Chapter 2 — The Man Everyone Warned Me About
3426 Words
Elara Quinn — First Person
The first thing I learned about working at Drayke Industries was that rumors traveled faster than emails.
By the time I walked into the office the next morning, people already knew two things.
One: I was the new assistant.
Two: I had stayed in Callum Drayke’s office past midnight on my first day.
Neither fact seemed to work in my favor.
I felt the stares before I even reached my desk.
Not obvious ones.
Quick glances. Whispers that stopped when I walked past. The faint shuffle of chairs as people turned their monitors just enough to pretend they were focused on work.
I placed my bag under the desk and powered on the computer, pretending not to notice any of it.
It was too early for drama.
Too early for curiosity.
Too early for the kind of attention that made my stomach twist into knots.
“Good morning.”
I looked up.
Margaret stood beside my desk with a cup of coffee in her hand.
“You’re early again,” she said.
“I thought that was the rule.”
“It is.”
She studied my face for a moment.
“You look tired.”
“I worked past midnight.”
“That would do it.”
Her gaze drifted briefly toward the glass walls of Callum’s office.
The blinds were still closed.
“He’s not here yet?” I asked.
“He never arrives before eight.”
I checked the time on my monitor.
7:32 AM.
“Then why does everyone look like they’re waiting for a hurricane?”
Margaret’s lips curved slightly.
“Because when Mr. Drayke arrives, the day officially begins.”
“And that’s bad?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether he’s in a good mood.”
That didn’t sound promising.
Before I could ask anything else, the elevator doors opened at the end of the hall.
The entire office shifted.
I wasn’t imagining it.
Conversations stopped.
People straightened in their chairs.
Someone quickly minimized a social media page on their computer.
Margaret leaned slightly closer to me.
“Watch,” she murmured.
I followed her gaze.
Callum stepped out of the elevator like the building belonged to him.
Which, technically, it did.
Today he wore a black suit instead of charcoal. The jacket fit perfectly across his shoulders, emphasizing his tall frame. His tie was dark blue, his hair neatly pushed back from his face.
Everything about him looked composed.
Controlled.
Untouchable.
But it was his presence that changed the atmosphere.
The moment he walked into the office, the entire floor seemed to tighten.
His eyes moved across the room briefly, acknowledging employees with small nods.
Then they stopped.
On me.
Just for a second.
But it was long enough to make my heartbeat speed up.
He didn’t smile.
Didn’t frown either.
Just that calm, assessing look again.
Then he continued walking toward his office.
“See?” Margaret whispered.
“I see.”
“I told you.”
The glass door to his office closed quietly behind him.
The office exhaled.
Almost immediately, someone appeared beside my desk.
A woman.
Tall. Blonde. Perfectly dressed in a fitted gray suit.
Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she stopped in front of me.
“You must be the new assistant.”
Her smile was polite.
Too polite.
“Elara Quinn,” I said.
She extended her hand.
“Vanessa Hart. Senior financial analyst.”
Her handshake was firm.
Professional.
But there was something sharp in her eyes.
“So,” she said casually, “you survived your first day.”
“Barely.”
“I heard you stayed late with Mr. Drayke.”
There it was.
The rumor.
“Yes,” I said simply.
“Interesting.”
Her smile didn’t change.
“Most assistants don’t last that long.”
“How long?”
“Three weeks.”
That number again.
I leaned back slightly in my chair.
“Why?”
Vanessa tilted her head.
“You really don’t know?”
“If I did, I wouldn’t be asking.”
She glanced briefly toward Callum’s office.
Then back at me.
“Because working for him is… intense.”
“I noticed.”
“No,” she said softly.
“You haven’t noticed yet.”
A chill slid down my spine.
“What does that mean?”
“It means he expects perfection.”
I thought about last night.
The contracts.
The silent pressure of his gaze while we worked.
“Yes,” I said.
“I figured that part out.”
Vanessa studied me carefully.
Then she leaned slightly closer.
“And he doesn’t forgive mistakes.”
Something about the way she said it felt like a warning.
Or maybe a threat.
Before I could respond, Callum’s office door opened.
“Miss Quinn.”
My head snapped toward the sound.
He stood in the doorway, looking directly at me.
“Yes?”
“In my office.”
Vanessa straightened instantly.
