The next morning dawned gray and restless, a low fog coiling around the glass towers of the city. Inside Cole Industries, the mood matched the weather; muted, uncertain, heavy with whispers.
Elena moved through the lobby without making eye contact. She could feel the murmurs following her like shadows. The rumors from the fire had spread overnight,that she was reckless, unstable, maybe even dangerous.
She ignored them all. She had work to do.
When she reached her office, Sophie was already there, nervously typing at her desk.
"Morning," Elena said, trying to sound steady.
Sophie looked up, startled. "Oh! Ms. Brooks, I was just going through the new access reports. Someone's been trying to duplicate your login credentials."
Elena frowned. "Again?"
Sophie nodded. "Yes. Three failed attempts at 2:13 a.m."
Elena's pulse quickened. They're not even hiding anymore.
She opened her laptop and scrolled through the latest system flags. Someone had copied part of her design schematic—the same data that burned in the fire. Only this version had been tampered with.
She could see the pattern in the code, a new signature embedded inside.
A name she recognized.
FH_Sequence
Frederick Hale.
Meanwhile, on the 39th floor, Adrian stood at the center of the executive suite, his voice hard as steel.
"You're telling me the board has started an internal investigation on her?"
His assistant hesitated. "Yes, sir. Mr. Hale filed a preliminary complaint this morning. Claims there's evidence of corporate espionage tied to Ms. Brooks' return."
Adrian's hands clenched at his sides. "Of course he did."
He turned abruptly, staring out the window at the skyline. Below, the city buzzed with life, unaware of the quiet war unfolding in its tallest building.
"Clear my schedule," he said finally. "And have security bring me every access record from the last forty-eight hours. I don't care if it's encrypted."
The assistant nodded quickly and left.
When the door closed, Adrian leaned forward on his desk, the weight of the past five years pressing down on him. He'd brought Elena back thinking he could protect her this time, give her the platform she deserved. But the truth was, he'd walked her straight back into the fire.
And Hale knew it.
By noon, Adrian appeared at her office door.
Elena looked up from her desk, surprised. "You shouldn't be here," she said quietly.
He smirked faintly. "My building. My rules."
She gave him a tired look. "Your building's trying to kill me."
That almost made him smile. Almost.
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "There's something you need to know. Hale's moving against you. He's building a case,it's obviously fabricated, but convincing. I've seen the preliminary report."
Elena's expression hardened. "He's been planting evidence since the fire. I found traces of his digital signature in the code."
Adrian frowned. "You found proof?"
She turned the monitor toward him. "Here. FH_Sequence. It's hidden inside the Phoenix prototype he claims was destroyed."
He studied it, then looked at her. "You're saying he copied your work, sabotaged the real one, and now he's using the fake to accuse you?"
She nodded. "Exactly."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick with tension, fear, and something else, something unspoken.
Adrian finally said, "You shouldn't stay here tonight."
"I'm not running, Adrian."
"This isn't about pride. It's about safety. Whoever's helping Hale isn't done yet."
She stood, meeting his gaze. "And if I leave, he wins. He already took five years of my life. I'm not giving him another day."
He stared at her for a long moment, then exhaled softly. "You always did know how to drive me insane."
Her lips twitched into a small smile. "Occupational hazard."
He didn't smile back. "I'll double your security detail. And you don't go anywhere alone. Promise me."
Something in his tone was protective, almost desperate, it made her chest tighten.
"I promise," she said quietly.
That evening, the office was nearly empty. Elena worked late again, her laptop open, files spread around her like puzzle pieces.
At exactly 10:42 p.m., the lights flickered. Once. Twice.
Then her monitor blinked to life with a black screen.
Text scrolled slowly across it.
Phase Two initiated.
Objective: Eliminate the variable.
Her stomach dropped. She grabbed her phone, calling Adrian.
"Where are you?" he answered immediately.
"In my office, someone's inside the system again."
"Stay where you are. I'm coming down."
But before she could respond, a loud crack echoed from the hallway.
Elena froze.
The sound came again, a metallic clang, like something heavy hitting the floor.
She turned off her desk lamp, heart hammering, and crouched behind her desk. The glass door to her office slid open.
Footsteps. Slow. Deliberate.
"Elena…" a voice drawled. Male. Smooth. Too calm.
She didn't move.
"You shouldn't work so late," the voice continued. "It's unsafe. Accidents tend to happen after hours."
She peeked through the desk gap. A tall man in a dark coat stood by the window, his face hidden in shadow.
Before she could even think, the elevator dinged open.
Adrian.
The intruder turned, startled, and bolted through the emergency exit. Adrian ran past her desk, calling, "Elena!"
She stood, breathless. "He was right here, he said"
"I know," Adrian cut in, glancing out the hallway. "Security's on it."
He turned back to her, eyes searching her face. "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head. "No, just shaken."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You can't stay here. Not tonight."
She hesitated, but one look at his expression,tense, worried, protective, made the decision for her.
"Fine," she said softly. "But this doesn't mean I'm giving up."
"Wouldn't dream of it," he said, taking her hand without thinking.
The warmth of his fingers startled her and yet, she didn't pull away. For the first time in years, that touch didn't feel like a memory. It felt real.
Later, at Adrian's penthouse, the city lights flickered below them like restless fireflies.
Elena sat on the edge of the couch, clutching a cup of tea while Adrian locked the door and checked the windows.
"You're paranoid," she said softly.
"I'm cautious," he corrected.
She glanced up at him. "You were always both."
That earned her a faint smile.
He sat across from her, elbows resting on his knees. "You shouldn't have to look over your shoulder like this."
"I've learned to," she said. "When you come back from the dead, paranoia becomes survival."
He looked at her for a long moment, really looked at her. "I still can't believe you're here."
Her eyes softened. "Sometimes, neither can I."
Silence lingered. The city hummed beneath them, distant and indifferent.
Then Adrian said quietly, "Elena… if something happens to me.."
She shook her head. "Don't."
"I'm serious. If Hale pushes this further, he'll go after everyone close to me. That includes you."
She met his gaze, steady. "Then we fight him together."
He stared at her, something like pride flickering in his eyes.
"God, you never change," he murmured.
"And you," she said softly, "still think you can carry the world alone."
Their gazes held too long, too close. The moment stretched between them, electric and fragile.
Then his phone buzzed. He checked the message, his expression shifting.
He looked up at her, eyes dark. "They found something. In your apartment."
Her blood went cold. "What?"
Adrian's voice dropped. "Evidence of corporate theft. Hale's moving fast."
Elena stood, her pulse roaring in her ears. "He planted it. I know he did."
"I believe you," Adrian said quietly. "But belief isn't enough this time."
He met her eyes, voice firm. "We need proof before they destroy you."
Outside, unseen from their window, a black car idled across the street.
Inside, a figure sat watching the penthouse lights through binoculars.
He lowered them and smirked. "Phase Two complete."
He made a call.
"It's done," he said. "She'll run to him. They always do."