Chapter 20: The Sword Above Their Heads
The countdown to the board meeting now measured itself not in days, but in heartbeats. Adrian had always thrived in pressure, but never had the weight of failure been this heavy—not when his enemies hunted not just his company, but the woman bound to him by the system.
Elena.
Through the synchronization, her presence had become inescapable. At times she was a storm in his chest, her fear quickening his pulse, her laughter lifting the shadows from his mind. Other times she was a chain, tethering him to emotions he could not afford to feel in the midst of war. And yet, he couldn't let her go.
Not now.
Not ever.
---
That morning, Adrian locked himself in his private study with Elena at his side. Piles of files, flash drives, and secured laptops covered the desk. A map of corporate connections glowed across the wide digital screen, red threads linking names of traitors and allies.
Elena swallowed. "You've been… busy."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Information is the only currency in this war. My uncle and Maxwell Holdings have been laying snares for months. But the more traps they set, the more threads I can pull."
Her eyes scanned the screen, dizzy with the web of names. Executives she'd passed in hallways. Politicians whose faces graced news channels. Even charitable organizations tied to backroom deals.
"You've uncovered all this in days?"
"Not days," he corrected quietly. "Years. I've known my uncle would try to move against me eventually. I just didn't expect him to be this reckless."
Elena pressed her palms together, heart pounding. "So what's the plan?"
Adrian leaned back, steepling his fingers. "Simple. Before the vote, I'll expose proof that Maxwell Holdings laundered money through shell charities. Proof that my uncle facilitated it. Once I detonate it, the board won't just hesitate to remove me—they'll turn on him."
Elena hesitated. "And if you fail?"
His dark eyes met hers, unwavering. "Then I lose everything. But tell me, Elena—" his voice lowered, husky, "—do you believe I'll fail?"
Her breath caught. Through the synchronization, she felt the weight of his need—not for victory, but for her answer.
Slowly, she whispered, "No. You don't fail. Not you."
The tension stretched between them, unbearable. Adrian's hand moved as if to reach for her cheek, then curled back into a fist on the desk.
---
[ System Alert! ]
Special Mission Triggered: "Balance of Power"
Objective: Secure majority support during the upcoming board vote.
Condition: Reveal hidden corruption linked to Maxwell Holdings before the meeting begins.
Reward: +15% System Authority. Emotional Synchronization stabilized.
Penalty: -25% System Authority. Forced synchronization collapse.
Elena's breath hitched at the words only she could see. Collapse? She didn't know exactly what it meant, but every instinct screamed danger.
Adrian's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"
She shook her head quickly. "The system. It gave you another mission."
He leaned forward, gaze sharpening. "Tell me."
She recited the objective and penalty, her voice trembling.
His expression darkened. "Collapse… that means it would sever the synchronization."
Her chest tightened. Sever. Would that kill the bond between them—or destroy them both in the process?
Adrian stood suddenly, pacing. "Then there's no margin for error. We win this vote, no matter what it takes."
Elena's voice cracked. "Adrian, it's forcing you into dangerous ground. If you make one wrong move—"
He turned sharply, his hand gripping her shoulders. "Elena." His voice was a growl, but his touch was careful, almost tender. "Do you think I fear collapse when the only reason I'm fighting is standing right in front of me?"
Her heart stopped. His emotions roared through her chest—fury, desperation, desire. It was too much. Too raw.
"Adrian…"
His thumb brushed her cheekbone before he caught himself and pulled away, fists clenched.
---
Later that night, Adrian's office fell into silence. Elena stayed curled on the couch, laptop open, combing through files he'd given her. She wasn't just his assistant anymore—she was his confidant, his partner.
And the deeper she dug, the more dangerous the threads became. Hidden transfers. Fake charities. A senator's mistress paid from Maxwell Holdings' funds. She pieced them together, one by one, until a horrifying picture formed.
This is bigger than Adrian. This is bigger than Blackwood Group. If this goes public, it could rock the entire financial world.
Her chest tightened. No wonder the system gave such a brutal penalty. If Adrian loses, it won't just break him. It'll break us both.
---
Suddenly, the door to the office slammed open.
"Working late, nephew?"
Adrian's uncle strode in, tall and elegant, his silver hair gleaming under the light. His smile was cold, his eyes sharper than any blade.
Elena froze. How did he get in here?
Adrian's face remained an unreadable mask. "Uncle."
"Such diligence," the older man drawled, gaze flicking to Elena like she was nothing more than furniture. "And yet, no amount of diligence can save a sinking ship. You should stop exhausting yourself and prepare for your inevitable defeat."
Adrian leaned back in his chair, deceptively calm. "Defeat? You mistake me for yourself."
The uncle chuckled darkly. "Still arrogant. But arrogance won't protect her." His eyes lingered on Elena, a warning unspoken but clear.
Elena's blood ran cold. The synchronization pulsed violently with Adrian's fury, so intense she nearly gasped aloud.
"Touch her," Adrian said softly, deadly, "and you'll regret being born into this family."
The uncle's smile widened, as if savoring the threat. Then he turned, strolling out like a man who had already won.
The office fell silent.
Elena whispered, trembling, "He knows."
Adrian's jaw clenched. "Then let him. If he wants war, I'll burn him alive."
---
That night, when Elena finally lay down in the guest room bed, the system pulsed again.
[ Emotional Synchronization: 52% ]
[ Warning: Deeper entanglement accelerating. Unknown outcomes approaching. ]
She buried her face in the pillow, heart racing with fear, anger… and something she dared not name.
---