Chapter Thirteen: While He Slept

No one spoke for several seconds.

The office seemed to shrink around them.

Adrian placed the coffee cup back on the desk without taking his eyes off it.

"So," he said quietly, "they wanted me asleep."

The security officer nodded.

"The lab said the dosage was strong enough to keep an adult unconscious for at least six to eight hours."

Evelyn folded her arms tightly.

"Who had access to your coffee?"

The officer sighed.

"That's the problem."

"What problem?"

"The coffee machine is used by almost everyone on this floor."

Zara frowned.

"So it could have been anyone."

"Exactly."

Adrian looked at the officer.

"Increase security around every entrance."

"Yes, sir."

"And no one enters this floor without my approval."

The officer nodded and hurried away.

As soon as the door closed, Zara looked at Adrian.

"You don't seem surprised."

"I've stopped expecting easy days."

She couldn't help shaking her head.

"Is this really your normal life?"

He gave a dry laugh.

"It wasn't supposed to be."

---

An hour later, the executive floor was buzzing.

Security officers checked employee badges.

Visitors were questioned.

Even senior managers looked annoyed as their bags were searched.

Some complained.

Others simply cooperated.

Zara sat at her desk trying to focus on work, but her mind kept wandering.

She remembered Ethan's words.

Don't trust everyone who smiles at you.

She looked around the office.

People smiled all the time.

The receptionist smiled.

The accountants smiled.

Even the interns smiled.

Who exactly wasn't she supposed to trust?

A shadow fell across her desk.

She looked up.

It was Vanessa.

She wore a fitted navy dress and carried herself with the same confidence as always.

"I need a word."

Zara stood.

"Of course."

Vanessa glanced toward Adrian's office.

"Not here."

They walked to a quiet corner near the terrace.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Vanessa broke the silence.

"I owe you an apology."

Zara blinked.

"I wasn't expecting that."

"I judged you too quickly."

A small smile appeared on Zara's face.

"It happens."

Vanessa nodded.

"I thought you were trying to take advantage of Adrian."

"I'm not."

"I know that now."

The conversation felt... genuine.

At least it did.

Vanessa looked down for a moment.

"He's changed."

"What do you mean?"

"He used to laugh."

Zara smiled faintly.

"I've heard him laugh."

Vanessa looked surprised.

"Really?"

"A few times."

She looked away.

"I haven't heard that sound in almost two years."

There was sadness in her voice.

Real sadness.

For the first time, Zara didn't see her as a rival.

She saw a woman who was losing someone she cared about.

"I never wanted to come between you two," Zara said softly.

Vanessa smiled sadly.

"I know."

She reached into her handbag and handed Zara a folded piece of paper.

"What's this?"

"My personal number."

Zara looked confused.

"If Adrian ever does something completely foolish..."

Vanessa laughed quietly.

"...call me."

Zara couldn't help laughing too.

"I'll remember that."

As Vanessa walked away, Zara felt strangely lighter.

Maybe they could actually become friends.

---

The feeling didn't last long.

By lunchtime, another problem arrived.

Evelyn hurried toward Adrian's office carrying a tablet.

"Sir."

"What happened?"

"The kidnappers sent another message."

Adrian looked at the screen.

His expression remained unreadable.

"What is it?" Zara asked carefully.

Without speaking, Adrian turned the tablet toward her.

A video was playing.

The picture was blurry.

An elderly woman sat in a chair.

Her hands weren't tied.

She wasn't crying.

She simply looked tired.

Zara immediately recognized her.

"Your grandmother?"

Adrian nodded.

The older woman looked directly at the camera.

"Adrian..."

Her voice was weak but steady.

"I'm alright."

She smiled gently.

"They haven't hurt me."

The video suddenly cut off.

A new message appeared.

She won't stay alright forever.

Zara felt sick.

"Can they trace where the video came from?"

Evelyn shook her head.

"Our cyber team is trying."

"They're using multiple servers."

Adrian closed the tablet.

"They're professionals."

---

That evening, most employees had gone home.

The executive floor was unusually quiet.

Zara stretched her arms and looked at the clock.

Almost eight.

She was packing her bag when Adrian stepped out of his office.

"You're still here."

"So are you."

He smiled faintly.

"You've started copying my bad habits."

"I'm just trying to finish tomorrow's schedule."

He walked over to her desk.

"Thank you."

She looked up.

"For what?"

"For staying."

She shrugged.

"It's my job."

"No."

He shook his head.

"You could have left at five."

She smiled.

"I guess."

There was a brief silence.

Then Adrian spoke again.

"Have you had dinner?"

She hesitated.

"Not yet."

"So neither of us has eaten."

Before she could answer, Evelyn walked past.

She looked between them and smiled.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

Both Zara and Adrian looked confused.

"Hear what?" Adrian asked.

"The two of you deciding to work yourselves into starvation."

She laughed and disappeared into the elevator.

Zara couldn't help smiling.

Adrian sighed.

"I think Evelyn enjoys embarrassing me."

"I think she's succeeding."

For a moment, everything felt... normal.

Almost peaceful.

Then the lights flickered.

Once.

Twice.

The entire floor went dark.

Emergency lights came on a second later.

A loud beep echoed from somewhere inside the building.

Adrian immediately became alert.

"That's not a power failure."

"What is it?"

"The server room alarm."

He started walking quickly toward the hallway.

Zara followed without thinking.

"Stay behind me."

They reached the server room in less than a minute.

The heavy security door was wide open.

One of the guards lay unconscious on the floor.

His radio crackled beside him.

"Oh my God," Zara whispered.

Adrian knelt beside the guard.

"He's breathing."

Relief washed over her.

Another guard came running.

"Sir!"

"What happened?"

"We don't know."

Adrian stood.

"The flash drive."

He rushed into the server room.

Zara followed.

The fingerprint-protected cabinet stood open.

Its door swung gently, as if someone had only just left.

The shelf inside...

Was empty.

The silver flash drive was gone.

At that exact moment, a slow clap echoed from the doorway.

Everyone turned.

Standing there, dressed in a black suit, was Ethan Cole.

He wasn't smiling this time.

He looked directly at Adrian.

"I'm sorry."

His voice was quiet.

"But we're too late."

Before anyone could move, another voice came from behind Ethan.

One Zara had never heard before.

Deep.

Cold.

And completely without emotion.

"Take the drive."

A masked man stepped out of the shadows.

He pointed a gun directly at Ethan.

Then...

Without even looking at Adrian...

He fired.