“Duty calls,” she said with a small smile.
I stood and walked toward the glass doors.
Every step felt strangely heavy.
I wasn’t sure if it was nerves.
Or curiosity.
Or the lingering memory of working beside him late into the night.
When I stepped inside, he closed the door behind me.
“You’re early,” he said.
“So are you.”
A faint flicker of amusement crossed his face.
“Sit.”
I did.
His desk looked completely organized again.
No scattered papers.
No sign of last night’s chaos.
“Did you sleep?” he asked.
The question surprised me.
“Eventually.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“Are you still capable of working?”
I blinked.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He slid a tablet across the desk.
“Read this.”
I picked it up.
My eyes widened slightly.
“This is about the Morland acquisition.”
“Yes.”
“The board wants an update.”
“They’re getting one.”
I scrolled through the document.
Numbers.
Financial projections.
Meeting schedules.
Then something caught my attention.
“The meeting is tonight?”
“Yes.”
“With the investors.”
I looked up.
“That’s sudden.”
“Situations change.”
His eyes held mine.
“And so do plans.”
A slow realization began forming in my mind.
“You think the sabotage wasn’t random.”
“No.”
“You think someone is trying to interfere with the acquisition.”
“Yes.”
“And you want to catch them.”
“Correct.”
My pulse quickened.
This wasn’t just assistant work anymore.
This was something bigger.
More dangerous.
“Why tell me?” I asked.
“You were involved last night.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“It means you’re already inside the situation.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
He leaned back in his chair.
“And I prefer people who already know the truth.”
For a moment, the room felt very quiet.
Then he said something that made my stomach tighten again.
“You’ll attend the meeting tonight.”
My head snapped up.
“With you?”
“Yes.”
“I’m just your assistant.”
“Exactly.”
I stared at him.
“You want me there… to watch people.”
“Yes.”
“You think I’ll notice something.”
“Yes.”
That calm certainty in his voice made something strange stir inside me.
He trusted my judgment.
Or at least he thought I might be useful.
“When is the meeting?” I asked.
“Seven.”
That gave me less than ten hours.
“Dress appropriately.”
His gaze flicked briefly over my blouse and skirt.
Heat crept into my cheeks.
“I will.”
“And Elara.”
The way he said my name again made my pulse jump.
“Yes?”
“This meeting could determine the future of the company.”
“No pressure,” I muttered.
His lips almost curved into a smile.
“Exactly.”
I stood to leave.
But just before I reached the door, he spoke again.
“One more thing.”
I turned back.
“Yes?”
His gaze rested on me for a moment longer than usual.
“You handled last night well.”
That same quiet compliment.
But this time there was something warmer behind it.
“Thank you.”
When I stepped out of the office again, the entire floor looked at me.
Not openly.
But enough.
Vanessa watched from across the room.
Margaret raised one eyebrow.
And suddenly I understood something important.
Working for Callum Drayke wasn’t just about managing his schedule.
It meant standing in the center of a storm.
And the storm had only just begun.
The morning light did nothing to calm Liora.
It slipped through the tall windows of her chamber in thin golden lines, warming the marble floors and the silk curtains, but inside her chest everything still felt restless.
She had barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes she saw the same thing again—the moment in the library. Caelan’s hand around her wrist. The way he had looked at her like she was the only person in the entire kingdom.
Like he had forgotten the world existed.
Like he had wanted to kiss her.
And the worst part?
She had wanted him to.
Liora pushed the thought away and swung her legs over the side of the bed. The cold marble bit into her bare feet.
“Your Highness?”
Her maid, Mira, stood by the wardrobe holding two dresses.
Liora glanced at them without much interest.
“Either one,” she said.
Mira blinked. “Either—?”
“Whichever is faster.”
That alone should have told Mira something was wrong. Liora normally chose her clothes like they were armor before battle. Every color meant something. Every detail had a purpose.
Today she didn’t care.
Mira selected the deep blue gown and helped her dress in silence.
“You look tired,” Mira said carefully as she tied the final ribbon.
“I’m not.”
“You barely touched dinner last night.”
“I wasn’t hungry.”
Mira hesitated.
“You went to the west wing,” she said slowly.
Liora froze.
Only for half a second.
But Mira noticed.
“I saw you in the corridor,” she continued. “Near the library.”
