The office tower was taller from the inside.
Alex stood beside Adrian in the private elevator as it climbed toward the executive floors.
The walls were mirrors.
Alex could see himself from every angle.
That was unfortunate.
He looked like someone pretending to belong in an expensive place.
Adrian, on the other hand, looked exactly like a man who owned the building.
Which he did.
The elevator moved without sound.
Alex folded his arms.
"You know something?"
Adrian didn't look up from the tablet in his hand.
"What?"
"This is a terrible idea."
"Yes."
Alex stared at him.
"You agree?"
"Yes."
Alex blinked.
"Well that's reassuring."
Adrian continued reading.
The elevator doors opened.
A quiet hallway stretched ahead.
Dark carpet.
Glass walls.
Soft lighting.
Alex stepped out.
Immediately people noticed.
Assistants.
Executives.
Security.
Every head turned.
Whispers moved through the corridor like wind.
Alex felt it happen.
Recognition.
Curiosity.
Judgment.
Someone dropped a stack of folders.
Another person almost walked into a glass wall.
Alex leaned closer to Adrian.
"They're staring."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you exist."
Alex sighed.
"That's rude."
Adrian walked forward.
Alex followed.
They passed an open conference room where six men in suits stopped talking the moment Adrian appeared.
One of them stood immediately.
"Mr. Laurent."
Adrian nodded once.
"Continue."
The man glanced at Alex.
Everyone else did too.
Alex gave them a small wave.
That made it worse.
When they reached Adrian's office floor, the atmosphere changed again.
The doors opened automatically.
The office was enormous.
Glass walls on three sides.
A view of the city that made the penthouse feel modest.
Alex stepped inside slowly.
"You weren't kidding."
Adrian moved to his desk.
"I rarely do."
Alex walked toward the windows.
The streets looked tiny from here.
People looked like dots moving through lines of traffic.
"This is a ridiculous amount of power," Alex said.
"Yes."
Alex turned.
"You say that like it's normal."
"It is."
Alex leaned against the window.
"You're impossible."
Adrian didn't respond.
He sat behind the desk and began reviewing documents.
For a moment the room went quiet.
Alex looked around.
Everything here looked sharp.
Clean.
Controlled.
No personal photos.
No decorations.
No sign that a human being actually lived inside this life.
Alex walked back toward the desk.
"Where do I sit?"
Adrian didn't look up.
"You don't."
"That's encouraging."
"You observe."
Alex crossed his arms.
"I feel like an expensive decoration."
Adrian finally looked at him.
"That's accurate."
Alex laughed.
"I'm starting to understand your sense of humor."
A knock sounded at the door.
Before Adrian answered, the door opened.
A woman stepped inside.
Mid-thirties.
Dark hair.
Sharp eyes.
Perfect posture.
She looked at Adrian first.
Then at Alex.
Then back at Adrian.
The pause was noticeable.
"Mr. Laurent," she said calmly.
"Good morning, Elena."
Her gaze returned to Alex.
"And this must be your husband."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"That's the rumor."
Elena walked farther into the office.
Her heels made quiet clicks against the floor.
"I'm Elena Vargas," she said. "Chief operations officer."
Alex nodded.
"Alex Carter."
She studied him carefully.
Not rude.
Just thorough.
"You've created quite a reaction in the building."
"I'm beginning to notice that."
Elena turned back to Adrian.
"The board meeting begins in twenty minutes."
"I'm aware."
"And Victor Moreau is attending."
The room went still.
Alex watched Adrian.
No reaction.
Of course.
Elena continued.
"He arrived early."
Alex sighed.
"Of course he did."
Elena glanced at him.
"You've met."
"Yes."
"That's unfortunate."
Alex pointed toward the door.
"Can I skip this meeting?"
Adrian answered immediately.
"No."
Alex looked at him.
"Why not?"
"Because you're part of the story now."
Alex rubbed his forehead.
"I hate stories."
Elena almost smiled.
"Most people in this building do."
She placed several folders on Adrian's desk.
Then she looked at Alex again.
"You should stand near him during the meeting."
Alex frowned.
"Why?"
"Because half the room will spend the entire time trying to figure out who you are."
"That's comforting."
Elena nodded once.
"Welcome to the company."
She left.
The door closed softly behind her.
Alex exhaled.
"She's terrifying."
"Yes."
"I like her."
Adrian stood.
"Good."
Alex watched him move around the desk.
"Where exactly am I standing in this meeting?"
"Beside me."
"Like a bodyguard?"
"Like a husband."
Alex made a face.
"That word still feels strange."
Adrian adjusted his cuff.
"You'll adapt."
