Under His Protection
1000 Words
Chapter Eleven
Under His Protection
The photograph slipped from Lena's trembling fingers.
The image landed on Adrian's desk.
Neither of them looked away from it.
The message burned itself into her mind.
LEAVE HIM BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
A chill raced down her spine.
Someone had been watching her.
Following her.
Taking pictures of her without her knowledge.
And now they were sending threats.
For the first time since signing the marriage contract, Lena felt genuinely afraid.
The office remained silent.
Every employee nearby looked uncomfortable.
Nobody knew what to say.
Adrian slowly picked up the photograph again.
His expression was unreadable.
But Lena had learned enough about him to recognize the signs.
He was furious.
Not the cold, controlled anger she usually saw.
This was something darker.
More personal.
More dangerous.
"Everyone out."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
The employees immediately rushed from the office.
Within seconds, only Lena and Adrian remained.
The door clicked shut behind them.
Silence filled the room.
Finally, Adrian looked at her.
"Are you okay?"
The simple question almost made her laugh.
Okay?
Someone was stalking her.
Someone wanted her gone.
Someone had turned her life upside down.
"No."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"No, I'm not okay."
Immediately, Adrian moved closer.
"Lena."
"I don't understand."
Her eyes filled with tears she desperately tried to hide.
"What did I do to deserve this?"
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"You did nothing."
"Then why me?"
For a moment, he didn't answer.
Then he stepped closer.
Close enough for her to feel his presence.
His warmth.
His concern.
"This is my fault."
"No."
"Yes."
His voice hardened.
"They can't get to me directly, so they're using you."
The realization hurt more than she expected.
Because deep down, she knew he was probably right.
The threats weren't about her.
They were about Adrian.
She had simply become a target because she mattered to him.
The thought made her heart skip unexpectedly.
Mattered.
Did she?
Before she could think about it further, Adrian gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
The gesture was surprisingly tender.
Unexpected.
And exactly what she needed.
"Look at me."
Slowly, Lena raised her eyes.
The intensity in his gaze stole her breath.
"I won't let anything happen to you."
The promise felt real.
Not because he was rich.
Not because he was powerful.
But because he meant it.
Every word.
For the first time in days, some of her fear eased.
Just a little.
That evening, Adrian refused to let her return to her room alone.
Which led to an argument.
A very loud argument.
"This is ridiculous."
"No."
"It absolutely is."
"No."
Lena glared at him.
Adrian stared back.
Neither willing to surrender.
The security team standing nearby wisely pretended not to exist.
"You cannot seriously expect me to stay in your suite."
"I do."
"Why?"
"Because it's safer."
She threw her hands into the air.
"I'm not a child."
"No."
"Then stop treating me like one."
"I'm protecting you."
The words hung heavily between them.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Lena sighed.
Because arguing with Adrian Vale was like arguing with a wall.
A very attractive wall.
Which only made things worse.
Eventually, she gave up.
"Fine."
Adrian looked suspiciously pleased with himself.
And somehow that irritated her even more.
Hours later, the mansion had finally grown quiet.
Lena sat near the large window inside Adrian's suite.
The city lights glittered below.
Beautiful.
Peaceful.
A complete contrast to the chaos inside her mind.
She heard footsteps behind her.
Then Adrian handed her a cup of tea.
"Thank you."
He sat beside her.
Not too close.
Not too far.
The comfortable distance somehow felt more intimate than physical contact.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward.
It never seemed to be with him anymore.
Eventually, Adrian broke it.
"Are you afraid?"
Lena considered lying.
Instead, she told the truth.
"Yes."
His gaze remained fixed on the city.
"So am I."
The confession shocked her.
She turned toward him.
"What?"
A faint smile appeared.
"You seem surprised."
"You don't get scared."
"Everyone gets scared."
Not Adrian.
Not the billionaire who could silence an entire room with a glance.
Not the CEO feared by half the city.
Apparently, she was wrong.
"What are you afraid of?" she asked quietly.
The question lingered between them.
For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer.
Then he spoke.
"Losing people."
The words hit her harder than expected.
Because suddenly she understood.
Vivian.
His loneliness.
His walls.
His fear of attachment.
Everything.
For years, Adrian had protected himself by never getting close enough to be hurt again.
And somehow—
Without realizing it—
Lena had slipped past those defenses.
The realization made her heart race.
Adrian looked at her.
His dark eyes searching hers.
The atmosphere shifted.
Changed.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Warmer.
Their gazes locked.
Neither moved.
Neither looked away.
Lena's pulse thundered.
Every breath felt heavier.
Every second stretched endlessly.
Slowly—
Almost unconsciously—
Adrian leaned closer.
And this time, nobody interrupted.
No phone call.
No assistant.
No emergency.
Just them.
The distance between them disappeared.
Lena could feel his breath.
Could see every detail of his face.
Every emotion he tried so hard to hide.
Her heart whispered the truth before her mind could stop it.
She was falling for him.
And judging by the look in Adrian's eyes—
He was falling too.
Then suddenly—
A loud alarm exploded through the mansion.
Both of them jumped apart.
The security system.
Adrian was on his feet instantly.
His expression darkening.
The bedroom door burst open.
One of the guards rushed inside.
"Mr. Vale!"
"What happened?"
The guard looked shaken.
"We found someone on the property."
The room froze.
Lena's blood ran cold.
Adrian's face became deadly serious.
"Who?"
The guard swallowed hard.
Then delivered the answer.
"The person was carrying photographs of Mrs. Vale."
Silence.
Terrifying silence.
Because whoever was threatening Lena...
Had just come much closer than anyone realized.
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