live at the Stone Mansion. You'll cook for me, serve me, and follow my instructions to the letter. No days off. No excuses."
He leaned back in his chair with a smirk. “Let’s see how sharp your tongue is now, smarty-pants.”
Elena's chest burned with humiliation, but she kept her expression composed. “Yes, sir,” she said and turned toward the door.
"Sit down,” he ordered coldly. “That’s your position now.”
“But sir, I—”
“I said sit down!”
She sat slowly, gently, like any sudden movement might cause the floor to collapse under her. His eyes remained on her, sharp and piercing. She didn’t know what he was thinking. But she could feel it wasn’t anything good.
The door opened again. “Morning boss!” Max entered with a wide smile. Then his eyes shifted. “Oh. Miss Elena. Welcome.”
“Good morning,” Elena said politely.
Adrian scoffed. “Look at her, Max. A poor church rat who couldn’t even afford a decent shirt… trying to challenge me. So much guts.”
Max tried to chuckle lightly. “She’s here now, sir. Maybe give her a chance.”
Adrian ignored him. “Maybe we should give her something good to wear, hmm? Good food, maybe wash that hair too — it stinks.”
Max glanced uncomfortably at Elena, who was still seated in silence.
“So much for giving back to society,” Adrian continued mockingly. “Little Miss Voice of the People.”
“Sir, please take it easy,” Max whispered.
Adrian waved a hand. “We’re done for today. Pack your things. Call your family. You’re moving to my house. That’s part of your job now. And don’t bring any rags — you have enough pollution already.”
The car ride to the Stone Mansion was quiet. Elena didn’t say a word. Her phone buzzed repeatedly in her bag — messages from friends, classmates, even journalists. But she didn’t have the courage to check any of them. The mansion came into view, and her breath hitched. She had never seen anything like it.
“Welcome,” Max said with fake cheer as she stepped out. “I’m sure you’ve never seen this kind of luxury in your miserable life.”
Adrian walked ahead of them, barking orders. “Maids! Tidy her up! She stinks of poverty. Bring her to my studies when you’re done.”
The maids scurried forward, dragging Elena to a lavish guest room with walls she didn’t want to touch. They handed her a neatly folded black and gold outfit and motioned for her to take a bath.
After a while, the steward led Elena through the corridors and into Adrian’s massive study.
“Sir, she’s here,” the steward announced.
Adrian and Max both turned toward the door. The moment Adrian saw her, his mouth parted slightly in surprise. Elena stood tall in a sleek top that hugged her shoulders and smooth black pants that flowed just above her gold heels. Her hair was neatly parted to the side, straightened and elegant. She didn’t look anything like the girl who had entered the office earlier that day.
“What is my first task, sir?” she asked calmly, standing before him.
The room went quiet.
Adrian stared, almost forgetting he was supposed to break her.
Max looked at him awkwardly. “Sir?”
Adrian blinked, clearing his throat. “Take out the trash,” he said quickly. “And come back. You’ve got paperwork to do.”
- Writer
