MAGNETIC LOVE

CHAPTER 11 — THE WAR BEGINS

The next morning, Adrian woke before sunrise.

He had barely slept.

His father's message remained unanswered on his phone.

Tomorrow, we end this.

Adrian had read those words dozens of times throughout the night.

He knew his father.

Richard Blake never made empty threats.

If he said something was going to happen, he usually had already planned how to make it happen.

Adrian turned toward Elena.

She was still asleep.

Her face was peaceful, completely unaware of the storm waiting outside their temporary apartment.

For several minutes, Adrian simply watched her.

He wondered how someone could enter his life so unexpectedly and change everything.

Before Elena, his mornings had been predictable.

Wake up.

Work.

Meetings.

Business.

More work.

Go home.

Repeat.

He had never complained about it because he had convinced himself that this was what a successful life looked like.

Now he couldn't imagine returning to that life.

Elena moved slightly in her sleep.

Adrian smiled.

He carefully got out of bed and walked toward the balcony.

The city was beginning to wake.

Cars moved through the streets.

Lights turned on in distant buildings.

People hurried toward work.

Everyone was beginning another ordinary day.

But Adrian knew his day would be anything but ordinary.

His phone vibrated.

Marcus.

Adrian answered.

"What happened?"

"We have a problem."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"What kind?"

"Your father called an emergency board meeting."

"When?"

"Today."

Adrian looked through the glass doors toward Elena.

"Who called it?"

"Richard."

"What's the agenda?"

Marcus hesitated.

"Your position as CEO."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"He's trying to remove me."

"That's what it looks like."

"Who is supporting him?"

"Several board members."

"How many?"

"Enough to make this dangerous."

Adrian closed his eyes for a moment.

His father had been preparing this.

He hadn't been waiting.

He had been building a weapon.

"Send me everything."

"I already did."

"I'll be there in an hour."

"Adrian."

"What?"

"There is something else."

Adrian waited.

"Victoria Harrington is attending."

Adrian's expression became colder.

"Of course she is."

He ended the call.

Behind him, Elena stirred.

"Adrian?"

He turned.

She was sitting up in bed.

Her hair was slightly messy, and her eyes were still heavy with sleep.

"What time is it?"

"Early."

She noticed his expression.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

She stared at him.

"You're a terrible liar."

Adrian walked back toward her.

"My father called a board meeting."

"About you?"

"Yes."

"Is it serious?"

"Very."

She became quiet.

"Is this because of me?"

"No."

"But—"

"Elena."

He sat beside her.

"This isn't your fault."

"My existence is what started all of this."

"No."

He took her hand.

"My father has been controlling my life long before you came into it."

She looked at him.

"What are you going to do?"

"Fight."

She squeezed his hand.

"Then I'll be here."

Adrian looked at her.

"You don't have to."

"I know."

She smiled.

"But I want to."

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"That's why I love you."

She smiled.

"Then go win."

He laughed softly.

"I'll try."

Before leaving, Adrian made sure Elena had everything she needed.

A security guard remained downstairs.

Her phone was fully charged.

The emergency number was saved.

He didn't want to leave her alone.

But he also knew he couldn't hide from his father.

Not anymore.

At eight thirty, Adrian entered Blake International.

The atmosphere was different.

Employees whispered as he walked through the lobby.

Some avoided eye contact.

Others looked at him with concern.

The rumors had already spread.

He entered the private elevator.

Marcus was waiting outside the boardroom.

"How bad?"

Marcus handed him a folder.

"Your father has convinced six board members."

"Six?"

"Yes."

"Out of?"

"Ten."

Adrian stared at him.

"So he has the majority."

"For now."

Adrian opened the folder.

Inside were financial reports.

Several contracts had been highlighted.

He immediately noticed something.

"This isn't about the company."

Marcus looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

"These numbers."

Adrian pointed to the documents.

"Someone has been deliberately moving assets."

Marcus frowned.

"Could it be your father?"

"No."

Adrian studied the papers.

"My father wants control. He wouldn't risk the company's financial stability just to remove me."

"Then who?"

Adrian looked at the last page.

There was a signature.

His eyes narrowed.

"Someone who wants both."

"Who?"

Adrian didn't answer.

Because the name belonged to someone he trusted.

Someone who had been close to the company for years.

Someone who had access to everything.

"Adrian?"

He closed the folder.

"We'll discuss it after the meeting."

The boardroom doors opened.

Richard Blake sat at the head of the table.

Victoria was beside him.

Several board members were already seated.

Adrian walked inside.

His father looked at him.

"You're late."

"I'm exactly on time."

Richard's expression hardened.

"Sit."

Adrian took his seat.

The meeting began.

For nearly thirty minutes, Richard presented arguments about Adrian's leadership.

He accused him of making emotional decisions.

Of becoming distracted.

Of risking the company.

