Chapter 10: The Photograph
698 Words
Chapter 10: The Photograph
The thought followed Ethan everywhere.
It didn't begin three months ago.
At first, he tried to ignore it.
Tried to convince himself that Adrian had simply become attached after their one-night stand.
That would be strange enough.
But Adrian's words didn't sound like someone remembering a single night.
They sounded like someone who had been waiting.
For a very long time.
---
The next few days were unusually quiet.
No late-night messages.
No private meetings.
No unexpected assignments.
It should have made Ethan feel relieved.
Instead, it made him nervous.
Because Adrian Blackwood wasn't the type of man to suddenly lose interest.
---
Friday afternoon arrived with a storm.
Rain hammered against the glass windows of the building.
Employees rushed through hallways trying to leave before traffic became impossible.
Ethan gathered his things and prepared to go home.
Then his phone rang.
Julian.
For a moment, Ethan considered ignoring it.
Then curiosity won.
"Hello?"
"Come to the legal archives."
Ethan frowned.
"What?"
"Trust me."
Julian hung up.
---
Twenty minutes later, Ethan found himself standing outside the legal department.
"This is how people get kidnapped," he muttered.
The door opened.
Julian looked amused.
"You came."
"I regret it already."
Julian laughed.
"Come inside."
---
The legal archive room was larger than Ethan expected.
Shelves lined every wall.
Boxes filled with old records.
Files dating back decades.
Julian walked toward a cabinet in the corner.
His usual playful attitude seemed gone.
More serious.
More careful.
"Ethan," he said quietly.
"What?"
Julian hesitated.
Then opened a drawer.
"Before I show you this, understand something."
Ethan frowned.
"Show me what?"
Julian pulled out a thin file.
A very old file.
The edges were worn.
The pages yellowed.
Like it had been opened hundreds of times.
---
"What is that?"
Julian placed it on the table.
"Something Adrian never wanted anyone to see."
Ethan froze.
"Then why are you showing me?"
A pause.
Julian's expression softened.
"Because you're the reason it exists."
---
The room went silent.
Ethan stared at him.
"What?"
Julian opened the file.
Inside was a photograph.
Old.
Slightly faded.
Taken years ago.
At a public charity event.
A crowd of people stood in the background.
Children.
Volunteers.
Families.
Normal people.
Ethan almost looked away.
Then his heart stopped.
Because in the corner of the photograph—
was him.
Younger.
Several years younger.
Smiling at something outside the frame.
Completely unaware of the camera.
---
"What is this?" Ethan whispered.
Julian didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he turned the photograph over.
There, written in neat handwriting, was a date.
And beneath it—
a single name.
Ethan Cole.
---
Ethan's pulse quickened.
"Why would Adrian have this?"
Julian looked at him carefully.
"Because he spent years trying to find you."
The words hit like a physical blow.
"No."
"It's true."
"No."
Julian sighed.
"You think your story with Adrian started three months ago."
Ethan stared at the photograph.
Unable to breathe properly.
Unable to think.
---
Julian continued quietly.
"You were never just a random stranger to him."
The room felt smaller.
Colder.
More dangerous.
"After meeting you years ago, Adrian kept looking."
Ethan shook his head.
"That doesn't make any sense."
"It doesn't have to."
Julian's voice was calm.
"It happened anyway."
---
A sound came from the doorway.
Both men froze.
Julian cursed softly.
Ethan turned.
And his stomach dropped.
Adrian stood there.
Perfect suit.
Unreadable expression.
Dark eyes fixed on the photograph.
Then on Julian.
The silence that followed felt lethal.
---
"Leave us," Adrian said quietly.
Julian didn't argue.
For the first time since Ethan had met him, Julian looked genuinely uncomfortable.
He stood.
Walked toward the door.
Then stopped beside Ethan.
"Whatever happens next," Julian said softly, "remember that obsession doesn't always start as obsession."
Then he left.
---
The door closed.
Ethan and Adrian were alone.
Again.
Neither spoke.
Neither moved.
Finally, Ethan lifted the photograph.
His hand trembled slightly.
"Tell me," he said.
Adrian's gaze never left him.
Ethan swallowed.
His voice cracked.
"Tell me why you have this."
For the first time since they'd met again—
Adrian looked cornered.
And Ethan realized the answer might change everything.
- Writer
