Chapter 23: Behind the Curtain

Kian sat stiffly in the private room, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. Across the table, Adrian was calm and collected, his sharp gray eyes focused on the man who had just joined them. The older man exuded an air of authority, his presence commanding yet restrained.

"Let's start from the beginning," the man said, his voice steady. "My name is William Harlow. I'm part of the Board of Directors for Blackwell Enterprises."

Kian's chest tightened, his gaze flicking to Adrian, who nodded slightly.

"Why is someone from the board here?" Kian asked cautiously.

"Because Adrian thought it was time you understood the stakes," Harlow replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "And because certain truths are easier to hear when they come from an impartial party."

Kian's stomach churned. "What truths?"

Harlow leaned forward, his hands resting on the table. "Adrian has been under scrutiny from the board for months. His position as head of his department is strong, but Blackwell Enterprises is a competitive environment. People like Marcus Calloway see that strength as a challenge—and they exploit vulnerabilities where they can find them."

Kian frowned, his mind racing. "What does this have to do with me?"

Harlow exchanged a glance with Adrian before continuing. "You're one of Adrian's top assets, Kian. Your work is exemplary, and your contributions to the Rowland campaign alone have elevated your entire team's standing. But that also makes you a target."

"A target?" Kian repeated, his voice trembling.

"Yes," Harlow said simply. "Marcus didn't just come after you because he's ambitious—he came after you because undermining you meant undermining Adrian."

Kian's chest tightened, the weight of the words settling over him. "So... everything Marcus did, all the questions, the meetings... it was all to hurt Adrian?"

"In part," Harlow said. "But Marcus also wanted to climb the ladder, and he saw you as both a stepping stone and a weak link. He believed that if he could turn you against Adrian, he could destabilize this department enough to position himself for a promotion elsewhere."

Kian's thoughts spiraled, Marcus's manipulative words echoing in his mind. "Why didn't anyone tell me this sooner?"

Adrian spoke for the first time, his voice low but firm. "Because I didn't want you to carry that burden. Your job is to focus on your work, Kian, not on office politics."

"That's not good enough," Kian snapped, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "You could've warned me. Instead, I've spent weeks feeling like I'm caught in the middle of something I didn't even understand."

Adrian's expression softened, though his tone remained steady. "You're right. I should have told you sooner. But I thought I could handle Marcus without involving you. Clearly, I underestimated him—and I underestimated you."

Kian clenched his fists under the table, his emotions warring within him. "What about the folder Marcus gave me? The emails, the deals—they made it look like you've been manipulating everyone, Adrian."

Harlow spoke again, his tone sharp. "Those documents were taken out of context. Marcus cherry-picked pieces of correspondence to paint Adrian in the worst possible light. Every decision Adrian made was approved by the board and was in the best interest of the company."

"But some of them... didn't feel right," Kian admitted, his voice quieter now.

"Leadership isn't always about doing what feels right," Harlow said bluntly. "Sometimes it's about making hard choices to protect the people who depend on you. Adrian has done that consistently—and he's done it well."

Kian's gaze shifted to Adrian, his chest tightening. "Why didn't you explain this before? Why let me doubt you?"

Adrian sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Because I thought actions would speak louder than words. But I underestimated how much damage Marcus could do with his lies."

Kian stared at him, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions. He wanted to believe Adrian, to trust that his intentions had always been genuine. But the doubts Marcus had planted weren't so easily dismissed.

"Why do you care so much about protecting me?" Kian asked finally, his voice trembling.

Adrian's gray eyes softened, a rare flicker of vulnerability crossing his face. "Because you're one of the best people I've ever worked with. And because... I respect you, Kian. More than you realize."

Kian's breath hitched, the weight of Adrian's words settling over him. For all his flaws, Adrian's protectiveness felt real—something Marcus's lies couldn't fully erode.

"What happens now?" Kian asked, his voice quieter.

"Now," Harlow said, standing, "you go back to work and focus on what you do best. Marcus is no longer an issue, and Adrian has the full support of the board. As far as we're concerned, this matter is closed."

Kian nodded slowly, though the tension in his chest remained.

As Harlow left the room, Adrian stood, his gaze steady as he looked at Kian. "Do you believe me now?"

Kian hesitated, his emotions swirling. "I think I'm starting to."

Adrian's lips curved into a faint smile, though there was no triumph in it. "That's enough for now."

Kian stood, clutching his bag tightly. "I need time, Adrian. To process all of this."

"Take all the time you need," Adrian said, his voice soft but firm. "But know that I'll always have your back, Kian. No matter what."

Kian nodded, the weight of Adrian's words lingering as he walked out of the room.

---

That night, as Kian sat in his apartment, the storm in his mind finally began to quiet. The truth Adrian and Harlow had revealed didn't erase the doubts completely, but it gave Kian a new perspective—one that made the path forward a little clearer.

