Chapter 25: Shadows at the Door

Lena woke in the middle of the night to a soft sound — not loud, not alarming, but enough to pull her from sleep.

A faint click…

then a whisper of movement in the hallway.

Her heart thudded.

For a moment, she didn’t know where she was. The room was large, dimly lit by the city lights leaking through the window. The sheets were soft, the bed too big. Then she remembered:

Alexander’s penthouse.

She’d fallen asleep on the couch… and he must have carried her to the guest room.

She sat up, listening.

There it was again.

A tap.

Then another.

She slipped out of bed and crept to the door. When she opened it, she saw Alexander — barefoot, in sweatpants and a black T-shirt — walking toward the front entrance with a gun in his hand.

Lena gasped softly. “A-Alex?”

He turned sharply, pressing a finger to his lips.

She froze.

He approached the door silently, checked the peephole, then unlocked the screen latch — but not the main one. Slowly, carefully, he cracked it open just a few centimeters.

Lena held her breath.

A folded piece of paper slid through the gap and dropped at his feet.

No footsteps.

No shadow moving down the hall.

As if the messenger had vanished into thin air.

Alexander shut the door hard, locking all three bolts again.

He bent down and picked up the paper. His jaw clenched as he unfolded it.

“Alex?” Lena whispered. “What is it?”

He didn’t answer at first. His breathing changed — deeper, harsher — like he was holding back pure rage.

He handed the paper to her.

Her hands shook as she read the message:

“YOU CAN’T PROTECT HER FOREVER.”

Her stomach twisted violently. “They know where you live. They came here.”

Alexander put the paper down with slow, deadly calm. “Yes.”

Her voice trembled. “How did they get past the front desk? The elevator? The security system?”

Alexander exhaled like he hated the answer. “Because whoever did this knows this building.”

Her breath stalled. “Knows… you?”

“Yes.”

Lena backed up, panic rising. “Alex, who the hell did you anger enough for this? What did you do?”

It was the first time she had raised her voice to him.

Alexander rubbed a hand over his face. Tension rolled through his body like he was fighting with himself.

“You want the truth?” he said quietly.

“Yes,” she whispered.

He turned away, walking to the window. The night city lights illuminated only half of his face, leaving the other in shadow.

“I wasn’t always the CEO. I wasn’t always… careful.” His voice was low, almost hollow. “I played a different game once. The ugly side of business. I made deals with the wrong people. I broke alliances. I won battles that made others lose everything. I was ruthless.”

Lena stared at him. She knew he was powerful. Confident. Sharp.

But this?

This was something darker.

“Alex…” she whispered, unsure whether she was afraid for him or of what she was hearing.

He continued without turning around.

“One of those people — someone powerful, someone with influence — swore they’d destroy me. Not by firing me. Not by taking the company.” He swallowed. “By taking something I cared about.”

Lena felt the blood drain from her face. “And now you care about me.”

Alexander turned suddenly, eyes fierce and raw. “Yes. I care about you. Too much.”

Her breath hitched.

He continued, voice breaking. “And when they realized that… you became the easiest way to hurt me.”

Lena’s pulse echoed in her ears. “But who? Who is doing this?”

Alexander hesitated — and that hesitation terrified her.

“His name is Marcus Hale,” Alexander finally said. “He used to be on the Board. He and I built this company together. Then we turned into enemies.”

“Hale…” Lena repeated slowly. “Detective Hale?”

“No,” he said quickly. “Different person. Same last name. Marcus is… more dangerous.”

Lena stepped closer, fear and anger tangled inside her chest. “Alex… if he’s that dangerous, why didn’t you tell the police?”

“Because there’s no proof,” Alexander said. “Marcus never leaves evidence. And if I accuse him without something solid? He’ll strike harder.”

Lena’s hands tightened into fists. “So what do we do?”

Alexander moved toward her with slow, determined steps. He cupped her face gently, his thumbs brushing her cheeks.

“We stay together,” he murmured. “We stay alert. You don’t go anywhere alone. And no matter what they try next…” His voice dropped into something fierce and protective. “I won’t let them take you from me.”

Her breath trembled. “Alex…”

Their faces were inches apart — their fear, their anger, their longing all clashing inside the same tiny space between them.

Suddenly, a loud buzz echoed from the penthouse door.

Both of them froze.

The intercom lit up.

A distorted voice spoke through the speaker.

“Alexander Knight.

We need to talk.”

Lena’s blood turned to ice.

Alexander’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

He pressed the speaker button.

“Who is this?” he demanded.

The voice answered, calm and cold:

“Marcus Hale.”