Lina didn't remember how she left Adrian's office.
Her mind was still echoing with his words.
I've spent ten years trying to find you.
The sentence followed her all the way down the elevator.
Ten years.
That was impossible.
It had to be a lie.
Adrian Kade was a powerful CEO. A man with companies, investors, and an entire corporate empire to run.
Why would someone like him spend ten years searching for a woman he met once?
None of it made sense.
The elevator doors opened with a soft ding.
Lina stepped into the accounting department, but something immediately felt different.
People were staring.
Whispers filled the room.
Her coworker Sarah rushed toward her.
"Lina!"
"What?"
"What did you do?"
Lina frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Sarah lowered her voice.
"The entire office is talking about you."
"Talking about me why?"
Sarah leaned closer.
"They say the new CEO personally transferred you to his office."
Lina sighed.
"It's not what you think."
But Sarah's eyes were already wide with excitement.
"Oh my God, Lina… do you know what this means?"
"It means more work."
"It means the CEO noticed you!"
Lina shook her head.
"That's not a good thing."
Before Sarah could reply, the office suddenly went quiet.
Completely silent.
Lina turned.
A woman had just entered the department.
She was tall.
Elegant.
Dressed in an expensive red dress that made her stand out immediately.
Her heels clicked confidently against the floor as she walked forward.
Everyone in the office straightened instantly.
Some employees even lowered their heads slightly in respect.
Lina whispered to Sarah.
"Who is that?"
Sarah looked nervous.
"That's Vanessa Kade."
Lina blinked.
"Kade?"
"Yes."
Sarah swallowed.
"She's the vice president of the company… and Adrian Kade's closest partner."
Vanessa's sharp eyes scanned the room.
They stopped on Lina.
Then she smiled.
But it wasn't a friendly smile.
It was cold.
Calculating.
"Miss Lina Moyo."
Lina felt her stomach tighten.
"Yes?"
Vanessa walked closer slowly.
Her heels echoed loudly in the quiet office.
"I've heard quite a bit about you today."
Lina kept her expression calm.
"I'm not sure why."
Vanessa tilted her head slightly.
"Really?"
Her eyes moved briefly over Lina's simple clothes.
Her modest desk.
Her inexpensive shoes.
The look of subtle judgment was obvious.
"Because the CEO rarely shows interest in employees from… lower departments."
Several coworkers shifted awkwardly.
The insult was clear.
Lina felt heat rise to her face but kept her voice steady.
"I'm simply doing my job."
Vanessa chuckled softly.
"That's adorable."
She leaned slightly closer.
"Let me give you some advice."
Lina said nothing.
Vanessa's voice dropped into a quiet whisper.
"Men like Adrian enjoy entertainment sometimes."
Lina frowned.
"I don't know what you mean."
Vanessa's smile widened.
"Oh, you do."
Her eyes hardened.
"But understand something clearly."
Her voice was no longer friendly.
"You are not the type of woman who belongs in his world."
The entire office was frozen.
No one dared speak.
Lina lifted her chin.
"With respect, I didn't ask to be transferred."
Vanessa laughed again.
"You expect me to believe that?"
Her eyes became sharper.
"Girls like you are everywhere."
Lina's hands clenched slightly.
"What do you mean by that?"
Vanessa leaned closer so only Lina could hear.
"Poor girls."
"Ambitious girls."
"Girls who think sleeping their way to the top will change their lives."
The insult hit like a slap.
Several employees gasped quietly.
Lina's voice was colder now.
"You're mistaken."
Vanessa straightened again.
"Am I?"
Her eyes scanned Lina one more time.
"You should be careful, Miss Moyo."
Her smile returned.
"Because Adrian Kade is not a man you can trap."
Lina's patience finally broke.
"I'm not trying to trap anyone."
Vanessa's expression darkened slightly.
"Oh?"
Then suddenly—
SLAP.
The sound echoed through the entire office.
Lina staggered slightly as Vanessa's hand struck her face.
The room fell into stunned silence.
Lina slowly touched her cheek.
Her heart was racing.
Vanessa spoke calmly, as if nothing unusual had happened.
"That was for lying."
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Everyone was too afraid to interfere.
But then a cold voice broke the silence.
A voice that made the entire room freeze.
"Interesting."
Vanessa stiffened.
Slowly… everyone turned toward the entrance.
Adrian Kade stood there.
His expression was unreadable.
His eyes moved slowly from Vanessa…
…to Lina.
And the temperature in the room suddenly felt ten degrees colder.
Adrian's voice was calm.
But terrifyingly calm.
"Vanessa."
She forced a small smile.
"Adrian, I was just handling a small situation."
Adrian's gaze dropped to Lina's cheek.
The faint red mark from the slap was still visible.
Silence filled the office.
Then Adrian spoke again.
And the words he said made everyone in the room hold their breath.
"Who gave you permission…"
"…to touch my woman?"