For the first time in weeks, Kian felt like he was starting to understand the game he'd been caught in. And while he wasn't sure who would win, one thing was certain: he wasn't going to be a pawn anymore.

The silence of Kian's apartment was a stark contrast to the chaos that had consumed his thoughts for weeks. He sat on the couch, staring at the folder Marcus had given him, now closed and tucked into his bag. The questions it raised still lingered, but Adrian's words—and Harlow's directness—had cast a new light on the situation.

Kian's phone buzzed on the coffee table, breaking his reverie. He glanced at the screen, his heart tightening when he saw Adrian's name.

---

Adrian Blackwell:

Are you okay?

---

Kian hesitated. Adrian's protectiveness still felt overwhelming at times, but tonight, it carried a different weight. He couldn't ignore the vulnerability he'd glimpsed in Adrian's voice earlier—the rare, unguarded moment that made him question everything Marcus had said.

After a moment, Kian typed a reply.

---

Kian Vale:

I'm trying to figure that out.

---

The response came almost immediately.

---

Adrian Blackwell:

Fair. But if you want to talk, you know where to find me.

---

Kian stared at the message, his chest tightening. Adrian's words seemed simple on the surface, but Kian knew there was more to them—a subtle offer, an acknowledgment of the trust they were still rebuilding.

With a shaky breath, Kian set his phone down and leaned back against the couch. The tension that had followed him for weeks wasn't gone, but it felt less suffocating now, like a storm that had started to break.

---

The next morning, Kian arrived at the office with a sense of cautious determination. The air was still charged with whispers about Marcus's sudden departure, but Kian tuned them out, focusing instead on the tasks waiting at his desk.

He had barely logged into his computer when Lila appeared at his cubicle, her arms crossed and her expression curious.

"Alright, spill," she said, leaning against the edge of his desk.

Kian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "What now?"

"You had a look on your face yesterday," Lila said, narrowing her eyes. "Like you were carrying the weight of the world. And now you look... calmer. What happened?"

Kian hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I got some answers about Marcus."

Lila's eyebrows shot up. "Oh? Care to share?"

"Not really," Kian admitted, offering her a faint smile. "But let's just say things make a lot more sense now."

Lila studied him for a moment before nodding. "Well, I'm glad. You've been through the wringer lately, and you deserve a break."

"Thanks," Kian said softly.

As Lila walked away, Kian turned his attention back to his work, grateful for the sense of normalcy it brought.

---

By mid-afternoon, the tension in Kian's chest had eased enough for him to focus fully on the task at hand: preparing a proposal for a high-profile client Adrian had assigned to him. The work was demanding, but Kian welcomed the distraction, letting the familiar rhythm of brainstorming and drafting soothe his nerves.

He was deep in thought when Adrian appeared at his cubicle, his presence as commanding as ever.

"How's the proposal coming along?" Adrian asked, his tone calm but professional.

"It's coming together," Kian replied, gesturing to the documents spread across his desk. "I should have a draft ready by the end of the day."

"Good," Adrian said, his gray eyes scanning the materials. "This client is important, Kian. I trust you to handle it."

Kian nodded, his chest tightening at the unexpected compliment. "Thanks. I won't let you down."

Adrian's lips curved into a faint smile, though his gaze remained steady. "I know you won't."

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence between them charged with unspoken words.

"About last night," Kian began, his voice tentative.

Adrian raised an eyebrow, his expression softening. "What about it?"

Kian hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I'm not saying I fully understand everything yet, but... I appreciate you being honest with me. And I'm sorry I doubted you."

Adrian's expression shifted, the faintest flicker of relief crossing his face. "You had every right to doubt me, Kian. I should've been more transparent from the start."

Kian offered a small, tentative smile. "Maybe. But I think I'm starting to understand why you handled things the way you did."

Adrian nodded, his gray eyes steady. "Good. Because we're just getting started."

Kian's smile widened slightly, the tension in his chest easing just a little more. For the first time in weeks, he felt like they were on the same page—like they were finally moving forward together.

---

That evening, as Kian packed up his things, he felt a sense of quiet satisfaction. The proposal was nearly complete, and the doubts that had plagued him for weeks no longer felt so insurmountable.

As he stepped into the elevator, his phone buzzed with a new message.

---

Adrian Blackwell:

Dinner tomorrow? My treat. I think we've earned it.

---

Kian stared at the message, a small smile tugging at his lips. For all the chaos they had been through, Adrian's offer felt like a gesture of trust—one Kian wasn't ready to turn down.

---

Kian Vale:

You're on.

---

As the elevator doors closed, Kian felt a flicker of hope that the storm was finally beginning to clear.