Chapter 16: Underneath the Surface

Monday came like a slap to the face.

The office was colder than usual, buzzing with tension and artificial lighting. Kai stepped into the sleek glass lobby of VeritasCorp, tugging at the collar of his too-tight button-up shirt, trying to pretend like he wasn't still haunted by Elias' smug smirk or Adrian's mouth on his the night before.

Except… Adrian was already there.

And he looked like sin in a suit.

Black on black. Crisp. Clean. Dangerous. He leaned against the edge of the boardroom table, watching Kai walk in with that look that screamed I've tasted you and I want more.

Kai tried to act normal. Really. But his wolf whined under his skin the second their eyes met.

"Morning, Mr. Silvers," Adrian said smoothly, lips curling into a smirk that should have been illegal in the workplace.

Kai arched a brow. "You're actually on time. Color me shocked."

"I'm always on time when you're involved," Adrian replied. His voice dropped low enough for only Kai to hear. "Although I was a little disappointed to wake up alone this morning."

Kai rolled his eyes, cheeks heating. "You would've kept me in bed all day."

"I still might."

Before Kai could bite back a response, their respective teams started trickling in, folders in hand, fake smiles painted on their faces. Among them were two executives one from each company who eyed Adrian and Kai like prized pieces of meat about to be auctioned.

"Alright," the older man from Kai's company said, clapping his hands. "Let's get started. We're all professionals here, right?"

Kai barely managed to sit down before Adrian slid into the seat beside him uninvited, of course.

"Wouldn't want to miss your notes," Adrian said under his breath, lips barely moving.

"You just want to smell me," Kai muttered.

Adrian grinned. "Is it that obvious?"

Kai's foot definitely kicked his shin under the table.

The meeting dragged on with polite bullshit about brand integration, marketing synergy, and "shared visions for the future." Kai kept his focus mostly until one of the vampire execs, a young, sleek bloodsucker with glossy red lips, leaned forward and said:

"And perhaps we can celebrate the merger this Friday night? A small gala. Just key members of the project."

Kai blinked. "A… party?"

"Oh yes," she purred, glancing at Adrian. "You'll be there, of course."

Adrian nodded, his hand brushing against Kai's under the table. "Wouldn't miss it."

Kai's heart thudded. He had a bad feeling already. Vampires didn't throw "small galas." They threw traps.

When the meeting ended, Kai shoved his notes into his folder and made a beeline for the door only to feel Adrian right behind him, shadowing his every step.

"You okay?" Adrian asked once they were alone in the hallway.

"No. You heard what she said."

"She's a snake, yeah. But she won't touch you."

"Even if she doesn't, others might." Kai turned on him. "They're going to use that party to test us."

Adrian stepped closer, hands slipping into Kai's back pockets like they belonged there. "Then let them."

Kai narrowed his eyes. "You're enjoying this."

Adrian smirked, lips brushing Kai's ear. "Not as much as I'm enjoying you."

Kai swatted him, but not hard enough to make him stop. "You're trouble."

"I'm yours."

And despite everything the threat, the politics, the shadowy bloodlines Kai believed him.

Even if he was still pissed that Adrian stole the last muffin that morning.

Kai didn't expect Adrian to follow him all the way to the break room but of course he did, because that man never knew how to keep his distance. The moment the door shut behind them, Kai spun around, coffee cup in hand, ready to scold only to find himself backed against the counter, Adrian caging him in with a hand on either side.

"You're seriously going to get me fired," Kai whispered, eyes darting to the door.

"I'm seriously going to lose my mind if you keep pretending like last night didn't happen," Adrian murmured. "You came undone for me, Kai."

"I was drunk," Kai lied.

"You were honest," Adrian corrected, dipping his head closer. "And I was too."

Kai's breath caught. "That doesn't mean anything. We're still"

"Enemies?" Adrian chuckled darkly. "You keep saying that like it'll make me stop wanting you."

His lips brushed against Kai's neck, slow and deliberate, just enough pressure to make Kai shudder.

"Adrian, we're at work," Kai hissed, but there was no bite behind it. His fingers curled into Adrian's shirt without meaning to.

"So?" Adrian whispered, one fang just grazing Kai's ear. "Doesn't mean I can't remind you what I taste like."

Kai shoved him back gently, annoyingly aware of how warm his skin felt and huffed. "You're insufferable."

"And you're adorable when you're pretending not to be flustered."

Before Kai could retaliate with something clever (or profane), the break room door creaked open. One of the interns stepped in, blinked at them suspiciously, and immediately spun around with a mumbled, "I'll come back."

Kai groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I hate you."

"No, you don't," Adrian said smugly, stealing a sip of Kai's coffee and making a face. "Ugh. How do you drink this sugar sludge?"

"I'm sweet like that," Kai muttered.

Adrian grinned. "That you are."

By the time lunch rolled around, the whole office buzzed with whispers. Kai could hear his name in passing conversations, feel the curious stares, the not-so-subtle glances at him and Adrian whenever they so much as breathed near each other.

It wasn't just about their chemistry anymore it was about how obvious it had become.

And Kai hated how it thrilled him.

Later that day, Kai sat in a shared workspace, trying to focus on drafting a pitch deck. But his wolf was pacing under his skin, restless. It didn't help that Adrian kept messaging him from across the room.

Adrian: You're chewing your pen again. Distracting as hell.

Kai: You're annoying as hell.

Adrian: You didn't deny the distracting part.

Kai rolled his eyes.

Adrian: You looked beautiful last night, by the way.

Kai's breath hitched. He glanced up to see Adrian watching him not smiling, not smirking. Just watching. Like Kai was something rare and precious and breakable.

That terrified him more than anything.

Because for a vampire, Adrian was far too good at getting under his skin.