Chapter 5 Adrian

The city hummed beyond my penthouse office, a glittering sprawl of steel and ambition I'd bent to my will. At 26, I'd forged Knight Corporation into a titan, my name etched among the world's richest-a throne I'd claimed through grit and ice-cold resolve. But today, that control frayed, shredded by a curvy, mouthy teenager who'd stormed into my path like a tornado. I leaned back in my leather chair, its creak a faint echo as I drummed my fingers on the mahogany desk, the rhythm sharp against the silence.

Her voice still rang in my ears-"Your driver's a lunatic!"-her green eyes blazing as she'd flipped me off, fearless and feral. A brat, barely older than Saph, and she'd left me late for a board meeting, my mood a jagged edge.

I rubbed my temple, the ghost of Lucy's betrayal flickering-her honeyed lies, the fortune she'd siphoned before I'd cut her loose. No one had rattled me like that since, until this girl. My driver's near-miss was her fault, darting into the street like a wild thing, yet she'd turned it on me, all fire and no fear. I smirked, then scowled, shoving the thought aside as my watch ticked past 2 p.m. Focus, Adrian.

My phone buzzed, a shrill interruption, and I snatched it up, my voice a low growl. "Who's this?"

"Hey, bro!" Saph's chirp sliced through, loud enough to make me flinch.

"Kiddo," I said, softening despite the headache pulsing behind my eyes. "What's got you hollering now?"

"Don't call me that!" she snapped, and I could see her in my mind-blonde curls bouncing, hands on hips. "I need your help, Adrian. It's urgent."

I straightened, her tone hooking my attention. "Help with what? If it's a boyfriend, I'll snap his neck for breathing near you."

She groaned, the sound crackling through the line. "No, you caveman. It's my friend-the one I told you about, daughter of some big-shot couple who died. She's in trouble."

I leaned forward, elbows digging into the desk. "Trouble how? I'm not a babysitter, Saph."

"It's serious," she said, her voice dropping, raw and insistent. "She found out her uncle killed her parents-with some shady VP guy. He's after her now, and she won't let me help-says it'll drag me, Mom, and Dad into danger. Please, Adrian, protect her."

I rolled my eyes, irritation flaring. "What am I, her knight in shining armor? I've got a company to run, not a charity for your strays." But her plea tugged, a thread tied to the soft spot she always exploited. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Fine. Send me her details-name, photo, whatever. I'll put Felix on it. But I'm doing this for you, not her."

"You're the best!" Saph squealed, then paused. "Hold on-sending you her pic now. Her name's Elena."

The line beeped, and I opened the message, a photo loading pixel by pixel. My breath caught as her face filled the screen-golden-red hair, sharp cheekbones, those damn green eyes glaring at the camera like she'd rather punch it. The same brat from the street, all defiance and venom. My pulse kicked, a jolt of recognition mixing with disbelief. Her? I barked a laugh, dry and sharp, and hit redial.

"Saph," I said when she picked up, my voice tight, "this Elena-she's the loudmouth who nearly scratched my car today, yelling like a banshee. You're kidding me."

Saph's gasp turned into a cackle. "No way! You're the rude guy she bitched about? Oh, this is perfect. She said you were a total ass."

"Charming," I muttered, my grip tightening on the phone. "Why the hell should I stick my neck out for her?"

"She's my best friend, Adrian," Saph said, her tone sobering. "And her parents-Andrew and Lisa Williams-they were big in shipping. Willi Integrated. Her uncle's Adam Williams, and he's a monster."

The name hit like a brick-Williams. Adam Williams. My jaw clenched, a cold thread snaking through me. Years back, Adam had crossed me-tried to undercut a deal, smear my name in circles I'd later crushed him out of. I'd let it slide, too busy building my empire, but the sting lingered, a score I'd never settled. Now his niece was Saph's stray, and he was a murderer? My fingers stilled on the desk, the pieces shifting. Interesting.

"Alright," I said, my voice low, a new edge sharpening it. "She's your friend, so she's under my wing. But don't think I'm happy about it." I paused, a smirk tugging my lips. "You two are a nightmare duo-loud and reckless. Keep your head down, Saph."

"Love you, bro!" she chirped, and hung up before I could retort.

I tossed the phone down with a clatter and dialed Felix, my tone clipped. "Felix, security detail-Saph's friend. Photo's in your inbox. Name's Elena. Watch her, no questions."

"Got it, boss," Felix replied, his voice brisk. "Anything specific?"

"Threats," I said, my eyes flicking to her photo still glowing on my screen. "Find them, end them. She's got enemies-big ones."

"Yes, sir," he said, and the line went dead.

I swiveled to my laptop, pulling up the street cam footage from earlier. There she was-darting into traffic, her hair a wild flare, then whirling on me, fists balled, voice cutting through the horn's blare. I paused it, her glare frozen mid-shout, and leaned closer. Most people shrank under my shadow-money, power, the weight of my name. She hadn't flinched. My chest tightened, an unfamiliar spark flickering, and I slammed the laptop shut, shoving it away.

"Elena," I muttered, rolling the name over my tongue. "Williams." I punched a key on my desk phone. "Claire," I barked when my assistant picked up, "report on Andrew and Lisa Williams-Willi Integrated. Deaths, financials, enemies. Dig into Adam Williams too. One hour."

"On it, Mr. Knight," Claire said, and clicked off.

I stood, crossing to the window, the city sprawling below like a game board I'd mastered. Felix's voice cut through my memory-"Set up surveillance, boss." He'd report soon, but my mind churned. Adam's shadow loomed, a ghost from a deal gone sour, and now his niece was a pawn in his game-and Saph's. I didn't do personal, not since Lucy's knife twisted in my back, but this felt different. Elena's fire, Adam's treachery-it was a thread I couldn't leave unpulled.

My phone buzzed-Saph: "Thanks for saving her. Best bro ever!" I smirked, typing back, "Stay out of it, Saph. Adam's trouble." I hit send and turned, her photo still burning in my mind. She was a brat, a liability-but a Williams, and that name carried weight. Adam had a debt to pay, and if she was the key, I'd play the hand. Her 18th birthday flickered in my thoughts-a year off, a deadline for chaos. I'd watch, wait, and strike when the board tilted my way.