CHAPTER 5: DANGEROUS PROXIMITY
237 Words
War, Elara realized, was exhausting.
Especially when your enemy refused to act like one.
Days passed.
Meetings turned into debates.
Debates turned into battles of wit.
And Adrian—
He never lost.
“You’re avoiding the real issue,” Elara snapped during another meeting.
“And you’re overcompensating,” he replied calmly.
The room went silent.
Nora choked on her drink.
Elara’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”
Adrian leaned back slightly.
“You don’t trust anyone,” he said. “So you control everything.”
“That’s called leadership.”
“That’s called fear.”
The word hit harder than she expected.
Elara stood abruptly. “Meeting adjourned.”
Everyone rushed out.
Except him.
Of course.
“You don’t get to analyze me,” she said, turning to him.
“I already am.”
“Stop.”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t know me.”
Adrian stepped closer.
Closer than necessary.
“I think I do,” he murmured.
Her breath caught—but she masked it quickly.
“You’re predictable,” he continued. “Strong on the outside… guarded on the inside.”
Her voice dropped. “And you?”
His eyes darkened.
“Worse.”
A pause.
Something unspoken passed between them.
Something neither wanted to name.
Elara stepped back first.
Always first.
“Stay out of my way,” she said.
Adrian smiled faintly.
“I don’t think I can.”
- Writer
