Chapter 9 — Something in the Air Shifts
The next morning, Lena arrived at work with an unsettling mixture of dread and anticipation curling in her stomach. She blamed last night — the café, Adrian appearing like gravity had pulled him straight to her, the way his gaze lingered on her friends as if he was measuring the distance between them and her.
She blamed the way her skin had heated under his eyes.She blamed how she hadn't stopped thinking about it.
But she mostly blamed the fact that she'd slept terribly, replaying every moment with embarrassing detail.
The Cross Tower lobby buzzed with its usual morning energy — security scanning badges, staff rushing in heels and suits, coffee cups everywhere. Lena inhaled sharply. It should have felt normal.
It didn't.
Something in the air felt… tuned. Like the building itself was waiting.
She shook her head and hurried toward the elevators.
Inside, two assistants were whispering. They didn't even register her presence at first.
"I heard the invitation list dropped last night," one said.
"Yeah, and you know the rule — no one enters without a plus-one."
A gala?Lena's interest pricked.
"Who do you think Mr. Cross will bring?" the other whispered.
"He doesn't bring anyone. He hates galas."
"Sure, but he can't show up alone this time. The investors want to meet whoever he's 'connected' to." The woman used air quotes. "They're probably hoping he finally settles down."
The first assistant snorted. "Adrian Cross? Settle? That man barely speaks to people."
"That's what makes it interesting. If he brings someone… she'll have to be special."
Lena looked straight ahead, pretending she wasn't eavesdropping.Her heart thudded way too loudly.Ridiculous. There was no universe in which Adrian Cross would bring her anywhere outside work.
Still… last night—
She cut the thought. No. Don't be delusional.
When the elevator opened, Lena practically escaped.
Her department felt normal, at least — typing, phones ringing, printers humming. Familiar noise. Calmer noise. She slipped into the rhythm of tasks: sorting data sheets, arranging schedule updates, organizing project files for Adrian's afternoon review.
Except…
Every so often, her eyes drifted to the glass wall of his office across the floor.
He wasn't there.But she kept looking.She hated that she kept looking.
Around noon, she fetched a stack of reports from the printing room. As she rounded the corner, she collided with someone.
"Whoa!"
Papers scattered everywhere.
Lena knelt instantly. "I'm so sorry—"
"It's fine," Mira said, crouching with her. "I was looking for you."
Lena blinked. "What are you doing here?"
"Harper insisted we bring you lunch," Mira said dryly. "She also insisted I be the one to deliver it because she's convinced she'd get arrested for flirting with your boss by accident."
Lena groaned. "She absolutely would."
They gathered the papers, Mira handing the stack back. "You look tense. More than usual."
"It's just… work," Lena said too quickly.
Mira's eyes narrowed. "Work being… Adrian Cross."
Lena didn't respond.
Which was apparently answer enough.
Mira's voice softened. "Did something else happen after he showed up last night?"
"No," Lena said. "He just… greeted us."
Mira tilted her head. "And stared at you like you hung the moon."
Lena's cheeks warmed. "He did not."
"He did," Mira deadpanned. "Harper thinks he wants to kidnap you. I think he wants to claim you. Either way, you're doomed."
Lena buried her face in her hands. "Can we please not do this here?"
Mira smirked. "Fine. Eat your lunch. Text us later. And… Lena?"
"Mm?"
"Be careful. Men with instincts like his don't stay indifferent."
A shiver ran down Lena's spine.
Mira left, pausing only once to throw a glance toward Adrian's office as if she sensed something.
Lena watched her go, uneasy.
The rest of the afternoon dragged. Adrian still hadn't come in, which should have been a relief.
It wasn't.
His absence felt louder than his presence.
Her pulse kept jumping every time she sensed movement behind her — even though it was never him. She tried to focus on the spreadsheet in front of her. Tried to breathe normally. Tried to stop replaying the way he'd said good last night like it meant more than approval.
Eventually, she gave up focusing and walked to the break room to refill her water.
A low murmur of voices drifted down the hall.
"Did you see the security update?"
"Mr. Cross came in through the back entrance. He didn't want the lobby cameras active."
Lena froze.
"He looked… different today."
"Different how?"
"On edge. His eyes were— I don't know. Sharper."
"Maybe it's the gala. He hates crowds."
Lena's stomach tightened.
He was here.
She hadn't even sensed him the way she normally did. That bothered her more than it should have.
She returned to her desk, heart thudding, trying not to look up.
But she felt it.A presence.A pull.
Her pulse skipped.
When she finally lifted her gaze—
Adrian Cross stood at the glass wall of his office.
Watching her.
She sucked in a breath.He didn't move.Didn't look away.
His expression was unreadable, but something about him seemed wound tighter than usual — like all his focus was sharpened into one point.
Her.
Her skin tingled under the intensity of it.
He lifted one finger.
Motioned her forward.
Her heart stumbled.
She rose slowly, legs feeling too light and too heavy at the same time. Every step toward him felt like stepping into something inevitable.
She reached the doorway.
He didn't speak right away. Just watched her, gaze dropping to her hands, her face, then back to her eyes — like he was searching for something.
Finally, his voice cut through the silence.
Low. Controlled.
"Miss Hart," he said."A moment. In my office."
Her breath hitched.
Everything was about to change.