The rain started in the afternoon.
It wasn't light.
It wasn't gentle.
It poured heavily against the glass windows of Carter Group headquarters, turning the outside world into a blur of grey and silver. Thunder rolled softly in the distance, and the city looked drowned under the endless storm.
Lucas stood near the large office window, watching the rain fall.
His expression was calm, but his mind was restless.
Things had been strange lately.
Too strange.
Adrian was getting closer.
Too close.
Helping him.
Protecting him.
Watching him.
Sitting beside him during meals.
Walking with him to work.
And this morning—
Lucas touched his collar unconsciously.
Adrian buttoning his shirt.
Lucas sighed quietly.
"This plot is completely broken."
He turned away from the window and walked back to his desk.
Stacks of documents were waiting.
Company reports.
Investment plans.
Project proposals.
Lucas sat down and started reviewing them.
He had been working in Carter Group for a few weeks now, and people were slowly beginning to accept his presence.
They no longer saw him as the useless villain heir.
Instead, they saw him as someone capable.
Smart.
Calm.
Reliable.
Lucas picked up another file and started reading.
Knock.
Lucas looked up.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Adrian walked in.
Lucas's heart skipped slightly.
"Adrian."
Adrian stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
"You're still working."
Lucas nodded.
"Yes. There's a lot to review."
Adrian walked toward him.
"You've been working since morning."
Lucas shrugged.
"That's normal."
Adrian stopped beside his desk.
"It's raining heavily outside."
Lucas looked at the window.
"I noticed."
Adrian spoke calmly.
"You should go home early."
Lucas shook his head.
"I want to finish these first."
Adrian watched him silently for a moment.
Then he walked closer and placed a file on the desk.
"This needs your review too."
Lucas blinked.
"You brought more work?"
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas sighed.
"You're cruel."
Adrian's lips moved slightly.
A faint smile.
"Finish it and we go home together."
Lucas froze.
"…Together?"
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas looked at him suspiciously.
"You could go home first."
Adrian shook his head.
"I'll wait."
Lucas sighed.
"You don't need to."
Adrian pulled a chair and sat beside him.
"I want to."
Lucas swallowed slightly.
Too close again.
Adrian sat quietly and opened his laptop, starting his own work.
The office became silent except for the sound of rain and papers turning.
Time passed slowly.
One hour.
Then two.
The rain continued.
Stronger.
Heavier.
The sky outside became darker.
Lucas stretched slightly.
"I'm done."
Adrian closed his laptop.
"Good."
Lucas stood up.
"Let's go."
Adrian nodded.
They walked toward the elevator together.
The hallway was quiet.
Most employees had already left because of the rain.
The building felt empty.
Lucas pressed the elevator button.
The doors opened.
They stepped inside.
Lucas pressed the ground floor.
The doors closed.
The elevator started moving.
Silence filled the small space.
Lucas stood on one side.
Adrian stood beside him.
Very close.
Too close.
Lucas could feel his presence again.
The elevator suddenly shook.
Then—
Stopped.
Lucas blinked.
"…What?"
The lights flickered.
Then the elevator stopped completely.
Lucas frowned.
"Did it just stop?"
Adrian looked at the panel.
The numbers weren't moving.
"Yes."
Lucas pressed the button again.
Nothing.
He pressed the emergency button.
Still nothing.
Lucas sighed.
"Great."
Adrian remained calm.
"It's probably because of the rain."
Lucas leaned against the wall.
"So we're stuck?"
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas rubbed his forehead.
"This is just perfect."
Adrian pressed the emergency call button again.
A voice responded after a few seconds.
"Carter Group elevator system. Please stay calm. The power is unstable due to the storm. We are working to fix it."
Lucas sighed.
"How long?"
"Maybe thirty to forty minutes."
The call ended.
Lucas leaned his head back.
"Forty minutes in this small space."
Adrian looked at him.
"You don't like small spaces?"
Lucas shook his head.
"No."
The elevator suddenly shook again.
Lucas lost balance slightly.
Before he could fall—
Adrian grabbed him.
Lucas's body crashed lightly into Adrian's chest.
Lucas froze.
Adrian held him firmly.
"Careful."
Lucas's heart started racing.
"I… I'm fine."
But he didn't move.
Adrian's arms were around him.
Warm.
Strong.
Safe.
Lucas swallowed.
Too close.
Adrian didn't let go immediately.
His hand was on Lucas's waist.
Lucas slowly lifted his head.
