CHAPTER 13 – The Breaking Point
1109 Words
Lara thought she had grown used to fear.
Used to checking her phone constantly, glancing over her shoulder when leaving work, ignoring the whispers at the firm about “Velez’s intern.”
She’d endured the humiliating fake slide, the elevator threat, the man watching from across the street, even the message at the gala.
But today… today proved she wasn’t numb at all.
---
The day started deceptively calm.
Adrian had insisted she stay at his apartment again. She hadn’t argued; her own place felt paper-thin compared to his glass-and-steel fortress. She woke up in the guest room, sunlight soft through the floor-to-ceiling windows, wrapped in sheets that felt far too luxurious for her life.
For a moment, she’d almost forgotten.
The smell of coffee pulled her to the kitchen. Adrian stood there already dressed, perfectly put together, reading something on his tablet.
“You’re early,” she said, still half asleep.
“I always am.” He slid a mug across the counter toward her. “Drink. We have a long day.”
She smiled faintly. “Do you ever relax?”
“Rarely.” His eyes scanned her face. “You seem better this morning.”
“I slept,” she admitted. “Thanks to you.”
Something softened in his expression—just slightly—before he looked back to his tablet. “Good. Stay that way.”
---
By lunch, Lara started to think maybe things were finally quieting down. No new texts. No strange stares. No anonymous threats.
She left her desk to grab a salad from the lobby café. It was busy, filled with people rushing in and out. She ordered, paid, and was heading toward the elevators when it happened.
A hand clamped around her arm.
Lara froze. A man stood there—baseball cap, hood up, face shadowed. His grip was strong, fingers digging into her sleeve.
“You don’t listen well,” he rasped, his voice low and unfamiliar.
Lara’s heart slammed in her chest. “Let me go.”
Instead, he leaned in, his breath warm and foul against her ear. “Quit. Today. Or next time it won’t just be words.”
---
Her body reacted before her brain did. She yanked her arm free, the salad tumbling to the ground as she ran—full sprint toward the elevators. Her pulse thundered, her breath ragged, every step echoing too loudly.
The elevator doors opened and she stumbled inside, slamming the close button with shaking hands.
The last thing she saw as the doors slid shut was the man’s smirk, like he was enjoying every second of her fear.
---
She burst into Adrian’s office minutes later, breathless, clutching her arm where he’d grabbed her.
Adrian stood instantly. “What happened?”
“There was a man—same build as before. He grabbed me, told me to quit… said next time it wouldn’t just be words.”
For a second, silence. Then Adrian’s jaw locked, and something dangerous flared in his eyes. “Show me.”
---
Within minutes, they were watching security footage. The man appeared clearly this time—hood up, baseball cap low, but still visible enough to identify his build and gait.
“It’s the same one,” Adrian said, voice like steel. “And he’s escalating.”
Building security swept every floor, but he was already gone.
“He knows where the cameras are,” Adrian muttered. “Knows timing. He’s done this before.”
Lara’s stomach twisted. “You think it’s someone who knows the firm?”
“I think it’s someone who knows me,” Adrian corrected quietly.
---
By the time they left for the day, Lara’s nerves were frayed. She stayed silent in the car, arms wrapped tight around herself, staring at the blur of traffic outside.
Adrian glanced at her once, then again, before finally saying, “You’re staying at my place again.”
“I don’t want to be a burden—”
“You’re not,” he said flatly. “I’m not giving whoever this is another opportunity.”
She didn’t argue after that.
---
Back at Adrian’s apartment, Lara sat on the couch, still in shock. Adrian placed a glass of water in her hands and crouched in front of her.
“You’re safe now,” he said quietly.
“Am I?” she asked, voice trembling. “Because it doesn’t feel like it. It feels like I’m waiting for him to come out of nowhere again. To grab me again. To…”
Her voice broke. She hated it—hated crying, hated feeling small—but the tears came anyway.
Adrian’s hand touched her knee, steady and grounding. “Lara. Look at me.”
She did, blinking through tears.
“I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he said, slow and deliberate, as if making a vow.
Something in her chest cracked wide open. Before she could stop herself, she leaned forward, forehead resting briefly against his shoulder. “I hate feeling like this.”
“I know,” he murmured. “But it’s temporary. We’ll stop him.”
---
When she pulled back, she expected him to retreat, to rebuild that wall of control he always wore. But he didn’t. Instead, his hand lifted, fingertips brushing a tear from her cheek, warm and steady.
“You’re shaking,” he said softly.
“Of course I’m shaking,” she tried to joke, but it came out broken.
His eyes lingered on hers for a beat too long, then on her lips—just for a second—before he exhaled and dropped his hand. “Get some rest. I’ll be up all night anyway.”
Her heart hammered for reasons she didn’t want to name.
---
Lara tried to sleep, but every sound made her tense. She finally drifted off only to wake in the middle of the night, eyes landing on Adrian. He was still awake, sitting at the kitchen island, laptop open, phone pressed to his ear. Working. Watching. Protecting.
The thought calmed her in a way she didn’t expect.
---
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand at dawn. She grabbed it automatically.
You run well. Wonder how fast you’ll be when I’m closer.
Her stomach dropped. She walked out to the kitchen, phone in hand, and showed Adrian.
His expression turned to stone. “Today,” he said quietly but firmly, “we end this.”
---
Lara gripped the edge of the counter, her hands shaking. Whoever this was, they weren’t just threatening anymore—they were promising. And Adrian looked ready to burn the world to stop them.
- Writer
