Chapter 53- Distance Is a Lie
808 Words
The change began the following week.
At first it was subtle.
So subtle that only one person truly noticed it.
Adrian.
Damien Sinclair, who once hovered around him with constant instructions, sudden meetings, and unnecessary supervision... had begun avoiding him.
Not openly.
Never obviously.
But Adrian saw the pattern.
Meetings were suddenly assigned through assistants.
Files were delivered by junior staff.
Conversations that once happened face to face now arrived through email.
And when Adrian did enter a room Damien occupied, the CEO always seemed to be leaving.
Adrian leaned back in his chair one afternoon, watching Damien's office door close again.
His jaw tightened.
"Coward."
His coworker Minho looked up.
"What?"
Adrian waved it off.
"Nothing."
But inside, something restless twisted uncomfortably.
Damien's Side
Damien stood in his office staring at the city skyline.
His hands rested on the glass behind his back.
His reflection stared back at him.
"You're losing your mind."
He muttered it under his breath.
Every instinct in him told him to walk down the hall.
To stand at Adrian's desk.
To start an argument about nothing.
To hear that irritating, sarcastic voice again.
But he didn't.
Because the last time Adrian had stood close to him...
Something had happened.
Not outside.
Inside.
A pull.
A gravity he didn't understand.
And Damien Sinclair did not lose control.
Especially not over another man.
He rubbed his temple.
"I'm not gay."
The words sounded more like a negotiation than a statement.
His phone buzzed.
Hana.
He answered.
"Yes."
Her cheerful voice flowed through the speaker.
"Dinner tonight?"
Damien hesitated.
Then said,
"Yes."
If he spent time with Hana, maybe his mind would correct itself.
Maybe whatever strange thing Adrian Knox had done to his thoughts would disappear.
Meanwhile - Adrian
Adrian sat at his desk staring at his screen while Minho chatted beside him.
"...so the marketing team is planning a big event next week," Minho said.
Adrian barely heard him.
His attention had drifted again to Damien's office.
The blinds were half closed.
But Adrian could still see the tall silhouette moving inside.
Talking on the phone.
Probably Hana.
Adrian's fingers clenched slightly around his pen.
Why did that bother him?
Why did the thought of Damien smiling at Hana feel like someone slowly tightening a rope around his ribs?
Minho noticed his expression.
"You look like you want to punch someone."
Adrian forced a small smirk.
"Maybe I do."
Minho laughed nervously.
"I'm glad it's not me."
Evening
The company parking garage echoed quietly as Adrian walked toward his car.
He had stayed late to finish a security report.
The building was nearly empty.
He unlocked his car and opened the door.
Then stopped.
Footsteps approached behind him.
Adrian turned.
Damien.
They hadn't spoken directly in three days.
For a moment neither of them moved.
The air between them felt strange. Charged.
Damien finally spoke.
"You're still here."
Adrian leaned against his car door.
"Last time I checked, employees are allowed to work late."
Damien ignored the sarcasm.
"You should go home."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"You avoiding me during the day wasn't enough?"
The words slipped out sharper than intended.
Damien stiffened.
"I'm not avoiding you."
Adrian gave a quiet laugh.
"You're terrible at lying."
Silence stretched between them.
Damien stepped closer.
His voice lowered.
"You're imagining things."
Adrian looked directly into his eyes.
"No."
Another pause.
Then Adrian asked quietly,
"Did I do something?"
The question caught Damien off guard.
His chest tightened unexpectedly.
"No."
"Then why are you acting like I'm contagious?"
Damien opened his mouth.
Then closed it again.
Because the real answer sounded insane.
Because the real answer was:
When you're close to me, I forget how to think.
Instead he said coldly,
"Focus on your work."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"That's it?"
"Yes."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"Understood, boss."
He got into his car and shut the door.
The engine started.
Damien stood there watching as the car pulled away.
And suddenly the garage felt too quiet.
Too empty.
Somewhere Else in the City
In a dark apartment filled with glowing monitors, a man sat perfectly still.
Cameras displayed different corners of the city.
Security feeds.
Street cameras.
Office entrances.
Among them was one quiet camera focused on Sinclair Tower.
The man leaned forward slightly.
On the screen, Damien stood alone in the parking garage.
Watching the empty space where Adrian's car had been.
The man tilted his head.
Curious.
His voice was soft, almost thoughtful.
"Interesting."
He pressed a key.
Another camera appeared.
Adrian's car driving through the city streets.
He studied the image carefully.
Not recognizing the truth.
Not knowing the person he was searching for was already moving through his world.
But he watched.
Patiently.
Like a spider waiting in the center of a web.
"Soon," he whispered.
And the screen glowed quietly in the darkness.
- Writer
