Fractured Compusure

Adrian sat in his dimly lit home office, a tumbler of whiskey resting on the desk beside him. The glow of his laptop screen illuminated his sharp features, but his focus wasn’t on the financial reports in front of him. His mind was elsewhere—still trapped in the past, in Elena’s eyes, in the emotions he wasn’t supposed to feel anymore.

A soft knock on the door pulled him back.

"Come in," he said, his voice steady, betraying nothing.

Victoria stepped inside, her posture as composed as ever, but her gaze flickered briefly to the untouched whiskey glass. She knew Adrian too well. This wasn’t just an ordinary night.

“I wanted to go over your schedule for tomorrow,” she said, keeping her tone neutral. She set her tablet down, scrolling through the agenda. "You have an early call with the Tokyo office at eight, a board meeting at ten, and—"

She hesitated.

Adrian leaned back in his chair, sensing it immediately. "And?"

Victoria glanced at him, debating whether to continue. "There’s a charity gala in the evening," she said carefully. "Elena will be attending."

Adrian’s grip on his glass tightened, but his expression remained unreadable.

"Noted." His voice was clipped, impassive.

Victoria wasn’t fooled. She had worked for him long enough to recognize the subtle shifts in his demeanor. His knuckles were white against the crystal glass, his jaw locked.

"You don’t have to go," she offered after a moment.

Adrian exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Avoiding her would make it worse."

Victoria nodded slowly, watching him. "Then let me make the necessary arrangements. Would you like me to be your plus one?"

Adrian glanced at her, a ghost of a smirk on his lips. "Are you offering to shield me, Victoria?"

She met his gaze without hesitation. "I’m offering to make sure you don’t spiral over a woman who walked away."

The words hit harder than he expected. For a second, something flickered in his expression—something almost vulnerable—but he quickly masked it.

He set the glass down, pushing away from the desk. “I don’t need shielding.”

“No?” Victoria arched a brow. “Then why haven’t you taken a sip of that whiskey?”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. He hadn’t even realized it.

Silence stretched between them.

Victoria sighed, softening just a fraction. “You’ve built this empire, Adrian. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone. Not even her.”

Adrian exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair. "I appreciate the concern, Victoria, but I’ll handle it."

She watched him for a moment, as if weighing whether to push further. Then, with a quiet nod, she straightened. “I’ll confirm your attendance and have everything arranged.”

He nodded, already looking away. But before she reached the door, his voice stopped her.

"Victoria."

She paused.

"Thank you."

For a second, something unreadable crossed her expression. But she simply nodded and walked out, leaving Adrian alone with his thoughts, the weight of Elena’s presence still lingering in the air.