Chapter 51- Lines That Should Not Be Crossed
979 Words
The afternoon sun had begun its slow descent, turning the glass walls of Sinclair Tower into mirrors reflecting the restless city of Seoul. Inside the cybersecurity department, the quiet buzz of computers blended with the occasional murmur of employees finishing their workday.
Adrian Knox sat rigidly at his desk.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard, unmoving. The code on his screen blurred, letters melting together until they became meaningless.
Because Damien Sinclair was standing behind him.
Not speaking.
Just… standing there.
Adrian could feel his presence like heat from a nearby flame.
“You stopped typing.”
Damien’s voice came low, smooth, almost lazy. But Adrian knew better. Beneath that calm tone lived the tension Damien had been trying to bury all week.
“I finished the file,” Adrian replied without turning.
A pause.
Then Damien leaned closer.
Not close enough to touch, but close enough that Adrian could feel the warmth of his breath near his ear.
“You’re lying.”
Adrian finally turned.
Their eyes locked.
For a second, the entire office seemed to vanish. No employees, no computers, no city beyond the windows.
Just them.
Damien straightened abruptly, clearing his throat as if he’d been caught doing something wrong.
“I’m sending you to Busan tomorrow.”
Adrian blinked.
“…Busan?”
“A security conference,” Damien said, suddenly brisk. “Our company needs representation.”
Adrian narrowed his eyes.
“You’re the CEO. Why not go yourself?”
Damien looked away.
Because if I keep staying near you like this, I might lose my mind.
Instead he said coolly, “Because I trust your judgment.”
Adrian’s chest tightened slightly at the words.
Trust.
Damien rarely used that word for anyone.
Before Adrian could respond, a familiar voice cut through the office.
“Well… this is cozy.”
Hana.
She stood near the doorway, arms crossed, eyes glittering with curiosity.
Adrian immediately leaned back in his chair.
Damien’s expression hardened.
“Hana,” he said flatly.
She walked toward them with confident steps, heels tapping like tiny warning bells.
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with your assistant lately.”
The way she said assistant carried a sharp edge.
Adrian stayed silent.
Damien’s jaw tightened.
“I spend time with whoever is competent.”
Hana smiled sweetly.
“Oh? Is that what this is?”
She leaned slightly toward Adrian.
“Competence?”
Adrian finally spoke.
“Is there something you need, Miss Choi?”
Her eyes flicked toward him.
For a moment, Adrian thought she might lash out.
Instead she laughed softly.
“No. I just came to remind Damien that we have dinner tonight.”
Silence.
Adrian felt something unpleasant twist in his stomach.
Dinner.
Of course.
She was his fiancée.
Damien hesitated.
Just a second.
But Adrian noticed.
And that second hurt more than it should.
“Right,” Damien said eventually.
Hana smiled triumphantly.
“Good. Don’t forget.”
She turned and walked away, satisfied.
The moment she disappeared, Adrian stood up abruptly.
“I’ll finish preparing for the Busan conference.”
His voice sounded too calm.
Too controlled.
Damien watched him carefully.
“You don’t have to leave now.”
Adrian forced a small smirk.
“What? Afraid the office will be boring without me?”
Damien frowned.
“That’s not what I—”
“You have dinner plans,” Adrian cut in lightly.
“So I’ll stop distracting you.”
The word distracting hung in the air.
Damien stepped closer.
“Adrian.”
But Adrian had already picked up his laptop bag.
“Don’t worry, boss.”
He gave a mock salute.
“I’ll behave.”
Then he walked away.
Damien watched him leave, something heavy settling in his chest.
Why did that feel like losing something?
Later That Night
Damien sat across from Hana in an expensive restaurant.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead.
Soft piano music filled the room.
Hana looked stunning in a sleek black dress.
Normally, Damien would have admired her.
Tonight…
He barely noticed.
“So,” Hana said, swirling her wine.
“You’ve been quiet.”
“I’m listening.”
“You’re thinking about him.”
Damien looked up sharply.
“Him?”
She smiled slowly.
“Adrian.”
The name hit like a stone dropped into water.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Please.”
Hana leaned forward.
“I know you, Damien.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“You’ve never protected an employee like that before.”
Damien didn’t respond.
“So tell me something,” she continued.
“Why does he matter so much?”
Damien looked down at his glass.
Because when he walks into a room, the world shifts.
Because when he smiles, something inside my chest loosens.
Because when he leaves, the silence feels wrong.
Instead he said coldly,
“He doesn’t.”
Hana studied him.
She didn’t believe him.
Not for a second.
Meanwhile
Adrian stood alone on the rooftop of Sinclair Tower.
The night wind tugged at his coat.
The city lights glittered beneath him like scattered diamonds.
His chest felt tight.
Why did it bother him?
Why did Hana’s words feel like a blade sliding under his ribs?
“You i***t,” he muttered to himself.
“He’s engaged.”
More importantly…
He thinks you’re a man.
Adrian leaned against the railing, closing his eyes.
This was dangerous.
The feelings growing inside him were dangerous.
He had come to Sinclair to hide.
To survive.
To stay invisible.
Falling in love with Damien Sinclair was the exact opposite of invisible.
But somewhere far away, in the shadows of the city, another pair of eyes watched the glittering tower.
A man sat inside a dark apartment filled with monitors.
On one screen, Adrian stood on the rooftop.
On another, Damien sat at dinner with Hana.
The man smiled slowly.
- Writer
