Cold Obsession

The Elevator

The elevator doors closed softly behind them.

And suddenly, the silence felt heavier.

Zayn stood awkwardly beside Adrian, clutching his folder a little too tightly while the elevator moved upward floor by floor.

Neither of them spoke.

The tension was unbearable.

Zayn glanced sideways.

Adrian Cole stood with one hand in his pocket, looking calm and composed like before. Cold expression. Sharp jawline. Dark suit perfectly fitted against his frame.

Like a man completely in control.

Meanwhile, Zayn felt like his heartbeat was trying to embarrass him.

He cleared his throat softly.

“So…”

No response.

Zayn forced a small smile anyway. “I guess I should apologize.”

Adrian’s eyes shifted toward him slowly. “For what?”

“For accidentally talking about you to your face.”

A pause.

Then—

“You were honest.”

The answer surprised him.

Zayn blinked. “You’re not offended?”

“I dislike liars more.”

The elevator dinged quietly as it passed another floor.

Zayn relaxed a little.

“A lot of people seem scared of you.”

“I know.”

“You don’t care?”

“No.”

The short answers should have ended the conversation.

But somehow, they didn’t.

Zayn looked down briefly before laughing under his breath. “You really don’t make conversations easy.”

For a second, Adrian almost looked amused.

Almost.

“You talk too much.”

“Only when I’m nervous.”

Adrian’s gaze lingered on him again.

Longer this time.

It made Zayn suddenly aware of everything—his breathing, the warmth in the small elevator, the way Adrian’s eyes seemed too intense whenever they settled on him.

“You’re nervous now?” Adrian asked quietly.

“A little.”

“Why?”

Zayn looked at him like the answer was obvious.

“You’re intimidating.”

Silence.

Then Adrian stepped slightly closer without warning.

Not enough to touch.

Just enough for Zayn to notice how good he smelled.

“How interesting,” Adrian murmured.

Zayn swallowed hard.

Adrian was looking at him again.

Not casually.

Not professionally.

His eyes traced over Zayn’s face with an unreadable intensity that made the air feel strangely tight.

Zayn suddenly became very aware of how close they were standing.

“…Mr. Cole?”

Adrian didn’t answer immediately.

His gaze dropped briefly—to Zayn’s lips.

Then back to his eyes.

Something dark flickered across his expression before his jaw tightened sharply.

The elevator dinged.

The doors opened.

Adrian stepped back immediately like nothing had happened.

“Come,” he said coldly, walking out first.

Zayn stared after him in confusion.

Because for one second in that elevator…

It had felt like Adrian Cole wanted something dangerous.