CHAPTER 24 — "THE BREACH"
Lena woke slowly, the world soft and blurry, her cheek pressed against the armrest of Elias's couch. The faint morning light filtered through the blinds, warm and gentle. For a single peaceful moment, she forgot everything—forgot the fear, the threats, the chaos Maya had unleashed.
Then she remembered the dream.
Footsteps.
Soft.
Slow.
Right outside the door.
She jerked upright.
Elias was sitting at his desk, hair slightly messy, shirt rumpled, as if he'd been awake for hours. He looked up the moment she moved.
"Morning," he said, voice low, warm. "Did you get any sleep?"
"I… think so." She rubbed her face. "You?"
"A little."
Lena's gaze drifted over him—his tense shoulders, the faint shadows under his eyes. He had stayed awake to watch over her. She felt a tug in her chest.
"I had this dream," Lena said quietly. "Someone was outside the door. I know it sounds ridiculous, but—"
"It's not ridiculous." Elias stood and walked to her. He crouched down again, just like yesterday. "I wasn't going to tell you, but around three in the morning… I heard something too."
Her breath froze. "What kind of… something?"
"A soft sound," he said. "Like someone brushing a hand along the wall."
A chill shot down her spine.
"Elias—"
"I checked the hallway," he added. "There was no one there. But I don't think you imagined it."
A heavy silence hung between them.
Finally, Lena whispered, "It was her."
Elias didn't argue. That alone terrified her more than anything else.
He sat beside her on the couch. Their hands found each other naturally, fingers lacing together with the familiarity of people who'd been through something life-changing.
"We need to tell Ramirez everything," Lena said. "All of it. Even the messages we didn't show him yesterday."
Elias nodded. "We will. But first…"
He hesitated.
"What?" she asked.
"There's something else you should see."
He stood, went to his desk drawer, and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He handed it to her carefully, as if he was afraid of how she'd react.
Lena unfolded it slowly.
Her breath left her body.
It was a photo.
A photo of her.
Taken from behind as she sat at a café table last week.
She remembered she had been alone.
She remembered feeling watched.
On the back, in neat handwriting:
"YOU WERE ALWAYS MEANT TO BE FOUND."
Her stomach twisted. She knew the handwriting instantly.
Maya.
"How—how long have you had this?" Lena whispered.
"It was slipped under my office door late last night," Elias said. "I found it around midnight. I didn't want to wake you."
Lena covered her mouth with her hand. Tears prickled at her eyes—fear, violation, fury, all tangled together.
Elias reached for her but stopped short, giving her the chance to move away if she needed to. She didn't. She leaned into him, pressing her forehead against his chest.
"She's not just unstable," Lena said shakily. "She's obsessed."
"Yes," Elias murmured into her hair. "And obsession makes people dangerous."
A knock sounded at the door.
Both of them froze.
Three soft taps.
Then silence.
Elias slowly stood and motioned for Lena to stay behind him. She grabbed his sleeve anyway.
He mouthed, "It's okay," and approached the door quietly.
He opened it just a crack.
It wasn't Maya.
It was Professor Ramirez again—but this time he looked disturbed, almost pale.
"Elias," he said urgently, "I need to speak with both of you. Now."
Elias opened the door fully, but Ramirez stepped inside quickly, glancing down the hall before shutting it behind him.
"Something happened," Ramirez said. He looked directly at Lena, with an expression that made her stomach drop. "Maya filed the complaint."
Lena felt dizzy. Elias's jaw tightened.
Ramirez continued, "She claimed misconduct. Inappropriate behavior. Power imbalance. Emotional manipulation. She mentioned… an intimate relationship between the two of you."
Lena's heart hammered. "But that's not— We didn't—"
"I know," Ramirez said firmly. "I know neither of you crossed that line. And I told the dean that Maya may be unstable, and that there are other concerns I'm investigating. But you need to understand—once these accusations are formally logged, there has to be an inquiry."
Elias didn't move. Didn't breathe. His career—years of work—was now hanging by a thread because of Maya's obsession.
"I'll cooperate fully," Elias said. "I have nothing to hide."
Ramirez nodded. "Good. I'll support you in every way I can. But be prepared. She won't stop here."
Lena swallowed hard. "She's escalating, isn't she?"
"Yes," Ramirez admitted. "And I'm worried she's planning something bigger."
He turned to Elias. "If you have any evidence—anything—bring it to me immediately."
"We do," Elias said. He handed him the photo.
Ramirez stared at it for a long moment. "This… changes everything."
"Good," Lena whispered. "Because I'm tired of being afraid."
Ramirez gave a single, grave nod and left.
The moment the door clicked shut, Lena sank onto the couch. Elias sat beside her without hesitation.
"This is my fault," she said.
"Don't," Elias said sharply. "Don't you dare blame yourself for what she's doing."
Lena looked at him—really looked—and saw a man who would sacrifice everything for her safety.
"I won't let her destroy your career," she said. "I won't."
"You're not the one destroying anything," he said softly, cupping her cheek. "Maya is. And I'll face whatever I have to, as long as you're safe."
His thumb brushed away a tear she didn't realize had fallen.
"Lena," he whispered, voice barely holding together, "I need you to trust me. Even when this gets worse."
"I do trust you," she breathed. "I always have."
Their foreheads touched, the world shrinking to just the two of them and the quiet, trembling bond between their hearts.
But neither of them saw the shadow moving past the small office window.
Neither of them noticed the soft imprint of a hand on the outside glass.
Maya had been there.
Watching.
Listening.
Waiting.
And her next move would not be subtle.
Not anymore.