The rain started sometime after midnight.
From the top floor of Volkov Tower, the city lights blurred against the glass windows as water slid slowly down the surface.
Inside the office, the lights were dim.
Adrian stood at the window, hands in his pockets, watching the storm roll across the skyline.
Behind him, the door opened quietly.
Marcus stepped inside.
Unlike Lucas, Marcus rarely joked and never lingered unnecessarily. That's probably because Lucas and Adrian have been best friends since childhood. He had been part of the Volkov empire long before Adrian had taken control of its global operations.
Where Lucas handled strategy and intelligence—
Marcus handled reality.
And reality, in their world, was rarely pleasant.
"You asked to see me," Marcus said.
Adrian didn't turn.
"Yes."
Marcus walked toward the desk, placing a small folder down.
"Security reports from the conservatory."
Adrian finally faced him.
Marcus continued calmly.
"We've identified three separate surveillance attempts around Elena Rivera in the last forty-eight hours."
Adrian's expression didn't change.
"Source?"
"Unknown."
Marcus paused slightly.
"But whoever it is… they're patient."
Adrian crossed his arms.
"They're waiting."
"Yes."
Marcus studied him carefully.
"And you've responded exactly how they expected."
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Explain."
Marcus gestured toward the city outside the window.
"You've increased security."
"Yes."
"You've redirected resources."
"Yes."
"And you've made it very clear that she matters."
The words landed heavily in the quiet office.
Adrian didn't answer.
Marcus continued.
"That makes her valuable."
"To them," Adrian said.
"Yes."
Marcus opened the folder and slid a photograph across the desk.
It was another surveillance image.
Elena, leaving the conservatory earlier that afternoon.
Someone had taken the photo from across the street.
Adrian stared at it for a moment.
Marcus watched him carefully.
"I've worked for your family for twenty-two years," Marcus said.
"I know."
"I watched your father build this empire from the ground up."
Adrian remained silent.
Marcus continued.
"And I watched every mistake he made along the way."
That caught Adrian's attention.
"What mistakes?"
Marcus leaned slightly against the desk.
"Trust."
Adrian's gaze sharpened.
Marcus spoke carefully.
"Your father once cared about someone."
The statement surprised him.
Adrian had never heard that before.
Marcus noticed the reaction.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"Most people don't know that story."
"What happened?"
Marcus's voice grew colder.
"The empire happened."
The answer was simple.
Brutal.
"Enemies noticed," Marcus continued. "They saw weakness."
"And?"
"And she paid the price for it."
Silence filled the room.
The rain against the window seemed louder now.
Adrian finally asked,
"Why are you telling me this?"
Marcus met his gaze directly.
"Because I recognize the same pattern."
Adrian didn't like where this conversation was going.
Marcus gestured toward the photograph again.
"Elena Rivera is a kind girl."
Adrian didn't disagree.
"She's talented."
"Yes."
"She's completely unprepared for the world you live in."
Adrian's voice remained calm.
"I'm aware of that."
Marcus shook his head slightly.
"No."
He tapped the photograph.
"You're aware."
"But you're not accepting the consequences."
Adrian crossed the room slowly.
"What consequences?"
Marcus's answer came without hesitation.
"If you protect her…"
He paused.
"…you make her a target."
Adrian had already realized that.
Marcus continued.
"If you distance yourself from her…"
Another pause.
"…they lose interest."
The logic was simple.
Cruel.
Effective.
Adrian looked out at the city again.
"You're telling me to walk away."
Marcus didn't soften the message.
"Yes."
"Because of the empire."
"Yes."
"Because of the contract with Seraphina."
"Yes."
Marcus folded his arms.
"This isn't about feelings."
Adrian's voice lowered slightly.
"It never is."
Marcus nodded once.
"That's the price of loyalty."
Silence returned to the office.
The rain continued falling outside.
After a long moment, Adrian finally spoke.
"If I end things now…"
Marcus waited.
"…will it protect her?"
Marcus answered honestly.
"It will give her a chance."
Adrian didn't move.
Didn't speak.
But the decision forming in his mind felt heavier than any business negotiation he had ever faced.
Because contracts could be broken.
Empires could survive losses.
But walking away from someone who had begun to matter—
That required a different kind of strength.
And Adrian wasn't sure which choice would cost him more.