"What the actual fuck?" was what I thought first when I saw him.

None of us said anything for a while. I kept staring at him and him at me. The air around us thick with tension. He was panting. His hair wasn't set in that usual perfect style. It's like he ran here or something.

The silence was broken by the sound of Peyton's whistle. "If this ain't Mr. young flexer from the tabloids! Here to check on your damsel in distress?" I could hear the smirk in her voice.

I sighed. "Peyton, please-"

"What happened?" His voice had cut in like a thunder out of nowhere. No, he wasn't yelling. It was just a normal question. But he somehow made it sound like I was obliged to answer.

Either that or my meds were just too powerful and I was hearing stuff.  

"Home girl here got stabbed by some junkie apparently." Peyton patted on my hands. "But don't worry, she'll live. Although I'm not sure why you should be worried. I'm not even sure why you're here in the first place." She raised her eyebrows in confusion at me.

But I was busy silently thanking her for the save. I wasn't sure how to explain it to him. 

"Could you give us a minute, Peyton, is it?" He sighed while grabbing a chair.

"It's Ms. Henley for you." Peyton flipped her hair with eternal sass and turned to me. "If he's trying to pull something, just hollar, Okay?" 

She squinted her eyes at Jadon. "You better not try something." Then she walked out of the room.

Jadon sighed. "How did this happen, Adara?"

"It was late. I was alone. The alley was dark and quiet. You do the math." I looked straight in his eyes. My god, his eyes.

They stared at me so.... calmly. Like he was supposed to do that. Like his eyes were meant to analyze me, it was simple as that. But what I felt like inside though, wasn't so simple.

"What are you doing here?" I asked to break the awkwardness.

"Ah." He leaned back in his chair. "I'm not supposed to be here. I was almost on a plane to Hong Kong. But then I.... was informed of this little situation here." He  slightly tilted his head towards me.

"Thanks to someone's carelessness I missed-"

"Who told you this?" I didn't let him finish.

"Well, I have my ways." He avoided my gaze to look around the room. "When can you leave-"

"Are you tailing me?" I cut him off for the second time. 

He stayed quite for a while. "Knowing you, you won't shut up until I tell you." 

Then he met my eyes. "Yes, I am. It's not as bad as it sounds, but I got my people watching you." Again, that tone. Like it's no biggie spying on someone.

I was speechless, to say the least. I was so baffled, so among all the questions I wanted to ask, this one popped out first.

"Why?" I whispered.

"Work for me." He rested his elbows on his knees. His brown eyes piercing but magnetic.

Huh. He's stalking me then he's asking me to work for him. Man, these drugs sure are heavy.

"Funny." I scoffed. "Next."

"I'm serious, Adara." The lines on his face hardened. "I want you to work for me."

"Listen, I don't even-"

"Think about it. It'll be a nice change for you, the pay is double and it'll be closer to your apartment."

"You know where I live?!" I widened my eyes and almost sat up but winced. The stitches.

"Shit." I cursed out.

Jadon hurried to my side. "Adara, relax." He gently pushed my shoulders to help me lie back down.

"Just give it a thought. Don't stress it. I'll get going now." He gives me a small smile.

I think I choked a little.

"Rest up." He moved a strand hair from my cheek and gently tapped on my nose.

Oh my god, stop it .

Then he left the room, leaving behind his captivating scent.

************************
"You should report him, Adara. This is getting out of hand." Peyton said while helping me get into bed.

I sighed. "You know why I can't."

Peyton gives me an aggravated look. "When was the last time you even saw your mother? Are you completely sure he isn't bluffing just to get the money out of you?!"

I didn't know what to say because deep down I knew she was right. I can't know that he didn't.... hurt mom already. But that's just how it's going to be.

Peyton probably sensed my discomfort and changed the subject.

"What did lover boy want?"

I sighed in relief. "Yes, I wanted to talk to you about that." I closed my eyes.

"He wants me... To work for him."

Silence.

"Come again?" I opened my eyes to find her jaws practically on the floor.

"You were asked to WORK FOR THE ARMSDEN LTD BY THE ARMSDEN HIMSELF?!" Her voice gradually got louder.

I winced. God, what a drama queen.

"You mean where you and I have been dying to get in but later settled for the second best cause we have the shittiest luck?? You mean where you'll be paid double the amount you do now?? You mean adding a gold star to your résumé??"

"Pey, hold your horses, that's the one I'm talking about." I rolled my eyes.

"Did you say yes?"

I exhaled. "I...I kinda need to talk to Mr Alvarez about that. I mean, I can't just leave, you know?"

"Why can't you?" She sounded confused. "You have every right to resign if you see a better opportunity somewhere else. He works you like a pig."

"Hey, I love my job, okay?" I scoffed. "I don't know, Peyton. I'll ask him first and see what he thinks."

"Besides, something doesn't feel right here. I have the feeling that Jadon is cooking something. I didn't even know how the man looked like before he started stalking me. Now, he wants me in his company. I just want to find out more. That's okay, right?" I looked up at her.

"Fine. But for once in your life, Ada, put yourself first." She smiled while patting my cheeks.

And I nodded. I'll try. I have to.

*******************************

"Good morning, Mr Alvarez." I said while entering his office.

I didn't like what I saw though.

His phone phone was on the floor, shattered. And he was holding a glass of scotch. Drinking in the morning can never be good.

"You're here." His voice was grim. Giving away his anger.

"What's wrong, sir?" I carefully asked while making my way to him, behind his desk.

He finished his drink in one gulp and threw the glass on the floor.

"That fucker!" He cursed out. "He..he wants to take everything away from me." He yelled.

"Who? What? Ethan, talk to me so I can understand, please." I stepped a little closer.

But then he stood up and turned his back to me. "The Armsden Ltd now owns 40% share of this company."

Alright, what the fuck?!

"Sir, how-"

"That's exactly my question, Adara." He turned and slowly walked to me.

"I don't know what to do." He said in a low voice and my heart squeezed.

He sounded... defeated. I never heard that tone from him.

"Ethan." I grabbed both of his biceps. "I don't know how it happened, but we can work it out. Together. Okay?" I met his eyes.

He looked up, his expression giving away his feelings. "Thank you. For being here. I don't know what I'd do without you."

My stomach churned. Not a really good time to tell him about the job change. He needs me now and I can't just leave him. That's not me.

But it was now clearer to me exactly what Jadon's intentions were.

"Of course, sir." I smiled at him. "Should we get back to work?" I let go of him and stepped back.

He took a deep breath and nodded.

Just like that, I completely lost myself in between files, forgetting about Jadon.

That slimey little piece of shit.

*****************************

A/N :

Hi, lovely people, I hope you are safe and sound. Thanks for reading. ❤️❤️❤️

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