CHAPTER 8 – Morning Under Watch
1224 Words
Lara woke to unfamiliar silence. No sirens from the street, no thin walls carrying the sound of neighbors arguing, no creaks of her old apartment.
For a moment, she forgot where she was. The bed was softer than any she’d ever slept in, the sheets smelling faintly of something expensive and clean—cedar and leather, maybe.
Then she remembered: Adrian’s apartment.
The memory from last night hit like a slow wave: the humiliation at the firm, the fake slide calling her his mistress, the message promising “next time” wouldn’t just be texts, and Adrian’s quiet, firm command:
“You’re not going home tonight. You’re coming with me.”
---
She sat up slowly, pressing a hand to her forehead. She’d fallen asleep without even checking her phone. That alone felt like a small miracle after days of anxiety.
Her phone lay on the nightstand. For a moment, she considered ignoring it—but curiosity won.
One notification. A text.
Her breath caught as she tapped it.
You’re safer there, but not for long.
Lara’s chest tightened. Whoever this was knew she wasn’t home. They know I’m here.
She almost dropped the phone, panic flaring—until a knock came at the door.
“Monroe?” Adrian’s voice, low and steady.
“Yeah,” she said, trying to sound normal. “I’m up.”
“Breakfast in ten. Kitchen’s to your left.”
She set the phone down without replying to the text. Whoever was sending them clearly had access to her movements, and that realization was like ice in her veins. But for now—at least right now—she wasn’t alone.
---
The kitchen looked like a showroom: white marble counters, sleek black cabinets, a wall of windows showcasing half the Manhattan skyline. Adrian was already there, dressed in a simple gray T‑shirt and black sweats—an image so different from his usual armor of suits that Lara almost froze.
“Coffee?” he asked, holding up a carafe.
“Please,” she said, sliding into one of the stools at the island.
He poured, then placed a plate of toast and eggs in front of her. “Eat.”
She blinked. “You cook?”
“Basic things.” He sat across from her. “You look better.”
“I slept,” she admitted. “First time in days.”
He nodded. “Good. You’ll need your energy. Today’s going to be… complicated.”
“Complicated how?” she asked carefully.
“The firm is already buzzing about yesterday. HR wants a full investigation report. The partners want to know why one of their interns became a target. And whoever’s sending those messages—” He stopped, jaw tightening. “We’re close to tracing them.”
Lara hesitated. “What if it’s someone inside the firm?”
His eyes met hers. “Then they’ll be gone by the end of the day.”
---
For a while, they ate in silence. Lara focused on her food, but her mind was racing. Adrian looked… different here. Without the suit, without the constant pressure of courtrooms and clients, he seemed younger somehow, more human.
She caught herself staring and quickly looked away, cheeks warming.
“Monroe,” he said suddenly.
She glanced up. “Yes?”
“You don’t have to keep looking over your shoulder here. No one’s going to hurt you under my roof.”
The words hit deeper than she expected.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
For the first time since she met him, his mouth curved—not the sharp, cutting smirk she was used to, but something softer.
---
By the time they reached the firm, the whispers had already started. Lara could feel eyes on her as they walked through the lobby—some curious, some judgmental, some openly hostile.
She kept her chin up, refusing to shrink, but inside her stomach twisted.
Adrian’s presence beside her helped. He didn’t glance at anyone, didn’t react, just walked like he always did—like the entire building belonged to him.
Inside his office, he handed her a stack of files. “We’re meeting with IT first. They think they have something.”
---
The head of IT, a nervous man named Brian, set a laptop on the table. “We traced the messages, Mr. Velez. They were sent through an encrypted app, but the originating IP address is linked to a VPN login… used in this building.”
Lara’s blood ran cold. “So it is someone here?”
“Not exactly. The login credentials belonged to Rick Carson.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “He’s banned from this building.”
“I know, sir, but the VPN access came from a device we can’t locate. Whoever it is, they’re using Rick’s old credentials.”
“Meaning either Rick is still involved or someone is framing him,” Adrian said flatly.
Lara sat back, heart pounding. “So this isn’t over.”
“No,” Adrian said. “It’s just starting.”
---
By lunch, Lara was drained again. She grabbed a sandwich and sat at her intern desk, staring blankly at her phone. The text from earlier still burned in her head: You’re safer there, but not for long.
Adrian appeared beside her, leaning one hand on the desk. “Walk with me.”
They ended up on the building’s rooftop terrace, the city sprawling below. The wind whipped at Lara’s hair, but the chill felt good against her overheated skin.
“You’re still shaken,” Adrian observed.
“I’m trying not to be,” she admitted. “But someone knows where I sleep, where I am, what I’m doing.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. “You don’t have to handle this alone anymore.”
Lara hesitated, then asked softly, “Why are you doing this? I’m just an intern. You could replace me tomorrow.”
His eyes locked on hers. “Because you don’t deserve to be a target. And because you’re better than most of the associates here. They don’t scare you, and you actually think before you speak. That’s rare.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks. She turned away slightly, heart thudding.
---
By evening, IT had managed to block the credentials used for the messages, but no one knew if that would stop whoever was behind them. Lara packed her things, nerves buzzing again.
“You’re coming back to my place tonight,” Adrian said firmly when she approached his office.
“Adrian, you don’t have to—”
“I’m not asking,” he said, tone leaving no room for argument. “Whoever is doing this isn’t finished yet. I won’t risk you being alone.”
---
The second night felt different. Less strange, more… safe. She curled up on the guest bed, staring at the city lights outside the window. For the first time, she let herself think about Adrian—not the intimidating boss, but the man who’d stood up for her, who’d taken her out of harm’s way without hesitation.
Her phone buzzed again.
Nice view, isn’t it?
Lara froze. Her eyes darted to the window, then back to the message.
---
Her hands shook as she backed away from the glass. Whoever it was… they knew exactly where she was standing.
- Writer
