Boston's skyline loomed like a jagged crown of steel and glass as the sedan glided through the streets. Adrian sat in silence, Harlow's folder tucked firmly under his arm. His fingers brushed the Phoenix Ring every so often, the faint warmth of the metal grounding him. Power disguised as jewelry, wealth sealed into a single card—symbols that could open doors or destroy lives.
The car slowed to a stop in front of a towering building. B Corporation. Its mirrored surface swallowed the night sky, reflecting the restless city below. Even from the street, Adrian could feel the weight of it—the kind of building where fortunes were made and enemies were buried without leaving a trace.
He stepped out, boots striking the marble pavement with deliberate calm. The lobby loomed ahead, a cathedral of commerce—high glass ceilings, gleaming floors polished to perfection, and security cameras tucked into every corner. Everything screamed control, power, precision.
Adrian adjusted his jacket, the folder snug inside. His presence was unhurried, but every step carried weight. He had walked into arenas where eyes watched his every move—this was no different.
The receptionist at the front desk glanced up, prepared to greet another executive, but her expression faltered. Her gaze caught on the ring, then dropped instinctively to the black gold card Adrian placed on the counter.
"Name?" she asked, her tone polite but tighter than it should have been.
Adrian leaned casually on the counter, his voice low. "No need for names. The card covers everything."
She froze for a heartbeat too long, then nodded stiffly. "Of course, sir. Please proceed."
Adrian retrieved the card with a faint smirk. Some doors didn't need keys, only symbols. And right now, every symbol on him radiated power.
He moved past the desk, boots tapping lightly against marble as his eyes scanned the vast lobby. He didn't miss the way employees stole glances at him—the subtle whispers, the way their posture shifted slightly as if acknowledging an authority none of them understood.
The Phoenix Ring caught a shaft of light from the ceiling, its golden surface reflecting like fire. People noticed. People always noticed.
He drifted toward a corner near the glass elevators, unfolding Harlow's folder with a quiet focus. Office layouts, employee names, access points. His eyes absorbed it all. But even as he studied the pages, his attention snagged on two familiar figures across the lobby.
Vivienne Morgan. Perfect hair, perfect suit, perfect poise. She glided through the revolving doors with confidence only money and reputation could sharpen. Beside her was Victor Lennox, tailored suit crisp, expression smug, his every gesture dripping with charm practiced too many times in front of a mirror.
Adrian's jaw tightened. Two years. Two years stolen, rotting in a cell while she built her empire, while Victor stood beside her. Now they moved like royalty in their kingdom, smiling, laughing, unbothered.
He stayed in the shadows, watching, the folder open in his hands. The old ache twisted in his chest but he strangled it before it could rise. This wasn't the time for emotions.
A security guard noticed him lingering and approached cautiously. "Sir… are you here for an appointment?"
Adrian lifted the black gold card between two fingers, his eyes steady. "I don't need an appointment. I'm here on business. The kind that doesn't wait."
The guard hesitated, glanced at the card, then the ring, and immediately stepped aside. "Understood, sir. Right this way."
Adrian slipped past, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. Symbols spoke louder than explanations.
As he moved deeper into the lobby, Vivienne's voice carried across the polished space. Bright, sweet, tinged with laughter. Adrian's gaze sharpened, catching her at the reception desk with Victor leaning close. They laughed like conspirators, unaware he was watching.
"Victor, you're so good to me," Vivienne said, her tone light but calculated.
"Of course, Vivienne," Victor replied smoothly. "You deserve it. All your hard work… now it's paying off. And this partnership with B Corporation? I'll make it happen for you."
Across the lobby, Victor's smile faltered for the briefest moment. He leaned close to Vivienne, voice low. "Vivienne, that's Adrian. He's actually here."
Vivienne's eyes narrowed as she followed his gaze. "It can't be. A criminal… here, in B Corporation? It doesn't make sense. He must be looking for me."
Victor smirked. "Looking for you? Or looking to cause trouble? He survived prison, Vivienne and now I don't know. He's confident, calm… almost too calm."
Vivienne crossed her arms. "I know. That ring… that card… whatever he has, it gives him power. People don't just ignore that kind of presence.
Victor's brow furrowed. "It's insane. He doesn't belong in a place like this. He shouldn't even be allowed past security."
Vivienne shook her head. "Exactly. But look at him. He's moving through the lobby with purpose. He's not hiding and he's staring at us. He knows something or he's already decided what he's going to do."
Victor glanced at the other employees, who were now subtly giving Adrian wide space. "Everyone's noticing. Even the staff are acting differently. I've never seen them behave like this."
Vivienne leaned closer, lowering her voice. "He survived prison, Victor. He knows how to handle people. He doesn't need threats, just existing is enough to make everyone obey and me? I… I don't like it. I don't trust him. Not one bit."
Victor rubbed his chin, thinking. "We need to be careful. Don't look at him too directly. Just… observe for now. If he's here for someone else, we stay out of it. If he's here for us… well, we'll see."
Vivienne's lip curled slightly. "I can't believe this. A criminal… in our lobby… walking around like he owns the place and I… I actually feel a little afraid."
Victor glanced at her, shaking his head. "Afraid? He's not threatening you yet. Just calm down. Don't make a scene, that's the worst thing we could do."
Adrian, meanwhile, didn't speak. He observed quietly, his face neutral, almost casual. He didn't approach them. He didn't confront them. But his eyes were sharp, taking in their every reaction, noting their expressions, their tension, and the subtle movements that betrayed their unease.
Vivienne's eyes flicked to the folder in Adrian's hands. "And that folder… he's got information. Schedules, employees… maybe even our plans. He's… he's already inside our world."
Victor exhaled slowly. "Yeah and we're not supposed to know what he's thinking. That's the scary part. He could move a single piece, and everything could change."
Vivienne leaned closer to Victor again. "Do you think he's here for me? Or… or is he really here for someone else? Someone higher up?"
Victor shook his head. "I don't know. But if he's here for Evelyn Carter, then we have no choice but to watch. And we can't interfere. Not yet."
Vivienne muttered, almost to herself, "He's not the same man I knew. Not even close and he's here… right here, in the middle of our lobby. I… I can't believe it."
Victor nodded slowly, eyes fixed on Adrian. "We'll deal with this. One way or another but for now… we wait."
"No, we would approach him." Vivienne said. She dragged Victor and they both approached Adrian.
"You filthy thing. I wonder how a criminal like you had access to enter this company." She said.
"Long time no see Vivienne. " Adrian said with a smile.