The morning after the outing, Cindy knew something was wrong the moment she stepped into the office.
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't obvious.
It was quiet—too quiet.
As she walked past the reception area, conversations died abruptly. Laughter stopped. People lowered their voices or pretended to be busy. Cindy felt eyes on her back, measuring, judging. She kept her expression neutral and continued walking, refusing to acknowledge the tension tightening around her.
By the time she reached her office, it was clear.
I'm the topic today, she realized. Maybe even for the rest of the week.
The mall outing with Adrian had followed her back to the office, dragging consequences behind it.
Later that morning, Cindy went downstairs to receive an order delivered to her name. As she walked past a group of staff, someone deliberately stepped on her foot. The pain was sharp and sudden.
"Ouch!" Cindy cried out instinctively.
She turned, expecting an apology, but the staff member didn't even look back. They walked away as if nothing had happened.
"Excuse me—" Cindy called after them, but her words fell on deaf ears.
That was when fear crept in—not loud, not dramatic, but cold and steady.
I'm not welcome anymore, she thought.
As she turned back toward the stairs, she overheard Flora's voice nearby, dripping with quiet contempt.
"Some people think the boss will marry them," Flora said to another staff member. "The way they hover around him like pests."
Cindy felt the words like a slap.
She didn't respond. She didn't look back. She walked past them and returned to her office, her hands trembling just slightly as she closed the door behind her.
Why would she say that to me? Cindy wondered. I've done nothing wrong. I've crossed no lines.
But rumors didn't need truth. They only needed proximity.
Flora, clearly satisfied that Cindy was unsettled, decided to apply pressure where it hurt most—work. By midday, she dropped a stack of files on Cindy's desk.
"These need to be completed before close of business," Flora said coolly. "All of them."
Cindy stared at the pile, her heart sinking. It was far more than her usual workload, but she said nothing.
"Yes, ma'am," she replied calmly.
As the hours passed, the pressure mounted. Cindy worked relentlessly, barely lifting her head. Her fingers ached. Her eyes burned. In the rush, she made a small mistake—a single typo—in a document Adrian had assigned her.
When Adrian noticed, he called her in.
"Cindy," he said gently, "this is unlike you. What happened?"
"I'm sorry, sir," she said quickly. "I had a lot of work to finish before closing, and tomorrow is the weekend."
Adrian studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Just be careful next time."
"Yes, sir," she replied, relieved.
As the day went on, Adrian began to notice things he hadn't before—how staff spoke to Cindy curtly, how people avoided her, how conversations stopped when she entered a room. He heard whispers, fragments of gossip with no clear source, but he understood the reason.
It was him.
And instead of stepping back, Adrian stepped closer.
He made sure Cindy was included in discussions. He checked in on her work more frequently. His presence around her was protective—but it also drew more attention.
Later in the afternoon, Adrian called her into his office.
"Cindy," he asked calmly, "are you facing any difficulties here?"
"No, sir," she replied with a polite smile.
Inside, her thoughts screamed. I can't complain. I've done nothing wrong.
Adrian knew she was lying.
He stood up and walked closer, lowering his voice. "You're safe here," he said. "If anything concerns work, you should tell me. You understand how I operate better than anyone."
His closeness made Cindy's breath hitch.
She felt relieved—and trapped—all at once.
By closing time, the office had nearly emptied. Cindy checked her phone and froze.
Unknown Number:
Stay away from my man. I see you hovering around him lately. I will deal with you if I see you close to him again.
Her heart slammed against her chest.
She looked around. The office was nearly empty—only her and Adrian remained.
Fear wrapped around her like a vice.
She gathered her things quickly and ordered a ride. When Adrian offered to drop her off, she declined with a hurried excuse.
He watched her leave, unaware that danger had just entered her world.
And Cindy knew—this was only the beginning.