Chapter Five - Dangerous Proximity

Elara Cruz never thought she’d be stepping inside the glass fortress of Veylen Industries again so soon. Yet here she was, her heels echoing against the polished marble floors, heart hammering inside her chest. The receptionists’ eyes followed her, whispers trailing like a current she could not escape.

"Siya ba yung babaeng sumigaw kay Mr. Veylen sa press con?"

"Grabe, ang tapang niya. Pero bakit nandito siya ngayon?"

Elara straightened her blazer, ignoring the murmurs. She knew the rumors would spread fast—how she had stood up against the country’s most powerful tycoon, and yet, paradoxically, had agreed to work under him.

“Good morning, Ms. Cruz.” A tall assistant approached her, expression polite yet curious. “Mr. Veylen asked me to escort you to your new office.”

Elara forced a nod, clutching her bag tightly. This isn’t surrender, she told herself. This is infiltration. Ito ang paraan para makalapit sa kanya at mawasak siya sa sarili niyang teritoryo.

Her secret vow burned in her mind—she would not bow to Adrian Veylen. No, she would get close enough to dismantle him piece by piece.

---

They entered the top floor—Adrian’s domain. The elevator doors slid open to reveal an expansive hallway, walls lined with black marble veined with silver. Modern art pieces adorned the space, each one screaming wealth and dominance.

The assistant stopped at a wide glass door. “This is your office, ma’am.”

Elara stepped inside. Her jaw slackened.

The room was massive, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline. A sleek mahogany desk sat at the center, with state-of-the-art computers, leather seats, and even a mini-library tucked at the corner.

But what made her chest tighten was the view beyond the adjoining glass partition—Adrian’s office.

It was right next to hers.

Only a transparent divider separated them, with a sliding door connecting the two spaces. From where she stood, she could see his imposing desk, his chair turned toward the skyline as though he owned not just the building, but the entire city beyond it.

Put—! She almost cursed. He really did this on purpose. Gusto niya akong bantayan palagi. Gusto niyang wala akong takas.

The assistant excused himself. “Mr. Veylen will meet you shortly. For now, please feel free to settle in.”

As the door closed, Elara exhaled sharply. “Close? He wants me close? Fine. Then I’ll stay close enough to destroy him.”

She began unpacking her things, hands trembling, though whether from anger or nerves, she wasn’t sure.

---

The glass door to his office slid open. Adrian Veylen strode in, his presence commanding the space effortlessly.

“Settling in?” His voice carried a calm authority, one that sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.

Elara forced herself to meet his eyes. “This office is too much. Hindi ko kailangan nito.”

Adrian smirked. “Consider it an investment. You’ll be working closely with me. It only makes sense that you’re beside me.”

Working closely? The words twisted in her chest. “You mean so you can keep an eye on me.”

“Both.” He chuckled, stepping closer until the faint scent of his cologne—cedar and spice—lingered in her air. “Don’t be too paranoid, Ms. Cruz. You’ll find I’m very… hands-on.”

Her pulse skipped. She quickly grabbed a folder and shoved it toward him, anything to create distance. “These are my preliminary sketches. Kung trabaho ang gusto mo, magsimula na tayo. Let’s focus on work, not proximity.”

Adrian’s eyes gleamed with amusement, but he took the folder. “Very well. Let’s talk about work.”

---

Days turned into weeks. Elara quickly realized that working under Adrian meant surrendering to his relentless pace.

He dragged her into late-night meetings, where they pored over blueprints, financial reports, and design concepts.

“Elara, your design here is functional, but where’s the boldness? Nasaan ang tapang? Where’s the risk? Akala ko baagaling ka? Nasaan ang pinagmamalaki mo?” Adrian leaned over the table one night, his hand brushing dangerously close to hers as he pointed at her sketches.

She stiffened, pulling her hand back. “Architecture isn’t about ego, Mr. Veylen. It’s about people. It’s about community. Hindi ito para lang ipagyabang.”