Liora turned sharply. “You followed me?”
“No,” Mira said quickly. “I was delivering linens to the guest chambers.”
Liora studied her for a moment.
Then she exhaled.
“Did you see anyone else?”
Mira shook her head.
Relief slid through Liora’s chest, though she didn’t know why she cared so much.
It wasn’t like anything had actually happened.
Almost didn’t count.
“Breakfast is ready,” Mira said gently.
Liora nodded and left the room.
The dining hall was already full.
Long tables stretched beneath towering windows, sunlight reflecting off polished silver and crystal goblets. Servants moved silently between nobles and council members.
And at the far end of the room—
The princes.
Three of them had arrived during the night.
Liora’s father believed in efficiency.
If she was going to choose a husband, he intended to make the process quick.
Her steps slowed.
Prince Aldric of Norvale was the easiest to recognize.
Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in gold embroidery that practically screamed wealth. His blond hair was perfectly styled, and he sat with the relaxed confidence of someone who had never been denied anything in his life.
Next to him sat Prince Darien of Velmora.
Dark hair. Sharp eyes. Quiet.
He looked like the kind of man who watched more than he spoke.
And the third—
Prince Rhyse of Calder.
He was laughing at something Aldric had said, leaning back in his chair with an ease that bordered on arrogance.
Three princes.
Three options.
Three futures she didn’t want.
“Liora.”
Her father’s voice cut through the room.
King Alric stood at the head of the table, silver crown catching the morning light.
Every conversation in the hall faded.
Liora walked forward with steady steps.
She had been trained for this her entire life.
Smile. Bow. Speak with grace.
“Good morning, Father.”
He studied her face for a moment.
“You look tired.”
“I slept well.”
A lie. But a practiced one.
The king gestured toward the princes.
“You have not yet been properly introduced.”
Prince Aldric stood first.
“Princess Liora,” he said with a charming smile. “Your beauty is even more impressive than the rumors.”
Liora inclined her head politely.
Prince Darien rose next.
“It’s an honor,” he said simply.
His voice was calm, almost quiet.
Then Rhyse stood.
Instead of bowing immediately, he looked at her like he was trying to solve a puzzle.
“Interesting,” he murmured.
Liora raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting?”
“You look like someone who would rather be anywhere else.”
A few nobles choked on their wine.
Her father’s expression hardened slightly.
But Liora smiled.
“You’re very observant, Prince Rhyse.”
He grinned.
“I’ve been told.”
She took her seat across from them.
Servants began placing dishes on the table—fresh bread, fruit, honey, roasted meats.
Liora barely noticed.
Because someone had just entered the room.
Caelan.
He walked along the edge of the hall, dressed in the simple black uniform of the royal guard.
But there was nothing simple about the way he carried himself.
His posture was straight. His gaze sharp.
He looked like a blade disguised as a man.
And when his eyes met hers—
The memory of the library crashed back all at once.
The silence.
The closeness.
The almost-kiss.
His expression didn’t change.
But something flickered in his gaze.
Then he looked away.
Liora forced herself to focus on the princes again.
Prince Aldric was talking about trade routes.
Prince Darien listened quietly.
Prince Rhyse watched her.
“You’re distracted,” he said.
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
Liora reached for her cup.
“And what makes you think that?”
“Because you’ve looked at the door six times since you sat down.”
She froze for half a second.
Then she laughed softly.
“You’re counting?”
“I’m observant.”
“Or bored.”
“Both.”
Prince Aldric leaned forward.
“I’d be happy to give you a tour of Norvale someday,” he said to Liora. “Our vineyards alone are worth the journey.”
“That sounds lovely,” she replied politely.
Darien finally spoke.
“And what do you enjoy, Princess?”
The question caught her off guard.
Most princes asked about politics.
Or alliances.
Not… interests.
“Reading,” she said after a moment.
Rhyse smirked.
“Dangerous hobby.”
“How so?”
“Books fill people’s heads with ideas.”
“And ideas are dangerous?”
“For kingdoms.”
Liora leaned back slightly.
“Good thing I’m not easily influenced.”
Rhyse chuckled.
Across the room—
Caelan watched everything.
The training yard was quiet by the time Liora escaped breakfast.
She had endured nearly an hour of polite conversation before finally excusing herself.
