Lucy stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her clothes.
Her heart was beating faster than usual.
"You said you'll think about it…" she whispered to herself.
A soft knock came.
"Come in," she said.
The door opened.
Adrian walked in.
His presence alone changed the room.
"You're ready?" he asked.
Lucy turned to him.
"…Ready for what?"
He looked at her for a second.
"You said you wanted to see my world."
Her heart skipped.
"…You mean it?"
"I don't repeat myself," he replied calmly.
Lucy nodded quickly.
"I'm ready."
Adrian walked closer, adjusting the sleeve of her outfit slightly.
"Stay close to me," he said.
Lucy looked at him.
"I will."
Lucy didn't know what to expect.
But the moment the car stopped—
She felt it.
Danger.
The building stood tall and silent.
No signboard.
No noise.
Just men.
Dressed in black.
Watching everything.
Adrian stepped out first.
And instantly—
They all lowered their heads.
"Boss."
Lucy's chest tightened.
She stepped out slowly.
All eyes moved to her.
Not welcoming.
Not friendly.
Calculating.
Adrian didn't say anything.
He just placed his hand on her lower back and pulled her closer.
"Stay beside me," he said.
Lucy nodded.
Inside—
The air felt heavy.
Like something bad had already happened…
Or was about to.
They walked into a large room.
Men were seated.
Different ages.
Different looks.
But one thing was the same—
Power.
Lucy's steps slowed.
"…Who are they?" she whispered.
Adrian didn't look at her.
"Men you don't speak to unless I tell you."
Her throat went dry.
The room went silent as they entered.
Every single person looked at Adrian.
Then—
At Lucy.
One of the men leaned back in his chair.
"Well… this is new," he said.
Another smirked.
"You finally brought someone into this world?"
Lucy felt their eyes on her.
Adrian walked forward like nothing mattered.
"She stays," he said.
Simple.
Cold.
Final.
A man at the far end laughed softly.
"Since when do you bring women into meetings like this?"
Adrian stopped.
His eyes lifted slowly.
"Since now."
Silence.
No one challenged him again.
Lucy stood beside him.
Trying to stay calm.
Then—
A man was dragged into the room.
Lucy's heart dropped.
He was bleeding.
Barely standing.
"What… is this?" she whispered.
No one answered.
The man was thrown to the floor.
He looked up at Adrian.
"Boss… please… I can explain—"
Adrian didn't move.
"You had your chance," he said.
Lucy's fingers slowly curled.
"What did he do?" she asked softly.
Adrian didn't look at her.
"He forgot who he was working for."
Lucy swallowed.
The man started begging.
"I swear, it won't happen again—"
A gun was placed on the table.
Right in front of Adrian.
Lucy's breath caught.
The room went completely silent.
Adrian picked it up slowly.
Lucy's heart started racing.
"Adrian…" she whispered.
He didn't look at her.
The man on the floor cried harder.
"Please—"
Lucy stepped forward slightly.
"Adrian, please…" she said, her voice shaking.
Now—
He looked at her.
Their eyes met.
For a second—
Everything paused.
Then Adrian spoke.
"You told me not to get angry."
Lucy nodded quickly.
"Yes… please…"
A long silence.
Then—
Adrian lowered the gun.
The entire room shifted.
Shock.
No one expected that.
"Take him away," Adrian said coldly.
The man was dragged out.
Still crying.
Still begging.
Lucy let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
But the room—
The room was no longer the same.
Now they were all looking at her differently.
Not just as a woman.
As something dangerous.
As someone who could influence him.
A voice broke the silence.
"Interesting."
Lucy turned.
A woman stepped forward.
Tall.
Confident.
Beautiful.
Too comfortable.
"So this is the one," she said.
Her eyes moved over Lucy slowly.
Lucy felt it immediately.
Discomfort.
The woman walked closer to Adrian.
Very close.
"Didn't think you had a weakness," she added softly.
Lucy's chest tightened.
Before she could stop herself—
She moved.
Standing closer to Adrian.
Her hand grabbed his arm.
Not gently this time.
Firm.
Possessive.
The woman noticed.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"Oh…" she said.
"She has claws."
Lucy didn't respond.
Her grip tightened slightly.
Adrian looked down at her hand.
Then at the woman.
"Step back," he said.
The woman didn't move immediately.
"You've changed," she said.
Adrian's voice dropped.
"I said step back."
This time—
She listened.
But her eyes stayed on Lucy.
"We'll see how long you last," she said before walking away.
Lucy finally let go of Adrian.
Her heart was still racing.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Adrian turned to her.
"For what?"
"I shouldn't have done that."
"You did exactly what you felt," he said.
Lucy looked at him.
"…I didn't like her."
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"I know."
Lucy looked away.
"And I don't like how they look at you either," she added quietly.
That made him pause.
"They should," he said.
Lucy frowned slightly.
"That doesn't mean I have to like it."
Adrian stepped closer.
"You're jealous."
Lucy shook her head immediately.
"I'm not."
"You held me like I belonged to you."
Her cheeks warmed.
"I just… didn't like her standing so close."
Adrian leaned slightly closer.
"You don't have to pretend," he said softly.
"I already saw it."
Lucy looked at him.
And for once—
She didn't deny it.
"…Maybe I was," she admitted quietly.
That was enough.
Adrian's hand moved to her waist.
Pulling her slightly closer.
"Good," he said.
Lucy blinked.
"Why?"
"Because now I know," he replied.
"Know what?"
"That you're not going anywhere."
Lucy's heart skipped.
She didn't answer.
Because deep down—
She knew it was true.