THE REVENGE I DIDN'T CHOOSE

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Chapter 3: Close

Who sent me that email?

That question won't leave me alone. I spend the afternoon staring at reports I can't focus on. Adrian is only ten feet away, separated by glass. My hands tremble beneath the desk. He knows, I'm very sure he's aware of what was going on. I can feel his eyes on me all afternoon. Everytime I glance up, he's already looking. I keep my focus on the reports.

I didn't look back. If I do, I might fall apart.

At 5:03pm, he stood up and came close to my desk and whispered… “I want to see you in my office now” No one else gets pulled in after hours, just me. His door shuts with a soft click that sounds like a lock.

“Who sent it?” he asked.

I don't pretend not to understand.

“I don't know.”

“Bullshit.” His voice drops lower. “You looked terrified. Someone sent you something.” I crossed my arms. “Maybe I just hate my new boss.” I said. But his expression did not change. Something tightens in my chest as he steps closer. The familiar scent of cedar drifts toward me. “Because if you liked me,” he said quietly, “I'd know you were lying.”

The space between us disappears. My back brushes at the edge of his desk. He didn't touch me, but I felt him anyway. The heat of him, the weight of his presence. The air suddenly feels too thick.

“Show me,” he said.

“Show you what?”

“Your phone.”

I let out a loud laugh. “You're not my boss in that way.” “I'm your boss in every way that matters,” he says. “And if someone in this building is coming after you, I need to know.”

Those words hit harder than they should.

I pulled out my phone, my hands won’t stop shaking. I opened my personal email and handed it over to him. He didn't take the phone. Instead, he steps closer and reads over my shoulder. His sleeve brushes my arm. My heart raced a little, he's close enough that I can feel the warmth of him beside me, but he didn’t move away.

The birth certificate fills the screen. His jaw tightens. For half a second, something cracks on his face, not shock or confusion but pain.

“Delete it,” he said.

“What?”

“Delete the message now!!!” He screamed.

“Why?” I asked

“Because if you don’t, someone else will.” He finally looked at me. “And next time, they won’t send it to your phone.” I deleted it. My thumb hovers over the screen, when I look up, he's still close—Close enough to see the faint scar at his temple, the one I've never seen in any photo.

“You know it's real,” I whisper.

His eyes meet mine.

“I know, it's bait.” Then why do you look scared? His eyes linger on my lips for a second, then he looks back at me. “I'm not scared of you, Zara.” He said. The way he called my name makes something twist in my stomach, like he's tasting it to see how it feels on his tongue. His phone buzzes on the desk. He ignores it. It buzzes again.

“Answer it,” I said because I need him to move, to break this tension that’s pulling my skin too tight. He picks it up, reads the screen, and his whole body goes still.

“What?” I ask.

He didn't answer. He walked to the window, rubbing the back of his neck. For the first time since I met him, he doesn't look in control.

“Security just found blood in the server room.” My stomach drops.

“Whose?”

“Not ours.” His jaw tightens. A shiver crawled down my spine.He looked at me. “You weren't supposed to go tonight. I warned you.”

“I didn’t.”

“I know.” His eyes stay locked on mine. “Which means someone else went instead. And they wanted you to be the one who found it.

A chill runs through me.

“Why?”

His jaw tightens.

“I don't know. But I know a setup when I see one.” Before I could respond, a sharp knock echoed through the office. Adrian's gaze moves to the door.

“Mr. Blackwell?” his assistant called. Her voice is tight, almost breathless. “The police are here.” The room goes still. Adrian looked back at me, then he took a step closer. “Stay here,” he said. “Don't touch anything, don't answer questions, and whatever happens next, don't talk to the police until I get back.”

My pulse kicks harder.

“Adrian…”

“Just trust me.”

For a moment, neither of us moved, then he turned and walked out. The door closes behind him, leaving me alone with the scent of his cologne and the echo of his warning. My heart won't stop pounding against my ribs.

I walked to his desk. His laptop was still open. I know I shouldn’t, but I’m Zara Vance, and listening has never saved me. I tapped at the mouse, the screen woke up. His email is open. One draft, unsent and the address is to me.

Subject line: Don’t Trust—

The cursor blinks at the end of the sentence. “Waiting.” He never finished.

My chest squeezes. Don’t trust who? Him? Me? The person who sent the birth certificate?

Footsteps echoed down the hall, and the footsteps kept coming closer to the office. My heart hammered against my ribs. I dropped into my chair just as the door swung open.

Adrian stepped inside.

His expression was different—i couldn't read his face. Behind him was a police officer. Young, sharp-eyed, the kind of man who noticed everything and believed nothing.

“Ms. Wells,” the officer said. “We need to ask you a few questions about tonight.”

My throat went dry. “I was here all day.” I managed to say. “I know, but someone used your employee ID to access the server room at 12:47 a.m.” the officer stated. At that moment, the room wasn't comfortable for me anymore.

“That’s impossible,” I said. “I wasn’t—”

“I have the footage,” the officer said. “It is you.”

Adrian didn't move. He just watched me, and for the first time, I can’t tell if he’s trying to save me or waiting for me to fall.

The officer steps closer. “Ms. Wells, you’re going to come with us.” I look at Adrian. Please, I think you should say something. Tell them they’re wrong. Tell them I didn’t do it.

He said nothing.

He didn't stop them.

He just watched.

As the officer reached for my arm, my stomach dropped. Maybe Adrian didn't keep me close to protect me. Maybe he kept me close so I'd be right where he needed me.