Of ignoring family interests.

Finally, Richard placed a document on the table.

"We believe a change in leadership is necessary."

Adrian looked at the document.

"You're asking the board to remove me."

"I'm asking the board to protect the company."

Adrian smiled without humor.

"You've never cared about protecting the company."

Richard's eyes narrowed.

"Be careful."

"I'm done being careful."

Silence filled the room.

Richard leaned forward.

"Your personal life is affecting your judgment."

Adrian knew exactly what he meant.

"Leave Elena out of this."

"She is already part of it."

Adrian's hands tightened.

"She has nothing to do with this company."

"She has everything to do with you."

"That's enough."

Richard turned toward the board.

"This is precisely what I'm talking about."

Adrian stood.

"My relationship has nothing to do with my ability to run this company."

"Then prove it."

Adrian looked at him.

"How?"

"End the relationship."

Silence.

Adrian stared at his father.

"You cannot be serious."

"I am."

"You're asking me to abandon someone I love because you don't approve of her."

"I'm asking you to choose your responsibilities."

"I've spent my entire life choosing your responsibilities."

His voice became quieter.

"Now I'm choosing my own."

Victoria watched him carefully.

Richard stood.

"If you refuse, the board will vote."

"Then let them vote."

The room became tense.

One by one, the board members began discussing the matter.

Adrian remained standing.

He wasn't afraid.

Not anymore.

Then the doors suddenly opened.

A lawyer entered.

"Mr. Blake."

Richard looked annoyed.

"What is it?"

"I need to speak with you."

"Not now."

"It concerns the company."

The lawyer placed a folder on the table.

"These documents were discovered this morning."

Adrian looked at them.

"What are they?"

The lawyer hesitated.

"Evidence of unauthorized financial transfers."

Everyone became silent.

Richard looked at the documents.

"Where did these come from?"

The lawyer turned toward Adrian.

"Your security division traced the transactions."

Adrian opened the folder.

His eyes moved across the pages.

Then he stopped.

The signature was there again.

But this time, he saw the full name.

Victoria Harrington.

Adrian looked up.

Victoria's face went pale.

"That's impossible."

Richard stared at her.

"Victoria?"

She stood.

"I didn't authorize anything."

Adrian looked at the lawyer.

"How certain are you?"

"Very."

Victoria shook her head.

"Someone forged my signature."

Adrian studied her.

He wanted to believe that.

But something wasn't right.

The timing.

The transfers.

The pressure from both families.

The sudden attempt to remove him.

It was too organized.

Someone was playing a much larger game.

The meeting ended without a vote.

But the war had changed.

It was no longer simply Adrian against his father.

Someone was secretly attacking Blake International.

And somehow, Elena was connected to the center of the conflict.

Adrian left the building immediately.

He called Elena.

No answer.

He called again.

Still nothing.

His heartbeat quickened.

He rushed home.

When he entered the apartment, he found Elena sitting on the couch.

She looked up.

"You're back."

Adrian immediately walked toward her.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"Where were you?"

"I was here."

"Why didn't you answer?"

She looked at her phone.

"It was on silent."

He exhaled.

"I'm sorry."

She stood.

"What happened?"

"Someone is trying to take control of the company."

"Your father?"

"Maybe."

She waited.

"But there's something else."

"What?"

"Money has been disappearing from the company."

Elena frowned.

"How much?"

"A lot."

"Do you know who did it?"

"We have evidence pointing toward Victoria."

Her eyes widened.

"Victoria?"

"Yes."

"Do you believe it?"

"No."

"Then who?"

"I don't know."

Elena walked toward the window.

"Adrian."

"Yes?"

"What if this isn't about your company?"

He looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"What if someone wants to destroy you personally?"

Adrian became silent.

He hadn't considered it that way.

Elena turned toward him.

"Your father wants you to marry Victoria."

"Yes."

"Victoria is now connected to the financial problem."

"Yes."

"And someone has been following me."

Adrian's expression changed.

Elena continued.

"What if someone wants us to fight each other?"

Adrian slowly realized what she was saying.

Someone could be manipulating all of them.

His father.

Victoria.

The board.

Even Elena.

He walked toward her.

"From now on, you don't go anywhere alone."

She nodded.

"Okay."

"And if anyone contacts you, you tell me."

"I will."

He pulled her into his arms.

But Elena suddenly remembered something.

"Adrian."

"What?"

"There is something I haven't told you."

He pulled away slightly.

"What?"

"Yesterday, someone left this outside my apartment."

She reached into a drawer.

She pulled out a small envelope.

Adrian took it.

Inside was a photograph.

It showed Elena and Adrian walking together.

Taken from a distance.

On the back were four words.

YOU WERE WARNED.

Adrian stared at it.

His blood ran cold.

Someone wasn't just watching them.

Someone was waiting.

And whoever it was had just made their next move.