Chapter Twenty: Rumors Have a Price

By nine o'clock that morning, everyone in the office had seen the picture.

Some pretended not to care.

Some whispered whenever Zara walked past.

Others openly stared at her.

She kept her head down and focused on her computer screen, but it was impossible to ignore the curious looks.

One message after another popped up in the company group chat.

Is she really dating the CEO?

I heard they spent the weekend together.

No wonder she got promoted so fast.

Zara locked her phone and placed it face down on her desk.

Her chest felt heavy.

She had worked so hard to prove she deserved this job.

Now, people would think she was only there because of Adrian.

Evelyn walked over with a cup of coffee.

"Don't read the comments."

"I already did."

"Worst thing you could've done."

"I know."

Evelyn sighed.

"People enjoy gossip more than the truth."

---

Inside his office, Adrian wasn't having a much better morning.

His phone had been ringing nonstop.

Board members.

Business partners.

Reporters.

Even an old university friend had called to ask if he was finally in love.

He ended the latest call and pinched the bridge of his nose.

There was another knock.

"Come in."

Vanessa stepped inside.

She looked composed, but Adrian could tell something was bothering her.

"I won't take much of your time."

"You never have to say that."

She smiled sadly.

"I came because I wanted to hear it from you."

"Hear what?"

"The rumors."

He leaned back in his chair.

"They're rumors."

"So nothing happened?"

"Nothing."

She nodded slowly.

"I believe you."

She stood to leave, then stopped.

"But Adrian..."

"Yes?"

"You may not realize it..."

"...but the way you look at Zara is different."

His expression changed.

"I don't know what you mean."

"I think you do."

She left before he could respond.

For the next several minutes, Adrian remained seated, staring at the closed door.

Different?

Was it really that obvious?

---

Around lunchtime, Zara decided she needed fresh air.

She carried her lunch outside to the small garden behind the company building.

It was quiet there.

Exactly what she needed.

She had barely taken two bites when someone spoke.

"Mind if I sit?"

She looked up.

It was Daniel.

One of the software engineers.

He was around her age, friendly, and always greeted everyone with a smile.

"Of course."

He sat opposite her.

"I've been meaning to introduce myself properly."

"I'm Zara."

"I know."

He laughed.

"The whole company knows who you are now."

She forced a smile.

"I wish they didn't."

"I figured."

He hesitated for a moment.

"I don't believe the rumors."

She looked at him, surprised.

"You don't?"

"No."

"I've seen the way you work."

"You earned your place here."

Relief washed over her.

"Thank you."

They spent the next twenty minutes talking about ordinary things.

Their favorite foods.

University dreams.

Books.

It was nice.

For the first time in days, Zara laughed without thinking about kidnappers, hidden rooms or company secrets.

Neither of them noticed Adrian standing by the window on the fourth floor.

He wasn't trying to spy.

He had simply looked outside at the wrong moment.

His eyes settled on Zara.

She was laughing.

Really laughing.

Then he noticed the man sitting across from her.

His jaw tightened before he even realized it.

Evelyn walked into his office carrying a file.

She followed his gaze.

"Oh."

Adrian looked away immediately.

"What?"

Evelyn smiled to herself.

"Nothing."

"Say it."

"I don't think I've ever seen you jealous before."

"I'm not jealous."

"Of course not."

She placed the file on his desk.

"You're just glaring at an innocent software engineer."

"I wasn't glaring."

"You were."

"I was thinking."

"With that expression?"

She laughed.

"I'd hate to see your angry face."

Adrian sighed.

"I have work to do."

"I'm sure you do."

She walked out still smiling.

---

That evening, most employees had gone home.

Zara stayed behind to finish organizing documents for the next day's board meeting.

She was reaching for a file on the top shelf when she lost her balance.

The folder slipped from her hand.

Before she hit the floor...

Someone caught her.

She looked up.

Adrian.

His hand was around her waist, steadying her.

"You should ask for help."

"I almost had it."

"You almost fell."

Their eyes met.

For a second, neither of them moved.

Zara suddenly became aware of how close they were.

She quickly stepped back.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

An awkward silence settled between them.

Finally, Adrian cleared his throat.

"I saw you at lunch."

"Oh."

"Daniel seems..."

He searched for the right word.

"...nice."

She smiled.

"He is."

Another silence.

Then, without thinking, she asked,

"Were you jealous?"

His eyebrows shot up.

"What?"

She laughed softly.

"I'm joking."

"I know."

But his answer came a second too late.

She noticed.

He knew she noticed.

Before either of them could say anything else, Adrian's phone rang.

It was Detective Adebayo.

Adrian answered immediately.

"What happened?"

The detective's voice was tense.

"The files from the Knight estate..."

"What about them?"

"Someone broke into the evidence room."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Were they stolen?"

There was a pause.

"No."

"Then what?"

"One file is missing."

"Which one?"

"The one containing the list of everyone who attended the board meeting twenty years ago."

Adrian's grip tightened around the phone.

Because whoever had taken that file...

Already knew exactly which names Adrian was getting close to.