Too close
1025 Words
At first, it was small.
Almost nothing.
The kind of thing you could easily brush off if you weren't paying attention.
The same black car.
Parked across the street.
Engine off.
Windows tinted.
She saw it when she stepped out of the building that morning.
Paused.
Looked again.
Still there.
"It's nothing," she murmured to herself.
Probably just someone waiting.
Probably not him.
But something in her chest tightened anyway.
By afternoon—
She saw it again.
Different street.
Same car.
This time, she didn't stop walking.
Didn't look too long.
But she felt it.
That quiet awareness crawling up her spine.
By evening—
She wasn't imagining it anymore.
"Elara."
She turned at the sound of her name.
Her friend from class, Nadia, jogged up beside her.
"You disappeared last night. I thought we were studying?"
Elara blinked. "Yeah, I just… got caught up."
"With what?" Nadia asked, narrowing her eyes playfully.
Elara hesitated.
Then shrugged. "Nothing important."
That was a lie.
And she knew it.
"Mm," Nadia hummed. "You look distracted."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Elara forced a small smile. "I just didn't sleep well."
That part… was true.
Because all night—
She kept thinking about him.
The way he looked at her.
The way he said her name.
The way his voice changed when he told her to leave.
"You should leave, Elara."
It didn't sound like a command.
It sounded like a warning.
"Elara?"
She blinked, realizing Nadia was still talking.
"Sorry—what?"
"I said, are you coming tonight?"
"Where?"
"Small get-together. Nothing crazy. Just a few people."
Elara hesitated.
Normally, she would say no.
She always said no.
But today—
Something felt off.
Unsettled.
"Yeah," she said finally.
"Yeah, I'll come."
Night
The place was louder than she expected.
Music.
Voices.
Laughter.
Everything felt too fast.
Too alive.
Elara stood near the edge of the room, her fingers wrapped around a drink she hadn't touched.
She didn't belong here.
That feeling again.
And then—
It hit her.
That same sensation from earlier.
That quiet pull.
Like someone was watching her.
Her heart started to race.
Slowly—
She turned.
And there he was.
Lucien.
Standing across the room like he owned it.
Like he belonged in every space he stepped into.
Her breath caught.
He wasn't supposed to be here.
But of course—
He was.
Their eyes locked.
And just like that—
Everything else disappeared.
The music faded.
The voices blurred.
It was just him.
Watching her.
Not surprised.
Not confused.
Certain.
Elara's pulse pounded in her ears.
She should leave.
She needed to leave.
But her feet didn't move.
Lucien started walking toward her.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Like he knew she wasn't going anywhere.
"You've been busy," he said when he reached her.
His voice low.
Controlled.
Elara forced herself to breathe.
"You're following me."
Not a question.
A statement.
Lucien tilted his head slightly.
"Watching."
"That's worse."
A faint smirk.
"Is it?"
Her fingers tightened around her glass.
"This isn't normal."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"Say it again," he murmured.
Her breath hitched.
"What?"
"That you don't like it."
Elara opened her mouth—
Then stopped.
Because that wasn't true.
And he knew it.
His gaze darkened slightly.
"Exactly."
She swallowed hard, stepping back.
"I should go."
Lucien's hand caught her wrist again.
Familiar.
Dangerous.
"You just got here."
Her heart raced.
"Let go."
But this time—
His grip tightened.
Just a little.
"Who are you here with?" he asked.
Elara frowned. "That's none of your business."
His jaw tightened.
"It is."
"No, it's not."
Something shifted.
Fast.
Sharp.
Lucien leaned in slightly.
Close enough for his voice to brush against her skin.
"Don't test me tonight, Elara."
A chill ran down her spine.
"Or what?" she whispered.
Big mistake.
Because in the next second—
His grip loosened.
But only so he could slide his hand up—
From her wrist—
To her fingers.
Intertwining them.
Not forceful.
Not rushed.
Intentional.
"Or I'll forget how patient I've been with you."
Her breath caught.
That—
That didn't sound like a threat.
It sounded like a promise.
"Elara!"
Nadia's voice broke through the moment.
Lucien's gaze snapped toward the sound.
Sharp.
Assessing.
Nadia approached, smiling—then paused slightly when she noticed him.
"Oh… hi."
Lucien didn't smile.
Didn't greet her.
Just watched.
"Are you okay?" Nadia asked Elara quietly.
Elara nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine."
But she wasn't.
Because Lucien was still holding her hand.
And she hadn't pulled away.
Nadia looked between them, clearly confused.
"I didn't know you came with someone."
"I didn't," Elara said quickly.
Lucien's grip tightened slightly.
"She did," he said calmly.
Elara's eyes widened.
"That's not—"
Lucien cut her off with a glance.
One that said enough.
Dangerous.
Final.
And for some reason—
She didn't argue.
Nadia hesitated, then slowly nodded. "Okay… I'll leave you two."
And just like that—
They were alone again.
Elara turned to him immediately.
"You don't get to do that."
Lucien stepped closer.
Again.
"I already did."
Her chest rose and fell quickly.
"You're controlling."
His gaze dropped briefly to her lips.
Then back to her eyes.
"And you're still here."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Because that was the truth.
She was still here.
And the worst part?
She didn't want to leave.
Lucien studied her face carefully.
Like he was memorizing it.
"You feel it," he said quietly.
Elara's voice came out softer than she intended.
"Feel what?"
A pause.
Then—
"Me."
Her heart stopped.
Because that…
That was exactly it.
And she hated it.
But not enough to walk away.
And that
That was the beginning of the real problem.
Across the room, unnoticed
A man watched them.
Silent.
Calculating.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"Well," he murmured under his breath.
"Isn't this interesting…"
Because if Lucien Moretti had taken an interest in her
Then she just became very valuable.
And very dangerous.
And soon
Elara Voss would learn
Being wanted by a man like Lucien…
Was the most dangerous place to be.
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