Chapter 4: Terms and Conditions

I didn’t breathe properly until I was out of his office.

Even then, it wasn’t relief.

It was awareness.

Sharp. Unsettling. Constant.

“You look like you’ve just seen something you weren’t supposed to.”

I turned slightly.

Adrian.

He was standing a few steps away, watching me with the same calm, unreadable expression he had earlier. Like nothing about this situation surprised him.

Like he had seen it before.

“I’m fine,” I said.

He didn’t respond immediately.

Just held my gaze for a second longer than necessary.

Then, “Follow me.”

Not unfriendly.

Not warm either.

Just… direct.

I fell into step beside him, my heels echoing softly against the polished floor as we walked down the hallway.

“You’ve worked with him long?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“Yes.”

That was it.

No elaboration.

I glanced at him. “And?”

“And what?”

I hesitated. “Is he always like that?”

Adrian didn’t look at me this time.

“He’s consistent.”

That wasn’t helpful.

“If you’re asking whether he’s difficult,” he added calmly, “that depends.”

“On what?”

“On you.”

I frowned slightly.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“It will.”

Something about the way he said it made me uneasy.

Like there was more to it.

Like I was already part of something I didn’t fully understand yet.

We stopped in front of a glass office space.

“This is yours,” he said.

Mine.

The word felt bigger than it should.

I stepped inside slowly, taking in the space.

Clean. Minimal. Organized.

A desk. A chair. A screen already set up.

It wasn’t extravagant.

But it was more than I expected.

“You’ll be assisting on a number of ongoing projects,” Adrian continued. “Your role requires discretion, accuracy, and efficiency.”

“I understand.”

“You’ll receive assignments directly from me.”

Not Ethan.

That was interesting.

“And him?” I asked before I could stop myself.

Adrian finally looked at me.

“You’ll deal with him when necessary.”

Something about that answer didn’t sit right.

“When necessary?”

“Yes.”

“That sounds… vague.”

“It’s intentional.”

Of course it was.

Everything here felt intentional.

Controlled.

Structured in a way that didn’t leave room for mistakes.

Or surprises.

“Any questions?” Adrian asked.

A hundred.

But I chose one.

“Why me?”

His expression didn’t change.

“You were selected based on merit.”

“That’s the official answer.”

“It’s the only one that matters.”

I held his gaze for a second longer, trying to read something—anything.

But there was nothing to read.

Just calm.

Controlled neutrality.

“Get started,” he said, turning away.

And just like that—

I was alone.

The work helped.

For a while.

Numbers. Reports. Data.

Things that made sense.

Things that didn’t look at me like they already knew something I didn’t.

I focused on it.

On proving that I deserved to be here.

That whatever this situation was—

I could handle it.

But it didn’t last.

Because even without him in the room—

I could feel it.

That awareness.

That pressure.

Like at any moment—

I would be called back in.

And I wouldn’t be ready.

“Ava.”

I looked up.

Adrian stood by the door.

“You’re needed.”

Of course I was.

I stood, smoothing down my outfit slightly.

“For what?”

“You’ll see.”

Not helpful.

Again.

The walk back to Ethan’s office felt shorter this time.

Or maybe I was just more aware of every step.

Adrian stopped at the door but didn’t open it.

“Go in,” he said.

“You’re not coming?”

“No.”

That didn’t help my nerves.

Still, I knocked lightly.

“Come in.”

That voice again.

Calm.

Controlled.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Ethan didn’t look up immediately.

He was seated at his desk, reviewing something, completely focused.

For a second, I just stood there.

Watching.

Because this version of him—

Quiet. Intent. Unbothered—

Felt different.

Less overwhelming.

More… dangerous.

Because it was real.

Not performative.

“Close the door,” he said without looking up.

I did.

Then waited.

A few seconds passed before he finally lifted his gaze.

And when he did—

It landed on me like it had earlier.

Direct.

Unfiltered.

“You’ve settled in?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Already comfortable?”

“I adapt quickly.”

“I’ve noticed.”

Something about the way he said it made me pause.

Like he wasn’t just talking about work again.

“Good,” he added. “That will make this easier.”

“Easier?” I repeated.

“For me.”

That didn’t sound right.

“What does that mean?”

He leaned back slightly, studying me.

“It means I don’t like repetition.”

I frowned. “I’m not following.”

“That’s fine,” he said. “You will.”

Again with that.

Like everything was a lesson I hadn’t caught up to yet.

“I asked you here for a reason,” he continued.

“I assumed that.”

A slight pause.

Then—

“You’re going to be working more closely with me.”

My stomach tightened slightly.

“In what capacity?”

“You’ll assist directly on a project I’m overseeing.”

I hesitated.

“Doesn’t Adrian handle that?”

“He does.”

“Then why me?”

Silence.

Then—

“Because I said so.”

The answer was simple.

Too simple.

And that was the problem.

“That’s not a reason,” I said.

“It’s the only one you need.”

There it was again.

That control.

That quiet expectation that I would just accept things.

I didn’t.

“I’d prefer clarity.”

His gaze sharpened slightly.

“And I prefer efficiency.”

We held eye contact.

Neither of us backing down.

“You’re in a position where you follow direction,” he said calmly. “Not question it.”

“I thought you said I was here because I don’t bend easily.”

A pause.

Then—

A faint shift in his expression.

Almost like satisfaction.

“I did.”

“Then let me do my job properly.”

“You are.”

“Then treat me like it.”

Silence.

Thick.

Heavy.

Different this time.

Because something had shifted.

Not just tension.

Balance.

Slight.

But real.

Then—

“Fine,” he said.

One word.

Controlled.

“You want clarity?”

“Yes.”

Another pause.

Then he leaned forward slightly.

And the look in his eyes changed.

Less distant.

More intentional.

“I want to see how long you last,” he said.

My breath caught.

“That’s not a professional reason.”

“No,” he agreed calmly. “It’s not.”

My chest tightened.

“Then why say it?”

“Because it’s honest.”

Honest.

That word shouldn’t have felt as dangerous as it did.

“You’re not like the others here,” he continued. “And that makes you unpredictable.”

“And that bothers you?”

“It interests me.”

That was worse.

Much worse.

I straightened slightly. “I’m here to work. Not to be… studied.”

“Everything here is observed.”

“I’m not everything.”

A small pause.

Then—

“No,” he said quietly. “You’re not.”

Something in the way he said that—

Soft.

Measured.

Different—

Made my pulse shift.

Just slightly.

And I didn’t like it.

“Is there anything else?” I asked, needing to regain control of the conversation.

A beat.

Then—

“Yes.”

Of course there was.

“You’ll be staying late today.”

I blinked. “Late?”

“Yes.”

“I wasn’t informed—”

“You are now.”

I exhaled slowly.

“Understood.”

I turned toward the door.

Ready to leave.

To think.

To process.

“Ava.”

I stopped again.

Of course I did.

“Don’t confuse this with coincidence,” he said.

I turned back slowly.

“What?”

“This,” he gestured lightly between us, “you being here… working with me.”

My chest tightened.

“It’s not random.”

A pause.

Then—

“It’s intentional.”

Something in my stomach dropped.

Because I believed him.

I didn’t know why.

I didn’t know how.

But I did.

And as I walked out of his office again—

One thought settled clearly in my mind.

This wasn’t just a job anymore.

And whatever I had stepped into—

It was only just beginning.