CHAPTER 5 – Lines Crossed
1328 Words
Lara woke up feeling like she hadn’t slept at all. The anonymous text messages from the night before were still on her mind, especially the last one:
You’re getting too close. He will ruin you.
Her stomach tightened as she stared at the screen. Whoever was sending them wasn’t just guessing—they knew what she was doing in real time. That thought alone was enough to make her lock every window and double‑check the door before leaving her tiny apartment.
On the subway ride to work, she gripped her coffee like a lifeline. Ignore it, Lara. It’s just some psycho trying to scare you. You’ve got a job to do. Focus.
By the time she arrived at Harrison & Velez, her determination was back in place. She stopped at a coffee cart near the building, ordering two cups—one black, one chai latte. Carrying coffee for her intimidating boss felt risky, but after everything that happened yesterday, she needed to reset the tone.
---
Adrian’s office light was already on when she stepped onto their floor at 6:50 a.m. Through the glass wall she could see him leaning over his desk, sleeves rolled up, tie hanging loose, scanning documents spread like a war map across the surface. Even in that relaxed posture, there was an intensity to him—like he was planning not just for court, but for battle.
Lara knocked softly.
His head lifted, eyes locking on hers with unnerving precision. “Monroe?”
She held up the coffee. “Black, no sugar, right?”
For a brief second, surprise flickered across his face—something she hadn’t seen before—but then it was gone, replaced by his usual cool expression. “Correct.” He took the cup from her and set it aside on the desk without another word.
“You’re early again,” he said.
“You told me to be.”
“Fair enough. Sit. We’re reviewing deposition strategy before Carson screws it up again.”
She slid into the chair, biting back a smile at the subtle insult to Rick.
---
The next hour was relentless. Adrian dictated instructions with machine‑gun speed, tossing out legal hypotheticals that would’ve made most seasoned attorneys sweat. Lara’s wrist ached from note‑taking, but she kept up, surprising even herself.
“Witness number two is shaky,” Adrian said. “Helix will hide him behind expert testimony, but if you find any inconsistency—any—you bring it straight to me.”
“Yes, Mr. Velez.”
“And Monroe?” His eyes flicked up. “Ignore Carson. I know what he said to you yesterday. He tries to intimidate new people. Don’t let him.”
Her pen froze mid‑sentence. How does he even know about that?
“Understood,” she said quickly.
Adrian studied her for a second, expression unreadable, then moved on. “Good. Let’s move.”
---
By mid‑morning, Lara was in the copy room, double‑checking exhibits for the afternoon deposition. She had just finished collating when Rick walked in, smirk firmly in place.
“Well, well. If it isn’t the star intern.”
Lara sighed. “Rick, I’m busy.”
“You’re always busy. Guess that’s what happens when you’re Velez’s new favorite.”
She spun on him, temper flaring. “Do you always have to be this—”
“Charming? Yeah.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Just a warning: people who get close to him don’t last long. He burns people out… or worse.”
Lara’s hands curled into fists at her sides. “Is that what happened to you?” she shot back, surprising even herself.
For a moment, Rick’s smirk slipped, replaced by something sharper. “Watch your mouth, intern.”
---
“Rick.” Adrian’s voice cut through the air like a whip. Neither of them had noticed him step in behind them.
Rick straightened instantly. “Mr. Velez, I was just—”
“Leaving.” Adrian’s tone brooked no argument. “Now.”
Rick hesitated, eyes flicking to Lara with something like a promise of trouble, then stormed out.
Adrian’s gaze shifted to her. “Did he touch you?”
“What? No, he just—”
“If he bothers you again, you tell me immediately. No hesitation.” His voice was low, edged with something protective that made Lara’s pulse jump.
“Understood,” she said softly.
For a moment, their eyes held—too long, too intense. She looked away first, cheeks warming, and Adrian turned back to business. “Finish the copies. We leave in ten.”
---
The deposition stretched into evening, Adrian dismantling the opposing witness like a skilled surgeon, while Lara took notes and tried not to get distracted by his sheer focus. By the time they left the courthouse, her feet ached and her head throbbed from concentration.
Back at the office, she collapsed into her chair, rubbing her temples. Adrian appeared in her doorway.
“You haven’t eaten all day,” he said.
“I’m fine,” she lied.
“You’re pale. Come on.”
“What?”
“Dinner. My treat. And yes, interns are allowed to eat.”
She hesitated. Was this normal? Did he take all his interns out to dinner, or just the ones he saved from flying boxes and hostile coworkers? But he was already walking, expecting her to follow.
---
The restaurant was upscale but quiet, tucked on a side street she wouldn’t have noticed on her own. The maître d’ greeted Adrian like he was a regular, which somehow didn’t surprise her.
Adrian ordered without asking her preference, which normally would’ve annoyed her, but tonight she was too tired to care. She sipped water and studied him over the rim of her glass.
“You’re full of surprises,” she said before she could stop herself.
His brow lifted. “Because I bought you dinner?”
“Because you pulled me out of the way yesterday. Because you notice when Rick bothers me. I didn’t think you cared about interns.”
Adrian set his fork down, leaning back slightly. “I don’t care about interns, Monroe. I care about results. And people like Rick ruin results.”
She almost smiled. “So I’m just a means to an end?”
“Exactly.” A ghost of a smirk touched his lips, and for the first time, she saw something human behind the icy exterior.
The conversation shifted then—lightly, unexpectedly—toward safe topics: how she’d grown up outside the city, why she’d gone to law school, her obsession with photography on weekends. Adrian listened more than he spoke, which surprised her even more.
When the check came, he signed without hesitation. “You’ll sleep better after a meal,” he said simply, as if that explained everything.
---
Back at the office to grab their things, Lara’s phone buzzed.
You’re getting too close. He will ruin you.
Her stomach dropped. Someone had known about this dinner. Someone had been watching.
“Something wrong?” Adrian asked, turning slightly toward her.
“No. Just… spam.” She quickly pocketed the phone.
His eyes narrowed for a beat, but he let it go. “Be here at seven tomorrow.”
---
The Subway Ride
On the subway, Lara gripped the cold metal pole, staring at the message again. Whoever it was, they weren’t guessing—they were there, seeing things in real time. The thought made her shiver despite the heat of the train car.
Who are you? And why do you care who I have dinner with?
Her phone buzzed again before she reached home:
You ignored my warning. Next time, I won’t just send messages.
---
Lara’s breath caught as she scanned the crowded subway car. Someone out there wasn’t just watching—they were planning their next move.
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