They walked toward the conference room.
Alex could already hear voices inside.
When the doors opened, the room fell silent.
Twenty people sat around the long table.
Executives.
Investors.
Board members.
Victor Moreau sat near the far end.
His eyes lifted immediately.
And landed on Alex.
A slow smile spread across his face.
Alex muttered under his breath.
"Fantastic."
Adrian stepped into the room.
Alex followed.
Every person watched them.
Victor leaned back in his chair.
"Well," he said.
"This is new."
Adrian didn't respond.
He moved to the head of the table.
Alex stood beside him.
Victor's eyes never left him.
"This is the famous husband," Victor continued.
Alex crossed his arms.
"Hello again."
Victor chuckled.
"You're brave."
Alex shrugged.
"I'm poor. It's similar."
Several people at the table looked uncomfortable.
Adrian placed both hands on the table.
"Let's begin."
The meeting started.
Numbers.
Markets.
Acquisitions.
Alex understood maybe half of it.
But he understood the tension.
Victor interrupted often.
Every time he did, he glanced at Alex.
Testing.
Watching.
Waiting.
After forty minutes Alex shifted his weight.
His legs were beginning to hurt.
Adrian continued speaking calmly about a merger proposal.
Victor leaned forward suddenly.
"Adrian."
The room went quiet again.
Victor tapped a pen against the table.
"Your personal life is suddenly very public."
Adrian didn't stop reading the report.
"Yes."
Victor smiled faintly.
"Investors might worry that you're distracted."
Alex rolled his eyes.
Victor noticed.
"Do you disagree, Mr. Carter?"
Alex met his gaze.
"Yes."
Victor leaned back.
"Why?"
Alex shrugged.
"Because if Adrian Laurent is distracted, we're all in serious trouble."
Several people at the table laughed nervously.
Victor's smile faded slightly.
"Interesting answer."
Alex looked at Adrian.
Adrian didn't react.
Victor studied Alex for another moment.
Then he said,
"Careful."
Alex tilted his head.
"About what?"
Victor's voice softened.
"Standing too close to powerful men."
The room held its breath.
Alex looked down.
Victor's eyes followed.
Then he saw it.
Adrian's hand had moved slightly.
Without Alex noticing.
His fingers rested lightly against Alex's wrist.
Not tight.
Not obvious.
Just enough.
A quiet signal.
Stay calm.
Stay here.
Alex felt the warmth of it immediately.
The first real touch since the contract.
It surprised him.
More than it should have.
He didn't move.
Victor noticed the gesture too.
Something flickered across his face.
Not amusement.
Not anger.
Interest.
"Ah," Victor said quietly.
"That explains it."
Adrian removed his hand slowly.
The contact lasted less than three seconds.
But it changed the room.
Alex straightened slightly.
Victor smiled again.
But the smile looked sharper now.
"Continue," he said.
The meeting resumed.
But the air had shifted.
Alex knew it.
Victor knew it.
Adrian definitely knew it.
And Alex realized something dangerous.
That brief touch had felt…
Safe.
He hated that.
After the meeting ended, people began leaving the room quickly.
No one wanted to be the last one near Adrian Laurent and Victor Moreau at the same time.
Victor remained seated.
Alex stayed where he was.
Adrian gathered his documents calmly.
Victor watched them both.
Then he spoke quietly.
"You're adapting quickly."
Alex met his gaze.
"I learn fast."
Victor stood.
He walked closer.
"Just remember something."
Alex waited.
Victor's voice lowered.
"Adrian Laurent wins wars."
Alex nodded slowly.
"I've noticed."
Victor smiled again.
"But wars create casualties."
His eyes moved to Adrian.
Then back to Alex.
"Try not to become one."
Victor walked past them.
The conference room doors closed behind him.
Silence returned.
Alex exhaled slowly.
"Well."
Adrian looked at him.
"Well what?"
Alex rubbed his wrist where Adrian had touched him.
"That man really hates you."
"Yes."
Alex looked toward the closed doors.
"Good."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Alex shrugged.
"Because I'm starting to hate him too."
Adrian studied him for a moment.
Then he said quietly,
"That might become useful."
Alex leaned against the table.
"Your life is exhausting."
"Yes."
Alex looked out the glass wall toward the city.
Traffic moved below like rivers of steel.
He crossed his arms.
"You know something?"
Adrian waited.
Alex glanced at him.
"I think Victor Moreau just declared war."
Adrian's voice remained calm.
"He did that years ago."
Alex nodded slowly.
"Great."
Then he added quietly,
"And now I'm part of it."
Adrian didn't deny it.
Which told Alex everything he needed to know.