Adrian tilted his head, smirking. “And yet, people only remember the buildings that dominate the skyline. Tell me—do you want your father’s dream to be remembered, or forgotten?”

His words cut deep. ’Damn him for using Papa against me.’

She clenched her pen. “Fine. Then I’ll design something unforgettable. Pero tandaan mo—hindi para sa’yo, para sa kanya.”

Adrian leaned back, eyes glinting. “That fire… keep it. I’ll break it when I need to.”

Elara’s breath hitched. Anong ibig niyang sabihin—break it? Break me? She hated that his words sent both anger and something else—something she refused to name—thrumming through her veins.

---

One morning, Elara walked into the boardroom, laptop in hand. Cassandra was already there, lounging in her seat with her signature red lipstick smile.

“Elara, darling,” Cassandra purred, tone dripping with condescension. “I hope you’re ready. Mr. Veylen doesn’t tolerate mediocrity.”

Elara ignored her, setting up her presentation. ’Kung gusto niyang pabagsakin ako, magkamali siya. Hindi niya alam kung gaano kalakas ang dugo ng isang Elara Cruz.’

The meeting began, Adrian at the head of the table, his sharp gaze sweeping the room. Cassandra stood, striding confidently to the screen. “I present the Vail Concept,” she announced, flashing a design filled with gaudy golds and exaggerated arches.

The board members clapped politely, though some exchanged doubtful looks.

“Thank you, Cassandra,” Adrian said coolly. “Now, Elara?”

Elara inhaled deeply, nerves rattling her. But when she projected her design, silence fell across the room.

Her concept was sleek yet warm, modern yet rooted in cultural heritage. She had infused her father’s ideals into the blueprint—wide community spaces, sustainable features, and bold glass towers that seemed to reach for the heavens without abandoning the ground.

“This design,” Elara explained, voice steady, “isn’t just for profit. It’s for people. Para sa komunidad. Para sa kinabukasan.”

The board erupted into murmurs of approval.

Adrian leaned forward, eyes locked on her. “Excellent.” His voice carried weight, finality. “We’ll go with Elara’s design.”

Cassandra’s smile froze. Her nails dug into the table as she tried to mask her fury. “Mr. Veylen—surely you don’t mean to—”

“I do.” Adrian’s tone was sharp. “This is the future I want Veylen Industries to represent.”

Cassandra sat back down, seething. Her glare could have burned holes through Elara’s back. 'Hindi ka tatagal dito, Cruz,' her eyes seemed to say.

---

After the meeting, Elara lingered by the window of her office, staring out at the skyline. For once, she felt like she had truly honored her father’s dream.

But as she turned to leave, voices drifted in from the hallway.

She froze.

“…She’s a threat,” Cassandra’s hushed tone slithered through the air. “We can’t let her stay here. She’s getting too close.”

Elara pressed against the wall, heart pounding.

“Don’t worry,” Cassandra continued, her voice low and dangerous. “I’ll handle it. One way or another, that Elara Cruz will regret stepping into this building.”

Elara’s breath caught. ’What the hell? Getting rid of me?’

Her pulse raced, fear mingling with fury. ’So this is her game. Hindi lang siya insecure—delikado siya.’

Before she could retreat, Adrian’s voice suddenly echoed behind her, startling her.

“Elara?” His tone was soft, almost amused. “Spying, are we?”

She whipped around, eyes wide, caught between fear and defiance.

“I wasn’t—”

But Adrian stepped closer, his gaze sharp yet unreadable. He leaned down, his lips brushing dangerously close to her ear.

“You’re not here just to design buildings, Elara,” he whispered, his voice a low growl. “You’re here because I want you close.”

Her breath hitched, a shiver running down her spine despite herself.

And in that charged silence, the truth became undeniable—working beside Adrian wasn’t just dangerous for her career.

It was dangerous for her heart.