Uncharted Territory

Chapter 17: Beneath the Surface

After a long weekend spent together, Clara and Adrian arrived at the office on Monday morning. The atmosphere was a mixture of tension and curiosity. Everyone in the building had heard whispers of the CEO's swift handling of Max, and now seeing him walk Clara to her office in the marketing department, no one dared to speak openly. Instead, heads turned quietly as they passed, with lingering glances exchanged. The fear was palpable—if Adrian Harrington could take down someone like Max, what chance did they have?

Adrian, sensing the stares but unaffected, leaned in slightly as they approached Clara's office. "You know," he murmured, his voice laced with suggestion, "you could always stay in my office today. We did have a productive time there last week."

Clara smiled and shook her head, appreciating his playful persistence. "I'd love to, but someone's got to handle the mountain of work being your secretary left me with. Turns out being your stand-in wasn't as glamorous as it seemed."

Adrian gave her an apologetic smirk, pulling her closer for a quick goodbye kiss. "I'll make it up to you," he promised, his lips brushing hers in a lingering way that left her slightly breathless. "See you later."

With that, he left her standing at her office door, her coworkers now more intrigued than ever, but still too intimidated to utter a word.

Adrian headed back to his office, where his secretary, was already waiting. She looked up with a knowing smile, clearly having heard about his weekend with Clara. 

"Good morning, Mr. Harrington," she greeted him, a playful glint in her eyes. "You seem to be in a particularly good mood today."

Adrian raised an eyebrow but didn't comment on her teasing. "How was your father's birthday?" he asked, switching the subject.

Ella beamed. "It was amazing, thank you for asking. He was so happy to have the whole family together."

"Glad to hear it." Adrian nodded, walking toward his desk.

"You know," she added, her tone playful again, "I'm starting to think my replacement last week did a fantastic job. Almost like she's here to stay."

Adrian stopped and turned, giving her a pointed look, but the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips. "Don't push your luck."

She laughed softly. "Noted, boss."

Adrian sat down at his desk, the lingering warmth from his weekend with Clara still present. His mind briefly drifted back to the intimate moments they shared, and for the first time in a long while, he felt... content. And that, he realized, was all thanks to Clara.

As Adrian settled into his work, the intercom on his desk buzzed to life. His secretary's voice came through, "Mr. Harrington, there's a man named Leon here to see you."

Adrian's eyes darkened slightly at the mention of Leon's name. He knew exactly why he was here. This was about the "job" he had asked Leon to handle—the punishment for Max—and, more importantly, the details regarding Clara's family and the people who had made her suffer. Adrian's jaw tightened. Clara had opened up to him about her past, but seeing the hard evidence, having every detail laid bare, would give him the tools to make sure no one could hurt her again.

"Send him in," Adrian replied, his voice calm but edged with the weight of what was coming.

A few moments later, Leon entered the office. He was one of Adrian's most trusted men, someone who worked quietly behind the scenes, handling the more... delicate matters. Leon was efficient, discreet, and loyal—qualities Adrian valued deeply. There was a mutual respect between them that didn't require many words.