Beneath the Surface

Chapter 2: The Shift

Over the next few weeks, Daniel became a regular presence at the office. His charm was infectious, and it wasn't long before the entire team, including Amelia, seemed captivated by him.

Adrian, however, was far from amused. He noticed everything—the way Daniel's hand would linger just a little too long on Amelia's shoulder during a conversation, the way they laughed together over inside jokes, the way she seemed more relaxed around Daniel than she ever did with him.

One afternoon, Adrian stood by the window in his office, his phone pressed to his ear as he discussed a merger. His focus was shattered when he caught sight of Daniel and Amelia in the hallway below. Daniel was leaning in, saying something that made Amelia laugh—a soft, genuine laugh Adrian realized he hadn't heard from her in months.

"Adrian?" the voice on the phone interrupted. "Are you still there?"

"Yes. Sorry. Where were we?" Adrian replied, forcing himself to turn away from the window. But the image of them lingered, gnawing at him.

That evening, long after most of the staff had gone home, Amelia was still in the office, organizing files for a presentation. Adrian's office light was still on, a faint glow visible from her desk.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she knocked lightly before stepping inside.

"Mr. Blake? You're still here?"

Adrian looked up from his papers, his tie loosened and his sleeves rolled up. He looked less like the untouchable CEO and more like a man carrying the weight of an empire on his shoulders.

"There's always more work to be done," he said, his tone clipped.

Amelia hesitated, sensing his mood was darker than usual. "Is everything alright?"

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes locking onto hers. For a moment, he seemed to debate whether to say something.

"You seem to be spending a lot of time with Daniel," he said, his voice low but pointed.

She blinked, caught off guard. "We're working on the Easton project together. It's part of the job."

"Is that all it is?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with implication.

Her brows furrowed. "What exactly are you suggesting?"

Adrian stood, closing the distance between them in a few strides. His presence was overwhelming, and for the first time, Amelia felt her carefully maintained composure slipping.

"I'm saying that I don't like the way he looks at you," Adrian said, his voice edged with something raw and unguarded. "And I don't like the way you look at him."

Amelia's eyes widened. "That's none of your business."

"It is when you're my secretary," he shot back.

Her cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and something else she couldn't quite name. "I'm your assistant, not your property, Mr. Blake. If you have an issue with Daniel, that's your problem—not mine."

She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her.

"Amelia."

She froze, her hand on the door.

When she glanced back, his expression had softened, but his eyes were still burning with intensity. "I'm not saying this as your boss."