The last note of the piano faded slowly into silence.
Elena's fingers hovered above the keys for a moment before she let them rest.
The quiet room felt almost peaceful.
Behind her, Adrian checked the time on his watch.
"I should go," he said.
Elena glanced back at him.
"So suddenly?"
"There's work waiting."
"That mysterious work you never explain?"
"Yes."
She rolled her eyes lightly but stood from the piano bench.
"Thanks for listening," she said.
Adrian gave a small nod.
"You play better when you're not thinking too much."
Elena laughed softly.
"That may be the most confusing compliment I've ever received."
He moved toward the door, pausing before opening it.
"Elena."
"Yes?"
"Don't stay too late."
She folded her arms.
"That sounded suspiciously like concern."
"It was a suggestion."
"Those sound similar when you say them."
For a brief second, Adrian almost smiled.
Then he stepped into the hallway.
The door closed behind him.
Inside the room, Elena returned to the piano.
Outside, Adrian's expression changed immediately.
The calm look disappeared.
His eyes scanned the empty corridor.
Students had mostly gone home.
The building felt too quiet.
As he walked toward the exit, his gaze briefly caught something through the glass doors at the end of the hall.
A figure outside.
Standing across the street.
Watching the building.
The moment Adrian approached the doors, the figure turned and disappeared into the evening crowd.
Adrian stopped walking.
His instincts sharpened instantly.
Someone had been observing the conservatory.
And they weren't subtle about it.
He pulled out his phone.
"Lucas."
The line connected almost immediately.
"Did the piano concert finish?" Lucas asked lazily.
Adrian ignored the joke.
"Activate external surveillance around the conservatory."
There was a short pause.
Lucas' tone changed.
"That serious?"
"Yes."
"You think the caller from this morning is involved?"
"Possibly."
Lucas exhaled.
"I'll deploy two vehicles."
"Make it three."
"Protecting the pianist already?"
Adrian's voice lowered slightly.
"This isn't a joke."
Lucas understood immediately.
"Alright. I'm on it."
Adrian ended the call and stepped outside the building.
Night had fully settled over the city.
Streetlights glowed along the sidewalks.
Students walked past him, chatting casually, unaware of anything unusual.
Adrian stood beside his car for a moment.
Watching.
Waiting.
But whoever had been there earlier was gone.
He got into the car and started the engine.
As the vehicle disappeared into traffic, the street slowly returned to normal.
Across the road, a black sedan sat quietly in a dark parking space.
Inside it, a man lowered a pair of binoculars.
"Well," he murmured.
"That reaction was faster than expected."
In the passenger seat beside him, a phone screen lit up.
A message was typed and sent.
Across the city, inside the top floor of Volkov Tower—
Lucas' tablet vibrated.
He glanced down.
Unknown sender.
Three simple words appeared.
"We see her."
Lucas frowned immediately.
A few minutes later, Adrian stepped into the office.
Lucas turned the tablet toward him.
"You might want to look at this."
Adrian read the message once.
His expression remained calm.
But the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"They're testing you," Lucas said quietly.
"Yes."
Lucas folded his arms.
"And now?"
Adrian placed the tablet down slowly.
"They've made a mistake."
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"Which one?"
Adrian looked toward the dark city beyond the window.
"The moment they decided to involve her."
He picked up the phone and typed a reply.
Lucas watched him.
"What did you send?"
Adrian set the phone down.
His voice was quiet.
Cold.
"You won't touch her."
Lucas sighed.
"You know that sounds like a challenge."
Adrian didn't respond.
Because that was exactly what it was.