Beneath the Surface

Chapter 4: Fractures

Amelia felt the tension ripple through the office the next morning. Adrian was colder than usual, his words clipped and his demeanor sharp. She told herself it didn't matter—that their confrontation the previous night was a moment best forgotten. But his presence was impossible to ignore.

As she sat at her desk, typing up a report, her phone buzzed with a message.

Daniel: Lunch today? My treat.

She hesitated for a moment before typing back, "Sure. Noon?"

By the time they sat down at a cozy café a few blocks away, Daniel seemed back to his usual self. His easy charm filled the conversation, but Amelia noticed an undercurrent of tension in his eyes.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, leaning forward slightly.

Daniel sighed, stirring his coffee absentmindedly. "Adrian doesn't like me, does he?"

Amelia froze. "What makes you say that?"

He smirked, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Just a hunch. He warned me to stay away from you."

Her heart skipped a beat. "He what?"

"Relax," Daniel said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I can handle it. But you should know—guys like Adrian? They don't just get jealous for no reason."

Amelia frowned, her mind racing. "He's not jealous. He's... protective."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you call it?"

The words lingered long after lunch, and by the time she returned to the office, Amelia couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her chest.

Adrian was waiting for her, his gaze dark as she stepped into his office.

"Did you have a good lunch?" he asked, his tone deceptively casual.

She crossed her arms. "Why do you care?"

He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "I don't like distractions, Amelia. And Daniel is a distraction."

Her temper flared. "You mean you're distracted. Admit it—you can't stand the idea of me spending time with anyone but you."

Adrian's jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he might actually admit it. But instead, he stood, closing the distance between them in a few long strides.

"You're right," he said, his voice low and controlled. "I don't like it. But that doesn't change the fact that he's bad for you."

She stared at him, caught between anger and something far more dangerous. "And you're any better?"

He didn't respond, but the silence between them spoke volumes.