Adrian POV
Marcus chooses my office.
That tells me everything before he even walks in.
Not neutral ground. Not a restaurant. Not a private club where reputation softens behavior.
He comes to my territory.
Angry people always do that when they want control back. They believe proximity equals leverage.
It doesn’t.
I finish reading the quarterly projections before acknowledging his arrival. Timing matters. Power is often nothing more than deciding who waits.
My assistant’s voice comes through the intercom.
“Mr. Hale is here.”
Of course, she still uses his surname.
The old hierarchy dies slowly.
“Send him in.”
The doors open immediately.
Marcus doesn’t hesitate. He walks in like he still owns spaces built by our family name. Same confident stride. Same tailored arrogance.
But an
