Chapter Seven: The Warning

Zara couldn't move.

The white envelope rested on the floor just a few feet away from her, but it felt like it was miles away.

Her heart pounded so loudly that she could barely hear anything else.

She glanced at the door.

No shadows.

No footsteps.

Whoever had slipped the envelope under her door was gone.

She swallowed hard before slowly walking toward it.

Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.

It wasn't sealed.

She carefully opened it and pulled out a single sheet of paper.

There were only six words written in bold black ink.

Leave. Before it's too late.

Nothing else.

No name.

No explanation.

A cold chill ran down her spine.

She quickly rushed to the window and pulled the curtain aside.

The narrow street outside looked normal.

A woman was buying vegetables from a roadside seller.

Two children chased each other, laughing.

A yellow taxi drove past.

Everything looked... ordinary.

Yet someone had taken a picture of her apartment only hours ago.

She locked the door again, then checked it twice.

For the first time since moving into the apartment, she wished there was someone else living with her.

Her phone rang.

She jumped.

The screen lit up with an unfamiliar number.

She hesitated before answering.

"...Hello?"

"Miss Daniels?"

It was Evelyn.

Zara let out a small breath.

"Yes."

"I hope I'm not calling too late."

"No."

There was a brief pause.

"Mr. Knight asked me to check if you got home safely."

Zara looked at the envelope in her hand.

"I did."

"You don't sound alright."

"I'm fine."

It wasn't convincing.

Evelyn remained quiet for a moment.

"Is something wrong?"

Zara looked at the paper again.

She wanted to tell someone.

But she had only known these people for less than two days.

Maybe she was overreacting.

Maybe someone was playing a cruel joke.

"...No," she lied.

"I'm just tired."

"I understand."

Evelyn's voice softened.

"Tomorrow is your first official day. Be here by eight-thirty."

"I will."

"And Zara?"

"Yes?"

"Mr. Knight doesn't like people arriving late."

A tiny smile appeared on Zara's face.

"I'll keep that in mind."

After ending the call, she looked at the note once more.

Then she folded it carefully and placed it inside her drawer.

Maybe she would show Adrian tomorrow.

Maybe.

---

The next morning...

Zara arrived at Knight Technologies twenty minutes early.

She wanted to make a good impression.

The receptionist recognized her immediately.

"Good morning, Miss Daniels."

"Good morning."

"Evelyn is waiting for you."

The elevator doors opened almost instantly.

As they climbed, Zara took a deep breath.

"You look nervous," Evelyn said.

"I am."

"That's normal."

"Was Mr. Knight difficult with his last assistant?"

Evelyn smiled.

"He expects excellence."

"That's another way of saying yes."

Evelyn laughed quietly.

"You'll survive."

"I hope so."

The elevator reached the top floor.

Before they stepped out, Evelyn stopped walking.

"I should tell you something."

"What is it?"

"The people who work on this floor have been with Mr. Knight for years."

"Okay..."

"They don't like change."

"So?"

"They're going to test you."

Zara frowned.

"What kind of test?"

"You'll find out."

That wasn't comforting.

---

By nine o'clock, Zara had already made coffee, organized Adrian's morning schedule, and answered three phone calls she barely understood.

Everything seemed to happen at once.

"Miss Daniels."

"Yes?"

"The Singapore meeting has been moved."

Before she could write that down, another employee spoke.

"The legal team needs Mr. Knight's signature."

Someone else walked over.

"The finance department is waiting."

Her notebook quickly filled with scribbled notes.

She was beginning to understand why the previous assistant had resigned.

It was exhausting.

At exactly nine-thirty, Adrian stepped out of his office.

He looked at Zara.

"How's your first morning?"

She gave him a tired smile.

"I've been here for an hour and I already want another weekend."

One corner of his mouth lifted.

"That's honest."

"You said you liked honesty."

"I do."

He noticed the messy pages in her notebook.

"You write everything down."

"I'm afraid I'll forget something."

"Good."

Before either of them could continue, a woman in a fitted cream suit walked confidently toward them.

She was beautiful.

Elegant.

And judging by the way everyone greeted her, important.

She stopped directly in front of Adrian.

"You ignored my calls."

"I was busy."

She crossed her arms.

"You've been busy for three days."

Only then did she notice Zara.

Her eyes slowly scanned her from head to toe.

"So..."

She smiled politely.

"This is the famous new assistant."

The words sounded pleasant.

Her tone didn't.

Adrian spoke calmly.

"Zara, this is Vanessa Harrington."

Zara's heart skipped.

The fiancée.

Or former fiancée.

She still wasn't sure.

"It's nice to meet you," Zara said politely.

Vanessa smiled.

"I'm sure it is."

The silence that followed was uncomfortable.

Vanessa looked back at Adrian.

"We need to talk."

"I'm working."

"This can't wait."

He sighed.

"My office."

Vanessa walked in without another word.

Adrian turned to Zara.

"Hold my calls."

She nodded.

The office door closed.

Almost immediately, whispers spread across the floor.

"They're arguing again."

"I heard the engagement is over."

"No, her father won't allow it."

Zara lowered her head and focused on her notebook.

It wasn't her business.

At least, that's what she kept telling herself.

Nearly twenty minutes passed.

The office door finally opened.

Vanessa walked out.

Her makeup was still perfect.

Her expression wasn't.

She stopped in front of Zara's desk.

"You seem like a nice girl."

"Thank you."

"So let me give you a piece of advice."

Zara looked up.

"Don't mistake kindness for affection."

"I'm sorry?"

Vanessa leaned closer.

"Adrian helps broken people."

A small smile appeared on her lips.

"But he never falls in love with them."

She walked away before Zara could reply.

The words lingered in the air.

For some reason...

They hurt.

Even though she had never imagined Adrian in that way.

She shook her head.

"What is wrong with me?"

The office phone suddenly rang.

She answered immediately.

"Executive office. This is Zara speaking."

A man's voice replied.

"I need to speak to Adrian Knight."

"I'm sorry, may I know who's calling?"

The caller chuckled.

"Tell him..."

His voice became cold.

"...the clock is ticking."

The line went dead.

Zara's stomach tightened.

She slowly stood and knocked on Adrian's office door.

"Come in."

She stepped inside.

"I think you need to hear this."

Adrian looked up from his laptop.

"What happened?"

She repeated the exact words from the phone call.

His expression changed instantly.

Without saying a word, he stood, walked to the window, and looked down at the parking lot.

Zara followed his gaze.

A black sedan was parked directly across the street.

Its engine was running.

A man wearing dark sunglasses sat behind the wheel.

At that exact moment...

He looked up.

And smiled directly at Adrian.