CHAPTER 28 – OFFICE SHOWDOWN (DANTE VS. ADRIAN)
The office was unusually quiet that morning, the soft hum of computers and occasional phone ringing punctuating the air. I had barely settled into my desk when I felt a ripple of tension move across the room. Something—or someone—had arrived, and I could feel it immediately.
And then I saw him.
Dante.
He strode in with that commanding presence, suit impeccable, dark eyes locked on Adrian as he crossed the polished floor. Every step he took carried the weight of authority and an unspoken claim. My heart thudded in my chest. I wanted to look away, to pretend I didn't notice him, but I couldn't. The pull he had over me was impossible to ignore.
Adrian, standing near his office doorway, stiffened the moment he saw him. His jaw tightened, fists clenching subtly. I had never seen him so alert, so defensive. The tension between the two men was palpable, crackling in the air like a live wire.
Dante's gaze swept the room until it landed on me. His dark eyes lingered, scanning my figure, and for a moment, the office around us seemed to fade. My cheeks flushed under his intense stare. I shifted slightly in my chair, trying to focus on my work, but my mind kept replaying the memories at the resort, memories that had changed everything.
Then Dante's voice cut through the quiet, smooth and commanding.
"Adrian."
Adrian's tone was equally sharp, wary, but controlled. "Dante. To what do we owe this… surprise?"
Dante took a step closer, lowering his voice so only Adrian could hear. "I want her. I want her to work with me, full-time, in my company. She won't be here at Sterling's anymore."
A hush fell over the office. I froze, unable to move. My heart hammered painfully in my chest.
Adrian's expression darkened instantly, his protective instinct flaring. "She's not leaving. Not for you, Dante. She's my secretary, and she's under my care. You have no say in this."
Dante's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as fury flashed across his face. "Your care?" he spat, voice low but dangerous. "Do not speak as if she belongs to you. She is mine. And I will have her where she belongs."
Adrian straightened, stepping forward to meet Dante's gaze without flinching. "Listen carefully, Dante. You might think you can take her, but she's not yours. And I will not let you make her yours. Not like this, not now, not ever."
Dante's hand twitched, his fingers curling as though he wanted to strike. The tension in the room was suffocating. My colleagues glanced nervously at each other, sensing the impending clash, whispering behind their hands.
"Enough," Adrian said, voice firm, controlled but carrying a dangerous edge. "You will not lay a hand on me, and you will not intimidate her. She is under my protection."
Dante's face darkened further, fury simmering just below the surface. "Protection?" he repeated, voice low and dangerous. He took a deep breath, then leaned slightly closer, lowering his tone even more. "You need to understand something, Adrian. We… she and I… we've been together. We've shared moments you could never imagine."
I felt my chest tighten. My face burned. Oh no… He was going to reveal—no, he was already revealing—what had happened at the resort.
Dante's gaze locked on Adrian, unflinching. "We've made love, Adrian. She is mine, and no one else's. That includes you."
The words hit like a lightning bolt. Adrian's face went pale, and for a moment, the entire office seemed frozen. My colleagues gasped quietly, eyes wide, unable to comprehend the intensity of the confrontation unfolding before them.
Adrian's fists clenched at his sides, and I could see the raw, dangerous energy emanating from him. "You…" he started, voice trembling with barely contained fury. "You dare—"
"Enough!" I shouted, standing abruptly. The sound of my voice cut through the tension like a blade. Both men turned to look at me, dark eyes locking on mine. My heart raced, but I forced myself to take a deep breath.
"Stop it!" I said firmly, trying to sound stronger than I felt. "Both of you! This is insane! You're acting like children in front of everyone. Please… just stop!"
Dante's eyes softened slightly, but his tone remained intense. "Auri… I'm claiming what's mine."
Adrian's gaze softened toward me, though the tension was still visible in the tight line of his jaw. "I'm not letting him take you," he said, voice low but protective. "And I don't care what he says. You're under my care, Auri. Always."
I swallowed hard, feeling the impossible pull of both men—the dangerous allure of Dante, dark and commanding, and the strong, protective presence of Adrian. My heart was pounding, my palms sweaty, and I felt tears of frustration threatening to spill.
"Please!" I said again, voice quivering. "I don't want this… I don't want either of you fighting over me. I can't… I won't deal with this."
Dante stepped closer to me, his eyes dark and intense. "Then make it easier, Auri. Work with me. Be with me. Let me show you where you belong."
Adrian moved to stand beside me, placing a protective hand lightly on my shoulder. "You're not going anywhere. Not to him, not yet. And certainly not without your consent. Do you understand?"
I nodded quickly, tears threatening to fall. "I… I understand. I just… I need space. Please."
Dante's gaze lingered on me, dark and intense, a storm barely contained behind his eyes. Then, finally, he stepped back slightly, though the aura of dominance and desire around him didn't fade.
Adrian exhaled slowly, releasing the tension in his jaw, though he kept a protective hand near me. Both men stood like coiled springs, ready to act, but at least for now, they listened.
The office had gone silent, colleagues frozen in a mix of awe, curiosity, and gossip. The tension between the two alpha men was palpable, and I felt like I was standing at the center of a storm.
I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to calm my racing heartbeat. Why does this have to be so impossible? I thought, glancing between them. Why can't they just leave me out of it?
But deep down, I knew it wouldn't end here. Both men were relentless, powerful, and utterly captivated by me. And I… I was caught between two storms, unsure of how to navigate the dangerous, exhilarating path that stretched before me.
For now, I could only take a deep breath, step back slightly, and try to focus on the one thing I knew I had to do: survive the intensity of both men, keep my heart intact, and try to make sense of the impossible feelings that had been swirling in my chest for weeks.