Chapter Six: The First Demand

The office suddenly felt too small.

Zara slowly put her fork down and looked at Adrian. Only a few seconds ago, he had been calm, almost impossible to read. Now his jaw was tight, and the color had drained from his face.

Evelyn stood frozen near the door.

"They hung up before I could ask any questions," she said quietly. "The call lasted less than thirty seconds."

Adrian picked up his phone.

"Trace the number."

"I already asked IT," Evelyn replied. "It was a disposable line."

He rubbed his forehead.

"For the first time in years," he muttered, "they've finally made a move."

Zara frowned.

"They?"

Adrian looked at her, as if he had forgotten she was still in the room.

"I'm sorry. You shouldn't be involved in this."

"I already am."

He couldn't argue with that.

His phone buzzed again.

An unknown number.

The room became completely silent.

Adrian answered without hesitation.

"I'm listening."

No one else could hear the voice on the other end.

Zara watched his expression carefully.

It never changed.

When the call ended, he lowered the phone very slowly.

"What did they say?" Evelyn asked.

"They don't want money."

She blinked.

"Then what do they want?"

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he walked toward the window overlooking the city.

"They want something that belongs to Knight Technologies."

"What?"

"A file."

Evelyn's eyes widened.

"No..."

"They said if I don't hand it over within forty-eight hours, I'll never see my grandmother again."

The room fell silent.

Zara had no idea what kind of file could be worth kidnapping someone over.

"It must be important," she said.

"It is."

"What is it?"

"I can't tell you."

His answer was polite, but firm.

She nodded.

"I understand."

Truthfully, she didn't.

A few minutes later, Evelyn excused herself to prepare for the emergency board meeting.

That left Zara and Adrian alone.

"I think I should go," she said.

"You don't have to."

"You have bigger problems to deal with."

He looked at her for a long moment.

"My grandmother would disagree."

"What do you mean?"

"She always said people reveal who they really are during difficult moments."

A faint smile crossed his face.

"She'd probably tell me not to send you away."

Zara smiled without thinking.

"I think I'd like your grandmother."

"You would."

He picked up the envelope from his desk and handed it back to her.

"You forgot this."

She looked at it.

The salary advance.

"I still don't feel right taking it."

"You need it."

"That's not the point."

"Then what is?"

She hesitated.

"I don't want anyone thinking I accepted this because I expect favors."

"You won't owe me anything."

"I'll owe you my first month's salary."

He almost smiled.

"That's how salary advances work."

She laughed softly.

It was the first genuine laugh she'd had all day.

Finally, she accepted the envelope.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

As she turned to leave, Adrian spoke again.

"Be here tomorrow."

"I will."

"No matter what you hear."

She looked back.

"What does that mean?"

"Rumors spread quickly."

Before she could ask another question, there was another knock on the door.

A man in his late fifties hurried inside.

His silver hair was neatly combed, but his face carried obvious worry.

"Mr. Knight."

"Mr. Lawson."

"I've informed the board."

"And?"

"They're demanding access to the confidential file."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"They're not getting it."

"Some of them believe handing it over is the safest option."

"They're welcome to believe that."

Mr. Lawson noticed Zara standing nearby.

"Who's she?"

"Our new executive assistant."

The older man looked surprised.

"So soon?"

"Yes."

He gave Zara a polite nod before returning his attention to Adrian.

"We need to leave."

"I'll be there in a minute."

The lawyer walked out.

Zara adjusted the strap of her bag.

"I guess this is goodbye."

"For today."

She nodded.

"Good luck."

He looked at her with mild curiosity.

"I've never had anyone wish me luck before a board meeting."

"Maybe they assumed you didn't need it."

"And you?"

"I think everyone needs a little luck."

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Then she left.

---

Outside the building, reality hit her all at once.

She had a job.

A salary.

Enough money to pay her rent.

It almost didn't feel real.

Her landlord answered on the second ring.

"So, you've finally decided to call."

"I'll have your money this evening."

There was a short silence.

"You found a job?"

"Yes."

"Hm."

That was all he said before ending the call.

Zara smiled to herself.

At least one problem had been solved.

She had barely taken a few steps when someone called her name.

"Miss Daniels."

She turned.

One of Adrian's bodyguards was jogging toward her.

"I thought you already left."

"I did."

He handed her a small paper bag.

"Mr. Knight asked me to give you this."

She looked inside.

A neatly packed slice of chocolate cake.

She couldn't help smiling.

"I forgot to finish lunch."

"He noticed."

For some reason, that made her heart feel strangely warm.

---

Later that evening, Zara finally unlocked the door to her apartment.

The tiny room looked exactly as she'd left it.

She carefully placed the envelope inside a drawer before sitting on the edge of her bed.

Everything had changed in less than two days.

She had gone from losing her job to working for one of the most powerful CEOs in the country.

Her phone buzzed.

It was a message from an unknown number.

She assumed it was work.

She opened it.

Her smile disappeared.

Stay away from Adrian Knight if you value your life.

She frowned.

Another message arrived almost immediately.

This is your only warning.

Before she could even process it, a third message appeared.

It contained a photograph.

Her apartment building.

Taken from outside.

Taken recently.

Her breathing became uneven.

Someone knew where she lived.

A loud knock echoed through the room.

Once.

Then again.

Then a third time.

Zara's heart pounded as she slowly stood.

"Who is it?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

No one answered.

The knocking stopped.

Just as she convinced herself it was over, a folded white envelope slowly slid underneath her front door.

On the front, written in black ink, were five chilling words.

Walk away... or you're next.