CHAPTER 3 — WHISPERS IN THE SHADOWS
Ariel's first official day at Thorne Industries felt like stepping into a world built for people far more polished and powerful than her. The elevator ride to the executive floor was quiet—too quiet. Even the background music sounded expensive.
Her palms were sweating.
She kept replaying Kade's words in her head:
"I don't believe last night was an accident."
"You're already involved."
What did that even mean?
When the elevator doors opened, Morgan was already waiting for her, tablet in hand and expression cool and unreadable.
"You're on time," Morgan said, almost surprised. "Good. Follow me."
The assistant area outside Kade's office was sleek—glass walls, dark wood, silver accents. Everything was perfectly placed. Everything felt watched.
"This will be your desk," Morgan said. "You handle scheduling, screening calls, and filtering anyone who insists they have business with Mr. Blackwood."
Ariel nodded nervously.
Morgan studied her. "Do exactly as he says, and never go anywhere in this building without your badge."
"Why?" Ariel asked.
Morgan hesitated.
"Because people will think you know things. Things you don't."
That didn't help her nerves at all.
Kade arrived exactly at nine.
No footsteps. No sound.
He just appeared—like the room shifted and made space for him.
"Good morning," Ariel said quickly.
He nodded once in acknowledgement. "My schedule?"
Ariel handed him the printed list, hoping her shaking fingers weren't too obvious.
He skimmed it in seconds. "Efficient."
Her cheeks warmed. "Thanks. I tried."
"You'll do more than try," he said simply. "Come with me."
They walked to a small conference room. Inside, a stack of documents waited on the table.
"Start with this," he instructed. "Internal emails flagged as unusual. Delete anything that isn't important and forward the rest to me."
Ariel frowned. "Unusual how?"
"Wrong tone. Wrong timing. Wrong sender. Suspicious patterns," he said. "Most people don't notice them. But you will."
Because apparently he believed she had instincts she didn't know she possessed.
Ariel sat and began working. The emails were strange indeed—anonymous tips, weirdly phrased warnings, and multiple requests for meetings with Kade without names attached.
One email made her pause:
You should've died that night, Kade.
Next time, I won't miss.
Her throat tightened.
This wasn't harassment.
It was a threat.
She forwarded it to Kade and stood, intending to bring it to him directly.
But the moment she stepped into the hallway—
The lights flickered.
A buzzing sound cut through the silence.
Then everything went dark.
Her heart pounded.
"Hello?" she whispered.
No response.
The emergency lights kicked in, casting a red glow along the corridor. Ariel forced herself forward, but halfway down the hall—
She heard footsteps.
Slow. Heavy. Wrong.
She backed up instinctively.
"Who's there?" she called, hoping her voice didn't shake as badly as she felt.
The footsteps stopped. For a moment, the hallway was dead silent.
Then a whisper drifted through the dark:
"His love was a lie…
You should stay away from him."
Ariel's limbs froze.
Her breathing hitched.
"Who's there?" she whispered again.
The voice didn't answer. Instead, the shadowy figure moved, slipping out of sight behind a corner.
Ariel stumbled backward, almost tripping as she rushed toward the emergency exit sign glowing red.
Just as she reached the door—
Strong hands caught her shoulders.
She gasped.
"Ariel!"
It was Kade.
Relief crashed over her so hard her knees nearly gave out.
He steadied her. "You're shaking. What happened?"
"The lights went out," she breathed. "There was someone in the hallway. They said—" She swallowed, chest heaving. "They said your love was a lie. And that I should stay away from you."
Kade's jaw clenched so tightly she heard the crack.
"Did you see their face?"
"No. Just… a shape. A voice."
He exhaled slowly, guiding her toward the lit area near his office. "You're not hurt?"
"No," she whispered. "Just… scared."
His expression hardened. Not angry. Not shocked.
More like confirmation.
"Then I was right," he muttered.
"About what?" she asked.
He looked at her then—really looked. It wasn't the cool, controlled expression he wore like a shield. This was deeper. Sharper.
"There's someone inside this company," he said quietly, "trying to destroy me. Someone who knows exactly how to strike."
Ariel's heartbeat thumped in her ears.
"And saving you last night…" he continued, "…may have put you in their path."
He stared at her with a mixture of guilt and determination.
"You're not safe, Ariel."
Her breath caught.
"Why me?"
"Because," he said, voice low and unyielding, "they think you matter to me."
Her stomach flipped—not with romance, but with dread.
"They're wrong," he added quickly, his voice turning cold again. "You're my employee. Nothing more."
But something in his eyes said otherwise—
Not love.
Not affection.
Fear.
Fear of what might happen next.
The lights returned. Staff rushed around, murmuring about a "technical glitch," but Ariel knew better.
Someone had used the blackout as a message.
And the message was for her.
Kade walked her back to her desk, but just as she sat down, he leaned in close enough that only she could hear him.
"From now on," he said quietly, "you don
't walk anywhere alone. Not in this building. Not outside it."
Ariel swallowed hard.
This was no longer about a job.
She was already in danger—
and she didn't even know why.