The moment the doors closed behind her, she exhaled.
Fresh air.
Silence.
Freedom.
She walked along the stone path toward the gardens.
“You handled them well.”
The voice came from behind her.
She didn’t need to turn to know who it was.
“Were you spying on me?” Liora asked.
Caelan stepped beside her.
“Guarding.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“It’s close.”
They walked in silence for a few moments.
The garden fountains trickled softly.
Birds moved between the trees.
Finally Liora stopped.
“Why did you leave last night?”
Caelan’s jaw tightened.
“Because I should have.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Yes it is.”
She crossed her arms.
“You were about to kiss me.”
Silence.
A dangerous, heavy silence.
“Yes,” he said quietly.
Her heart skipped.
“Then why didn’t you?”
His eyes met hers.
Because I shouldn’t want you.
Because if I do, everything falls apart.
But what he said was—
“You deserve someone better.”
Liora stared at him.
Then she laughed.
Not kindly.
“Better?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough.”
Something in her chest flared with irritation.
“You don’t get to decide what I deserve.”
His expression hardened.
“You’re a princess.”
“And?”
“And I’m not.”
“That’s your argument?”
“It’s reality.”
Liora stepped closer.
“So what? You think titles decide everything?”
“In this world?” he said quietly. “Yes.”
She studied him.
“You’re hiding something.”
His expression didn’t change.
“I’m a guard.”
“No,” she said. “You’re something else.”
He didn’t answer.
Which only confirmed her suspicion.
Before she could push further—
A voice interrupted.
“Well this is interesting.”
Liora turned.
Prince Rhyse stood at the edge of the path, arms crossed.
His grin was slow and knowing.
“I leave you alone for one morning,” he said, “and you’re already sneaking around gardens with a guard.”
Heat rushed to Liora’s face.
“We’re not sneaking.”
“Sure.”
Rhyse walked closer, eyes flicking between them.
Caelan had gone completely still.
Like a soldier waiting for a command.
Rhyse tilted his head.
“You look familiar,” he said to Caelan.
Caelan didn’t react.
“I doubt it.”
“Hmm.”
Rhyse studied him a little longer.
Then shrugged.
“Maybe I’m imagining things.”
His gaze returned to Liora.
“The king is looking for you.”
“Already?”
“You’re the star of the show,” Rhyse said lightly. “Everyone wants a moment.”
Liora sighed.
Of course they did.
Rhyse started walking back toward the palace, then glanced over his shoulder.
“Try not to get your guard into trouble,” he added casually.
Then he disappeared around the corner.
The silence he left behind felt heavier than before.
Liora turned slowly back to Caelan.
“See?” she said quietly.
“This is exactly what I meant.”
He didn’t look at her.
“I know.”
She studied his face.
“You’re afraid.”
His eyes snapped to hers.
“I’m realistic.”
“There’s a difference.”
“No,” he said softly. “Not here.”
For a moment neither of them moved.
Then Liora stepped closer.
Close enough that she could see the faint scar near his jaw.
“You almost kissed me last night,” she said.
“Yes.”
“And you still want to.”
His silence was answer enough.
Her heart started beating faster.
“So what are you going to do about it?”
Caelan stared at her.
Like she had just asked him to jump off a cliff.
“I’m going to pretend it didn’t happen.”
Liora’s expression cooled.
“Coward.”
Something dangerous flickered in his eyes.
“You have no idea what you’re asking for.”
“Then tell me.”
“I can’t.”
“Or you won’t?”
His jaw tightened.
“Both.”
Liora stepped back.
“Fine.”
She turned toward the palace.
But before she could leave—
Caelan spoke again.
“Liora.”
She paused.
“You should choose one of them,” he said quietly.
Her chest tightened.
“The princes.”
She didn’t turn around.
“And if I don’t want to?”
His voice was almost a whisper.
“Then the kingdom will choose for you.”
For the first time that morning—
Liora felt something close to fear.
Not of the princes.
Not of her father.
But of the truth hiding behind Caelan’s eyes.
Because whatever he wasn’t telling her—
It was big enough to keep him away.
And that only made her want to uncover it more.
Behind them, high in the palace towers—
Someone had been watching the entire conversation.
And they were already on their way to report it to the king.
- Writer
