Chapter 12: A Warning Wrapped in Silk

Lena’s pulse roared in her ears as Victoria stepped into the room, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. The sound felt intentional — like each step was designed to remind Lena who truly belonged in Alexander Knight’s world… and who didn’t.

Victoria held a file in her manicured hand, her expression smooth and unreadable. But her eyes… her eyes were sharp, assessing, and far too curious.

“Here,” Victoria said sweetly, handing Alexander the document. “I need your signature on this before the afternoon meeting. It’s urgent.”

Alexander nodded, carefully maintaining his calm. “Leave it on the desk.”

She did — but not before standing a bit too close, leaning in with a familiarity that made Lena’s stomach twist. Victoria’s perfume filled the room, sharp and expensive, wrapping around them like a silent challenge.

Lena tried to step back, but she knew Victoria had already seen too much.

Victoria’s gaze flicked to her again. “Lena, right? You look pale. Are you feeling okay?”

Lena swallowed. “I’m fine.”

Victoria’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Good. We wouldn’t want any… misunderstandings around here.”

Alexander stiffened.

Lena felt the blood drain from her face. What did she know? What exactly had she seen?

Victoria finally turned toward Alexander. “We’ll speak later.”

Her tone carried a hidden meaning — one she didn’t bother explaining. She glided out of the office, closing the door with a soft but loaded click.

Silence.

A deep, heavy silence that pressed against Lena’s chest like a weight.

Alexander let out a slow breath. “Don’t let her bother you.”

Lena’s lips tightened. “She knows something. I saw it in her face.”

“She suspects,” he corrected quietly. “But she doesn’t know.”

“That’s the same thing,” Lena whispered. “And you said yourself — someone is watching.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, frustration clear in his expression. “I told you this would be complicated. Victoria likes to think she controls everything in this building. She’s always looking for leverage.”

“So I’m leverage?” The words slipped out sharper than she intended.

His head snapped up. “No. Lena, don’t ever think that.”

She crossed her arms, more to hold herself together than anything. “Then what am I in all of this? Because yesterday, I was ‘the person you couldn’t stop thinking about.’ And today, I’m someone you can’t be seen standing next to.”

His jaw clenched. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like?”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “It’s dangerous. Everything between us is dangerous. And you know that.”

Lena hated that he was right. She hated the fear building inside her chest even more.

“What did the note say?” she asked quietly.

Alexander hesitated. For a moment, she thought he wouldn’t answer.

Then he opened the drawer and handed her a folded piece of paper.

Her fingers trembled as she unfolded it.

A short sentence, typed, cut from somewhere and pasted neatly:

“Watch your assistant. She’s getting too close.”

A chill ran through her.

“This is why I need to be careful,” Alexander said softly. “Not because I regret anything — I don’t — but because people twist what they can’t have.”

Lena closed her eyes. “And if they twist this… I’ll be the one blamed.”

His silence confirmed everything she feared.

He reached for her hand, but she pulled back instinctively.

Alexander froze, pain flickering across his face.

“I’m not pulling away from you,” she whispered shakily. “I’m scared.”

He stepped closer. “Then let me protect you.”

“I don’t know if you can,” she said, her voice breaking. “Not from rumors. Not from jealousy. Not from someone like her.”

Alexander cupped her cheek gently, his thumb brushing her skin. “I will. I swear it.”

Before she could speak, footsteps passed outside the door — slow, lingering, listening.

Both of them went still.

The footsteps paused. Then moved on.

Alexander exhaled. “This is getting worse.”

Lena nodded, her voice barely a breath. “Yes. Because secrets never stay hidden forever.”

His eyes met hers, full of determination and something dangerously close to devotion.

“Then we’ll face whatever comes next,” Alexander said, “together.”

But as the door creaked slightly from the draft, Lena couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had heard everything — and their world was about to change.