The Assistant’s Rule

Chapter Four

Maya had never been fond of parties or gatherings.Or even situations that made her the center of attention.However,she was standing in front of a full-length mirror in a hotel suite that Adrian booked for her,trying not to think about the fact that Adrian Kane the CEO and billionaire had demanded that she attend the company gala tonight.

She frowned at her reflection and gently pulled the hem of the black silk dress that brought out her figure.She didn’t want to attract attention,not to herself or her life in general.But even as she reminded herself of that,the idea of Adrian watching and waiting for her made her heart race in a way that was both uncomfortable and undeniable.

She was pulled from her thoughts as she heard a soft knock on the door.

“Ms. Clarke”,a deep,familiar voice said.

She turned.Adrian,wearing a well-tailored dark suit,stood in the doorway looking calm and composed.His hair was perfectly styled,his eyes sharp.He smiled a little as he saw her dressed beautifully.

“Are you ready”,he asked casually while trying to hide his smile.

“I guess I am”,she replied carefully.

“You guess?”He raised an eyebrow.

When she realized she had no reason to explain herself,she stopped saying.”Yes,I’m ready”.

He nodded,satisfied and pointed at the door.

“Good,come with me”.

The gala was a stunning demonstration of power and wealth.There was music playing in the background,servers moved silently among the guests and crystal chandeliers reflected against the polished marble floors.As Maya followed Adrian through the crowd,she felt a little discomfort.She counted the security staffs,scanned faces,noted the entrances and exits and maintained a neutral posture.

Adrian,on the other hand,appeared completely relaxed.Visitors greeted him with smiles or handshakes,but he never took his eyes off her.She could feel his eyes on her even though he kept a careful distance just enough to be noticeable without making her feel uncomfortable.

As they made their way through the crowd,he whispered,

“You’re….surprisingly calm”.

“I’ve learned to adjust to my surroundings”,she replied.

With a hint of amusement in his eyes,he gave a slight smile.”I can tell.But don’t think I am unaware,most people would be overwhelmed.You,however…”.She felt her chest tighten as he studied and looked at her with such intensity that he left his words hanging.

The first challenge appeared by the time they got to the middle of the room.Across the room,Maya was staring at a familiar face from her past,someone she had hoped to never see again.

Maya gasped for air as she froze.Adrian followed her eyes,noticing her sudden silence.

“Ms. Clarke?”His voice was low and worried.

“I…”She forced herself to move,shaking her head a little.

“It’s nothing”.

However,it was something.She had been hiding it for years.The man who turned her life into a careful,regulated set of guidelines,rules and safety measures.And this is where he had found her,in public.

Adrian could see she was tense right away,he didn’t ask questions.He just moved her slightly to his side,closer to him into a small circle relative safety by gently sliding his hand to her back.She felt a sudden chill run down her spine at the closeness.

He whispered,”Stay close to me,I’ve got you”.

The rest of the night went by smoothly,Adrian introduced her to colleagues,complimented her work and gently guided her away from potentially dangerous visitors.They shared a slow dance at one point,surrounded by swaying bodies and sparkling lights.Even though Maya moved in a formal,robotic manner,she couldn’t ignore the feelings that flowed whenever their hands came in contact.she didn’t speak neither did Adrian,words weren’t necessary.The silent tension said more than either of them would want to admit.

He whispered in her ear,so low that no one else could hear,” You handle yourself well”.

“I’m used to it”,she replied softly,her heart was pounding but her voice didn’t reveal that.

“And yet,there’s something…fragile beneath it” he said,almost to himself.”Something I want to protect”.

Maya’s stomach tightened.She hadn’t let anyone use that word in relation to her life in years.Protection implied trust,closeness,vulnerability and danger.All the things she had avoided for years.

Her fear quickly became more intense.Across the room,the same man from her past had moved slightly,slipping through guests and obviously looking for her.Her heart was racing so fast,Adrian noticed immediately,his arms slightly touching hers as his body moved to obstruct her view.”You see him?”,he asked.

She nodded slightly,without saying a word.

His voice had a steely edge as he gently exhaled.”He won’t come near you,not while I’m present”.

Maya let herself believe him for a second,it was only for a split second.She leaned slightly into him,not quite sure why she was seeking that comfort.Adrian didn’t say anything,but his eyes softened at the small gesture.Instead,he led her through the crowd carefully trying to keep her out of the man’s sight.Maya’s heart raced with each step she took.

The threat had not vanished by the end of the gala,but it had been controlled.Maya stood outside the hotel,relieved by the refreshing night air after the stuffy,glittering interior.Adrian stood silently next to her,his presence steady and reassuring.She wanted to run away but she couldn’t,not yet.

“You did well tonight”,he said softly.

Maya shook her head,trying to look unbothered.”I just…followed the rules”.

He smiled softly.”And yet you managed to break one”.

She blinked twice and said,”I don’t understand”.Trying to recall if she had said the rules while Adrian was around.

“You’re not invisible to me….not now,not ever”,he said in a low voice.

The words ought to have scared her,they should have made her run.However,they didn’t.

Rather,she sensed the tiniest hint of curiosity,something she hadn’t experienced in years.And perhaps just something else,something dangerous.Because Adrian Kane had noticed her,and that was the type of risk Maya had trained herself to stay away from.

The following morning,Maya went to her desk,walking slowly and almost controlled.She placed her bag down quietly and sat,pretending everything was normal.She felt oddly cut off from everything,even though the office seemed louder than usual with phones ringing and keyboard clicking sound.

She tried to concentrate on the day’s schedule after opening her laptop,but her thoughts kept returning to the man from her past and how he got to locate her.She had not gotten much sleep cause those thoughts kept her up all night.In her apartment,every shadow seemed to be a person,her heart raced at every sound.

She had to behave normally,that was the rule.She straightened her notes just as Adrian stepped out of his office. He held a cup of coffee, but his eyes were fixed on her, not the cup.Observing and calculating as if he was trying to understand something she wasn’t saying.

“Good morning”,he said.

“Good morning sir,she replied.

He took another look at her.”Please,in my office”,he said immediately.

Her heart leaped.She went inside with him and closed the door behind her.

Adrian stood by the window,his back facing her.

“You came in earlier than usual”,he said.

“I had things to finish”,she replied.

He turned around slowly.”Or you were unable to sleep”.

She gripped her tablet more tightly.”I slept fine”,she said.

“You didn’t”.His voice was calm but sharp enough to cut through her lie.”You look tired and you’re more quiet than usual”

“I’m always quiet”,she replied instantly.

“Yes”,he nodded slightly,”but this is different”.

She forced her face to stay neutral,”I’m fine,I promise”.

Adrian just stared at her,really stared for a moment.His brown eyes weren’t cold today,they were worried.She didn’t like how it made her chest tighten.

“If someone is bothering you…”,he started.

“No”,she replied quickly.

He stroked his jaw.”If there’s anything I should know…”

“There isn’t”,she replied.

There was a heavy silence between them.It was tense,full of something unsaid but not anger.Adrian let out a quiet sigh and walked past her,pausing just close enough for her to feel his warmth.

“Let me know if anything changes”,he said.

She nodded,not knowing what to say.

He opened his office door,dismissing her gently.”You’re free to leave”,he said.

Maya’s heart pounded so hard as she stepped outside his office.She had to stay calm,she needed to hide her secret.But as she sat back at her desk,she felt an uneasy prickle on her skin.She felt like someone was watching her,but wasn’t sure if it was Adrian this time or someone else completely.