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Shattered Entry
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2026-05-25 20:46:46Alex Rivera stormed through the revolving glass doors of Vale Tower at 7:42 a.m. briefcase gripped tightly like a weapon. The marble lobby shone under lights but the atmosphere already felt heavy on his chest. He had not even sat at his desk yet and the knot in his stomach told him this job might kill him before the first paycheck cleared.
"Mr. Rivera." A crisp voice cut through the morning rush. A tall woman in a tailored suit blocked his path. "Mr. Vale wants to see you away. Top floor. Do not keep him waiting."
Alexs jaw tightened. "I start at eight. My contract says orientation first." He thought to himself _What is going on here?_
The womans expression did not change. "Mr. Vale does not care what your contract says. Elevator on the left. Now." She seemed to be enjoying the power she had over him.
He exhaled sharply. Headed for the private lift. His heart was racing. He stepped inside. Watched the numbers climb. Forty floors of steel and silence. When the doors opened another assistant waited. No greetings, a quick scan of his badge before leading him down a hallway lined with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Rowan Vale stood at the end of the massive office back turned, staring over the city like it was his own. Because it was. Broad shoulders filled a cut charcoal suit. Dark hair, jawline visible even from behind. The air felt thinner here. Alex thought, _This guy seems to be in control._
"You’re late " Rowan said without turning around. His voice was low controlled. Carried the weight of absolute authority.
"I was told to start at eight " Alex replied, keeping his tone even. "If you wanted me earlier the contract should have stated it." He was trying to stand up for himself.
Rowan finally faced him. Gray eyes, silver under the lights locked onto Alex with unnerving intensity. Close the man was taller than expected presence heavier. A faint scar traced along his eyebrow barely noticeable unless you looked hard. Alex refused to look first.
"Contracts mean nothing if I decide otherwise " Rowan stated. He stepped closer invading space deliberately. "You signed on to deliver results, Rivera. Not excuses. Your predecessor lasted six weeks. Try not to break that record." Alex felt like he was being sized up.
Heat rose in Alex’s chest. "Then give me work instead of power plays before I’ve even logged in." He was getting frustrated.
A ghost of something flickered across Rowan’s face. Not quite a smile. "Bold. Most new hires tremble. You glare." He circled Alex slowly like assessing prey. "I wonder how long that fire lasts when real pressure hits."
Alex turned with him refusing to be circled. "Keep wondering.. Hand me the files and let me do the job you’re paying me for." He was trying to stay focused.
Rowan stopped directly in front of him. Close enough that Alex caught the scent of expensive cologne and something sharper underneath. Their eyes clashed again. For a second the room felt too small the silence loud.
"You have until end of day to review the campaign and find every flaw " Rowan ordered. "Present fixes in my office at seven. Fail and you walk out with nothing but the memory of wasting my time." Alex felt a surge of anxiety.
"Understood." Alex held the stare a beat longer than necessary.
As he turned to leave Rowan’s voice followed, quieter but no softer. "One more thing, Rivera. In this building loyalty is not optional. Cross me. You will regret it in ways you cannot imagine."
Alex paused at the door. "Threat noted.. I don’t scare easy." He was trying to show that he was not intimidated.
He walked out before Rowan could respond, pulse racing. The elevator ride down felt longer than the one, up. By the time he reached his assigned floor colleagues shot him glances. Someone whispered, " called upstairs? You’re either brave or suicidal."
Alex dropped into his chair. Opened the files. The Meridian project was a mess so he suspected. Hours blurred as he tore it apart notes piling up with efficiency.
At 6:45 p.m. His phone buzzed. Unknown number.
Meet me in the garage. Level B3. Now. Do not tell anyone.
No signature. Alex stared at the message. Every instinct screamed trap. Curiosity and the earlier confrontation pushed him forward. He grabbed his coat. Headed down.
The garage was dimly lit, concrete echoing his footsteps. A black car idled in the corner. Rowan stepped out jacket gone shirt sleeves rolled up.
"You came " Rowan said.
"You summoned." Alex stopped a feet away. "What is this?" He was trying to stay calm.
Rowan moved fast. In two strides he had Alex backed against a pillar one hand braced beside his head. Not touching,. Close enough the heat radiated. "You think you can speak to me like that in my building?"
Alex’s breath hitched despite himself. Anger and something electric twisted together. "I think you’re testing me. See if I’ll break." He was trying to stay strong.
Rowan’s gaze dropped to Alex’s mouth for a fraction of a second. "Maybe I am. Maybe I want to see what it takes."
The tension crackled. Alex shoved at Rowan’s chest. The man did not budge. Instead Rowan caught his wrist, grip firm yet not painful. Their faces were inches apart.
"Let go " Alex warned, voice rough.
"Make me." Rowan’s words were a challenge.
For one suspended moment Alex considered it. Punching him. Kissing him. Both felt equally possible. Instead he twisted free. Stepped sideways. "I’ll have the presentation ready. Seven sharp. Try not to waste my time."