Their faces were close.
Very close.
Lucas's breath hitched slightly.
Adrian's eyes were dark.
Deep.
Focused on him.
Lucas tried to step back.
But the elevator shook again.
He slipped slightly.
Adrian pulled him closer.
Now Lucas was completely pressed against him.
Chest to chest.
Lucas's heart was beating loudly.
This is bad.
Very bad.
Adrian's hand tightened slightly around his waist.
Lucas looked up.
Their faces were only inches apart.
Adrian's gaze moved to Lucas's lips.
Lucas noticed.
His breath stopped.
Why is he looking at my lips?
Lucas's mind screamed.
THIS WAS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL NOVEL!
Adrian spoke softly.
"Are you scared?"
Lucas shook his head quickly.
"No."
But his voice was slightly shaky.
Adrian's hand moved slightly on his waist.
"You're trembling."
Lucas swallowed.
"It's just the elevator."
Adrian looked at him quietly.
Then spoke slowly.
"Or is it me?"
Lucas's heart skipped.
"What?"
Adrian leaned slightly closer.
Lucas's back hit the elevator wall.
No escape.
Adrian's voice became lower.
"You get nervous when I'm close."
Lucas's breathing became uneven.
"That's not true."
Adrian's face moved closer.
"Then why is your heart beating so fast?"
Lucas panicked.
"You can hear it?"
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas turned his face slightly.
"This is normal."
Adrian's fingers lifted slightly and touched Lucas's chin gently.
Turning his face back.
"Look at me."
Lucas's heart pounded.
He slowly looked at Adrian.
Their eyes met.
Adrian's gaze was intense.
Warm.
Possessive.
Lucas felt trapped.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Adrian spoke softly.
"Lucas."
"…Yes?"
"You trust me, right?"
Lucas nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Adrian's voice softened.
"Then don't be afraid."
Lucas whispered.
"I'm not afraid."
Adrian leaned slightly closer.
Their foreheads almost touched.
Lucas's breath stopped.
Adrian's voice was low and warm.
"I won't hurt you."
Lucas's heart tightened.
Something inside him trembled.
Adrian's hand moved slightly, brushing Lucas's hair away from his face.
The touch was gentle.
Careful.
Lucas felt his face heating up.
The elevator felt smaller.
Hotter.
Adrian moved even closer.
Lucas could feel his breath.
Warm against his skin.
Lucas's mind went blank.
Adrian's voice dropped to a whisper.
"You're too close to run now."
Lucas's eyes widened slightly.
His voice was soft.
"I wasn't running."
Adrian's lips curved slightly.
"Good."
The elevator shook again.
Lucas instinctively grabbed Adrian's shirt.
Adrian's hand tightened around him.
Holding him firmly.
Protectively.
Lucas's face was close to Adrian's chest.
He could hear Adrian's heartbeat.
Steady.
Strong.
Lucas whispered.
"Adrian…"
"Yes?"
"…You're too close."
Adrian spoke softly.
"Do you want me to move away?"
Lucas paused.
His fingers tightened slightly on Adrian's shirt.
Then he whispered.
"…No."
Adrian's eyes darkened.
He lifted Lucas's face again gently.
Their eyes met once more.
Adrian spoke slowly.
"Lucas."
Lucas's voice was soft.
"Yes?"
Adrian leaned closer.
Very close.
Lucas's breath stopped.
Adrian's voice was almost a whisper.
"You're making this difficult."
Lucas blinked.
"What?"
Adrian spoke quietly.
"Staying calm around you."
Lucas's heart skipped.
"What do you mean?"
Adrian looked at him deeply.
Then he spoke the truth.
"You affect me."
Lucas froze.
Completely.
His mind went blank.
This is bad.
Very bad.
Because this—
This definitely—
Was not in the original novel.
The elevator lights suddenly turned back on.
The machine started moving again.
The moment broke.
Adrian slowly stepped back.
Lucas stood still, breathing heavily.
The elevator reached the ground floor.
The doors opened.
Silence filled the air.
Lucas stepped out first.
His heart still racing.
Adrian followed behind him calmly.
As they walked toward the exit, Lucas's mind kept repeating one thing.
He said I affect him.
Lucas touched his chest.
His heart was still beating fast.
This story is completely broken now.
Behind him, Adrian watched quietly.
His gaze calm.
But determined.
Because now—
He was sure.
He wanted Lucas.
And he wasn't planning to stop.