The Rules Of Adrian Vale
907 Words
Chapter Two
The Rules of Adrian Vale
Amara Ellis stared at the mysterious message on her phone long after it arrived.
"Stay away from Adrian Vale."
The words seemed simple, but they carried a warning that made her uncomfortable.
Who sent it?
And why?
She considered replying, but stopped herself.
People who sent anonymous threats usually wanted a reaction.
She locked her phone and placed it on the table.
"This is nothing," she whispered.
But deep down, she knew it wasn't.
Her first week at Vale Corporation had already shown her that Adrian Vale was not an ordinary man.
He was powerful.
Respected.
Feared.
Men like him always had enemies.
The question was...
Why was she suddenly involved?
---
The next morning, Amara arrived at work earlier than usual.
She had barely placed her bag down when Sophia walked toward her.
"You look tired."
Amara forced a small smile.
"Long night."
Sophia glanced at her.
"Something happened?"
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Sophia noticed.
But she didn't push.
Instead, she handed Amara a tablet.
"Mr. Vale wants you in his office."
Amara looked toward the closed door.
"Now?"
Sophia nodded.
"Now."
Amara walked toward his office, wondering what awaited her.
She knocked.
"Come in."
Adrian was standing behind his desk, reading documents.
Unlike yesterday, he wasn't wearing a suit jacket.
His sleeves were rolled up, revealing the seriousness of someone who had been working for hours.
He looked up.
"Sit."
Amara sat across from him.
"You've been here one week."
"Yes."
"And you've handled everything I've given you."
She waited.
A compliment from Adrian Vale probably came with a hidden warning.
"But?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You are too curious."
Amara blinked.
"I don't think curiosity is a bad thing."
"It is when it involves things that don't concern you."
She remembered the photograph.
The secret message.
The way people avoided talking about him.
"What exactly doesn't concern me?"
A long silence followed.
Adrian studied her.
Most people would have looked away.
Amara didn't.
That irritated him.
And fascinated him.
"You ask too many questions."
"And you avoid answering too many."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then, unexpectedly, Adrian smiled slightly.
It disappeared almost immediately.
But Amara saw it.
The billionaire could smile.
Interesting.
"I hired you because you are capable, Ms. Ellis."
He placed a folder on the desk.
"But capability without discipline becomes a problem."
Amara opened the folder.
Inside were new responsibilities.
"You want me to handle your private schedule?"
"Yes."
"Why me?"
"Because I need someone I can trust."
The answer surprised her.
"Trust?"
Adrian looked away.
"Don't make me regret it."
---
By afternoon, Amara was learning more about Adrian Vale than she expected.
Not from gossip.
From observation.
He remembered every employee's name.
He donated quietly to charities but refused public recognition.
He stayed late almost every night.
And despite his reputation, he never treated people beneath him.
He was complicated.
Much more complicated than she wanted to admit.
Her opinion of him was changing.
And she didn't like it.
Because changing her opinion meant getting closer.
And getting close to powerful people had always ended badly.
---
That evening, Adrian had an important business dinner.
Amara stood outside the restaurant, checking the schedule.
Everything was prepared.
The guests had arrived.
The documents were ready.
She had done her job.
But as Adrian approached, she noticed something unusual.
His expression was different.
Tense.
A man walked toward him.
A man Amara didn't recognize.
"Adrian."
The stranger's voice was filled with anger.
Adrian immediately became colder.
"Not here."
The man laughed.
"You still pretend everything is under control."
Amara watched carefully.
She knew she shouldn't listen.
But something about the conversation felt important.
The stranger noticed her.
"And who is she?"
Adrian's eyes moved toward Amara.
For a second, she expected him to say she was nobody.
Instead, he said:
"My assistant."
The stranger studied her.
"Be careful, Adrian. Everyone close to you eventually gets hurt."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"Leave."
The man walked away.
Amara waited until he was gone.
Then she looked at Adrian.
"Who was that?"
His eyes immediately turned cold.
"Someone from my past."
"That's all?"
"That's all you need to know."
Amara looked away.
There it was again.
The wall he always built.
The secrets.
The distance.
She didn't know why, but she felt sorry for him.
And that was dangerous.
Because pity could become attachment.
---
Later that night, Adrian sat alone in his office.
The city lights reflected against the glass.
On his desk was the same old photograph Amara had seen.
A younger Adrian stood beside a woman who looked exactly like him.
His mother.
The woman whose death changed everything.
The woman whose secrets had created enemies that still followed him years later.
His phone rang.
He answered.
"Yes?"
A serious voice spoke from the other end.
"She has started working for you."
Adrian's expression changed.
"How do you know that?"
"Because everyone knows Adrian Vale finally hired someone."
A pause.
"Be careful. She may not be who you think she is."
Adrian looked at the photograph.
Then he remembered Amara's eyes.
Honest.
Fearless.
Different.
"I know exactly who she is."
But even as he said those words...
A part of him wondered if he was wrong.
Because Amara Ellis had entered his life at the worst possible time.
And somehow...
She was becoming the one person he wanted to understand.
- Writer