He walked away legs steadier than he felt. Behind him Rowan’s low laugh echoed before being swallowed by concrete. Alex thought to himself _That was intense._
Bab terbaru
The Cage Between Us First Night
The penthouse was really quiet at night. It was like every little sound was louder than it should be. The fridge was. I could hear the traffic way down below. The building would creak sometimes like it was settling in. Alex was lying on his back in the bed staring at the ceiling. There were patterns of light on it from the city outside. Rowans arm was across his waist, warm and heavy. They were not asleep yet.Rowan. Said, "You are thinking too much." His voice was rough from the day.Alex turned his head to look at Rowan. In the light Rowans face looked softer. He did not look as sharp as he usually did. "It is hard not to think " Alex said. "Yesterday I was in my small apartment. Now I am in the CEOs bed because someone is blackmailing us with videos."Rowan laughed quietly. It was not a happy laugh. He pulled Alex close until their foreheads were almost touching. "Say it like this: it is our bed for now. It does not sound so bad then.""It still feels like a trap " Alex said quietl
The Cage Between Us Shared Sanctuary
Alex stood in his apartment staring at the half-packed duffel bag on the bed. The bag held his clothes, a books, his laptop and the worn photo of his mother. This place never felt like home; it was a temporary stop between debts and desperation. Now with Elias breathing down their necks and cameras possibly hidden everywhere staying alone felt like inviting disaster.His phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was Rowan.**Car waiting downstairs. Bring what you need. The rest can be replaced.**Alex exhaled slowly. Typed back. "I am not some kept boy you can order around."**You are not.. You are mine to protect right now. Move.**The words sent a rush through him. Part irritation, part something that he refused to name yet. He zipped the bag locked the door behind him and headed down. A sleek black car idled at the curb the driver anonymous behind glass. Alex slid into the seat the city blurring past as they drove toward the penthouse.Rowan met him at the elevator entrance dressed in dar
The Cage Between Us Echoes of the Dead
Alex stood frozen in the penthouse bedroom. The glow of Rowans phone cast shadows on their faces. The video played on loop in his mind even after the screen went dark. Their bodies were entangled against the desk. The raw sounds were captured clearly. It was not just evidence it was a weapon. It was aimed at the heart of whatever they had started building.Rowan stared at the device in his hand. It was like it had grown fangs. His usual steel composure was cracked open. "Elias " he whispered. The name scraped out like gravel. "He is alive. That message. Little brother. Only he called me that."Alex set the phone down on the nightstand. He reached for Rowans shoulder. The muscle beneath his fingers felt rigid. "We do not know that for sure " Alex said. "It could be someone using his name to mess with your head."Rowan shrugged the touch off. He paced to the window. City lights stretched below like an audience. "You do not understand " Rowan said. "The phrasing. The timing. He always kn
The Cage Between Us Tangled lies
Alex walked out of Rowans office his shirt a little crooked and his mind reeling. The thing about the brother had changed something between them. Trust was still a long way off. Every step he took towards the elevators felt like he was being watched. He kept his face neutral until he got to his floor then he locked himself in a meeting room and pulled out his phone. The last message from that number was still deleted, but he had not forgotten it.He needed some air, not the kind that comes from a corporate air conditioner. Of going to lunch he took the stairs down two floors and found Lena waiting near the part of the building where they deal with following the rules. She handed him a cup of coffee without asking him if he wanted one."You look like you have been through a war " she said, her voice low. "Is it because of Vale again?"Alex took the cup feeling the warmth of it in his hand. "It is something like that. You seem to know a lot about what goes on."Lena looked around before
The Cage Between Us Threats
Alex did not sleep much. He could still taste Rowan on his lips. It was a sharp reminder of the man. He lay in bed staring at the ceiling of his apartment thinking about what happened in the office. He thought about the way Rowan grabbed his tie and the way their mouths crashed together. He thought about the look on Rowans face the one moment when he seemed human.By five thirty Alex got out of bed. Headed back to Vale Tower. The city was still dark. The building was already busy. Alex kept his head down in the elevator trying to avoid the glances from his coworkers. They had probably heard the rumors by now.Soon as he sat down at his desk the phone rang."Rivera, my office bring the files " Rowan said, his voice firm and cold.Alex gripped the receiver tightly. " Morning to you too " he said, trying to sound calm."Do not test me today " Rowan. Then he hung up.Alex gathered his things. Headed to Rowans office. The private floor was quiet. It felt heavy. When he got to the office Ro
The Cage Between Us Fractured rules
Alex arrived back in the conference room at exactly 6:58 p.m. carrying a slim laptop and a folder thick with printouts. The Meridian campaign files had been a mess. They had deliberately been made to look good. Had major issues that could sink the whole division. He had spent the afternoon going through them fueled by irritation and the memory of Rowans hand on his wrist.The door to Rowans office was open. Alex knocked once. Entered without waiting.Rowan sat behind his desk looking at something on a monitor. The city lights shone behind him through the glass wall. He did not look up away. "You are two minutes early. Trying to impress me Rivera?""Trying to get this over with " Alex said. He placed the laptop on the table and opened the presentation. "The campaign has three problems. I marked them all."Rowan finally looked up. His gray eyes had the focus from the morning but something had changed. A faint shadow of tiredness maybe.. Calculation. He. Walked around the desk stopping c
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