Married to the Cold Billionaire

The Enemy Within

Chapter Ten.,

Someone wanted her gone.

The thought echoed endlessly through Lena's mind.

Even after Vivian hung up.

Even after Adrian noticed the color drain from her face.

"Lena."

His voice sounded distant.

"What happened?"

Slowly, she lowered the phone.

"Vivian called."

His expression darkened immediately.

"What did she say?"

Lena swallowed.

"She said the person who leaked the contract wasn't trying to hurt you."

The room grew silent.

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"And?"

Lena met his eyes.

"She said they were trying to hurt me."

For the first time since she'd met him, genuine fear flashed across Adrian's face.

Gone in an instant.

But she saw it.

The realization stunned her.

He was worried.

Not about the scandal.

Not about the inheritance.

About her.

"You're not leaving this house alone," he said firmly.

Lena blinked.

"What?"

"You heard me."

His tone left no room for argument.

Unfortunately for him, Lena wasn't easily intimidated.

"Adrian, I think you're overreacting."

"No."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

The intensity in his voice made her pause.

He walked toward the window.

Thinking.

Calculating.

Then he turned back.

"Until we know who's behind this, your safety comes first."

A strange warmth spread through her chest.

Nobody had ever protected her like this before.

Not this fiercely.

Not this naturally.

The feeling was dangerous.

Very dangerous.

The next morning, Adrian insisted she accompany him to Vale Corporation.

At first, Lena refused.

Then he gave her a look.

The one that said he wasn't taking no for an answer.

Now she found herself standing inside the largest corporate headquarters she'd ever seen.

Glass walls.

Marble floors.

Employees everywhere.

The moment Adrian entered, conversations stopped.

Everyone watched him.

Respected him.

Feared him.

It was like witnessing an entirely different version of the man she'd come to know.

The CEO.

Cold.

Powerful.

Untouchable.

"Lena."

She looked up.

Adrian extended his hand.

For a second, she simply stared.

Then she placed her hand in his.

The reaction around them was immediate.

Whispers.

Surprised looks.

Shock.

Apparently nobody expected Adrian Vale to hold hands.

Especially not at work.

A smile tugged at Lena's lips.

Good.

Let them be surprised.

The elevator doors opened.

They stepped inside together.

The moment the doors closed, the tension eased.

"You enjoy embarrassing me."

Lena laughed.

"You were embarrassed?"

"Maybe."

The confession surprised both of them.

Before she could tease him further, the elevator stopped.

The executive floor.

The doors opened.

And immediately, something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

The receptionist looked pale.

Terrified.

The moment she saw Adrian, she rushed forward.

"Mr. Vale."

His expression hardened.

"What happened?"

She swallowed.

"We received another package."

The room instantly became silent.

Lena's stomach tightened.

Another package?

Adrian took the box.

No return address.

No sender.

Nothing.

Slowly, he opened it.

And froze.

Lena moved closer.

Then wished she hadn't.

Inside was a photograph.

A photograph of her.

Taken yesterday.

Outside the mansion.

The image wasn't the frightening part.

The message written across it was.

LEAVE HIM BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

The room seemed to tilt.

Nobody spoke.

Nobody moved.

Adrian's grip tightened around the photograph.

His face became unreadable.

Dangerously unreadable.

Then he looked at Lena.

And the calm billionaire disappeared completely.

What remained was a man prepared to go to war.

Because whoever was threatening her had just made one very serious mistake.

They had made it personal.