All Chapters of The Ceo's Unexpected Choice : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

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

The room went silent.No one took their eyes off the photograph.The timer on the black box continued counting down.23:59:37...23:59:36...Zara's stomach tightened."Is... is that a bomb?"Evelyn slowly shook her head."We don't know."Adrian had already picked up his car keys."We're leaving."Detective Adebayo stepped into the office just as Adrian reached the door."I figured you wouldn't wait.""I don't have time to wait.""The bomb squad has already been contacted.""I'm still going."The detective studied him for a moment before nodding."Fine.""I'm coming with you," Zara said.Adrian looked at her immediately."No.""I can help.""You've done enough.""I'm still coming."He sighed."You really don't listen.""You noticed."For a brief second, the corner of his mouth lifted.Then his expression turned serious again."Stay close to me."---The drive to the clinic felt much longer than it actually was.Rain had started falling, covering the windshield with tiny droplets.No on

Neither Adrian nor Zara spoke for a long moment after the call ended.The noise from the hotel restaurant faded into the background.People were laughing at nearby tables, waiters moved from one guest to another, soft piano music played somewhere in the corner... but none of it reached Zara.Her apartment.Someone had broken into her apartment.And they hadn't taken a single thing.Adrian slowly placed his phone on the table."We're leaving first thing tomorrow.""What about the meeting with the investors?""It ended today.""I mean the dinner tomorrow.""I'll cancel it."She shook her head immediately."No."He looked at her."You've worked for this deal for weeks.""I'll survive.""But your company—""My company can survive one cancelled dinner."His answer came so quickly that it surprised her.For the first time, Zara realized he wasn't thinking like a CEO.He was thinking about her."I'm sorry," she whispered."You've been dragged into all this because of me."Adrian frowned."Do

No one moved.The narrow staircase disappeared into darkness, lit only by the weak beams of their flashlights.Ethan's voice echoed upward."I promise I'm not armed."Detective Adebayo looked at Adrian."That could be a lie.""It probably is," Adrian replied.He took the first step anyway.The old wooden stairs groaned beneath his weight.Zara hesitated.She had no business following him.She wasn't a police officer.She wasn't security.She was an assistant.But somehow, every time Adrian walked toward danger, her feet refused to stay behind.She followed."Miss Daniels," Detective Adebayo called quietly."You should stay upstairs."She looked back for a second."I'll be careful."He sighed."I've heard people say that before."---The basement was much larger than anyone expected.It wasn't an ordinary storage room.It looked more like an underground office.Old filing cabinets lined one wall.Shelves were filled with dusty boxes.In the middle of the room stood a long wooden table

For the first time in weeks, the office felt... normal.No police officers standing at the entrance.No emergency meetings.No anonymous messages.Just people rushing to meet deadlines, phones ringing, keyboards clicking, and the smell of fresh coffee drifting through the executive floor.Zara was grateful for it.She needed a break from all the chaos.She had just finished arranging Adrian's afternoon schedule when Evelyn walked over."Good news."Zara smiled."I could use some.""The charity gala is back on.""The one that was postponed?"Evelyn nodded."It'll be this Saturday.""What does that have to do with me?"Evelyn looked at her as if the answer was obvious."You're going with Adrian."Zara blinked."I'm... what?""As his executive assistant.""Oh."She let out the breath she was holding.For one embarrassing second, she'd thought Evelyn meant something else."You'll help him with the presentations and greet a few investors.""I can do that.""Good."Evelyn smiled."And wear