Beneath His Shadows

Elena sat at her desk, her fingers gripping her coffee cup tightly. The warmth did nothing to calm her shaking hands. The weight of the meeting with Dorian Black still pressed on her chest. She had stepped into a world far beyond what she had imagined when she applied for this job.

The whispers in the office hadn't stopped. Everyone was looking at her differently now. Some with curiosity, others with caution. She was no longer just an office worker—she was someone who had caught Xavier Kane's attention.

And that made her dangerous.

---

The Invitation

Her thoughts shattered when her phone buzzed. A single message popped up on the screen.

Xavier Kane: Come to my office. Now.

She exhaled sharply and stood. What now?

As she walked to his office, the silence in the hallway felt heavier than before. She swore she could feel eyes boring into her back, as if everyone already knew she was caught in something she couldn't escape.

When she stepped inside, Xavier was waiting, standing by the window, his hands in his pockets.

"Close the door," he said without turning around.

She hesitated before obeying.

Then he finally turned to face her, his sharp eyes scanning her expression as if reading every thought in her head. "How do you feel after last night?"

She swallowed. "Fine."

One of his eyebrows lifted slightly, amused. "Lying doesn't suit you, Elena."

She straightened. "I don't know what you expect me to say. It was intense. It was terrifying. But I did what you asked."

He took a step toward her, then another, closing the space between them. Too close.

"Good," he murmured, his voice dangerously smooth. "Because that was just the beginning."

Her breath hitched.

---

The Test

He turned and walked to his desk, picking up a small black velvet box. He tossed it to her without warning. She caught it, barely.

"Open it."

She did. Inside lay a single diamond bracelet—beautiful, expensive… and completely out of place.

Her brows furrowed. "What is this?"

Xavier leaned against the desk, arms crossed. "Your next job."

She looked up at him. "You want me to wear it?"

"I want you to deliver it." His voice was calm, but there was an edge of something darker beneath.

Elena's heartbeat quickened. "To who?"

A small smirk touched his lips. "To a woman named Celeste Beaumont."

The name made her stomach tighten. Celeste Beaumont—the rumored queen of the underworld.

"She'll be expecting you tonight," Xavier continued. "And one more thing."

His gaze darkened.

"Do not, under any circumstances, remove the bracelet from your wrist until she takes it herself."

Something in his tone sent a shiver down her spine.

"But why?" she asked.

Xavier tilted his head slightly. "Because if you do, you'll be dead before you leave the building."

---

The Night Mission

Hours later, Elena found herself standing in front of a luxurious underground casino, where Celeste Beaumont conducted her business. The bracelet felt like a ticking bomb on her wrist.

As she stepped inside, the scent of expensive perfume and burning cigars filled the air. The crowd was a mix of the elite and the dangerous—men in tailored suits, women draped in diamonds, and guards with hidden weapons.

She spotted Celeste instantly.

The woman was breathtaking—long dark hair, piercing green eyes, a presence that commanded absolute fear and respect. She sat in a private booth, swirling a glass of red wine between her fingers, her gaze already on Elena.

"You're Kane's new girl," Celeste murmured as Elena approached. "Pretty."

Elena swallowed. "I have something for you."

She lifted her wrist, showing the bracelet. Celeste's lips curled into a slow, knowing smile.

"Ah," she whispered, reaching out and unhooking it from Elena's wrist with careful fingers. "So, he finally made a move."

Elena's stomach dropped. A move? What did that mean?

Celeste chuckled, as if reading her thoughts. "Tell Xavier he's bold," she mused, slipping the bracelet onto her own wrist. "And bold men don't live long."

A cold chill ran down Elena's spine.

She needed to leave. Now.

---

A Warning and a Choice

When she returned to the office, Xavier was already waiting for her.

"Well?" he asked.

Elena dropped into the chair across from his desk, her heart still racing. "She took it. But she said something."

Xavier's expression didn't change, but she noticed the way his jaw clenched slightly.

"She said you're bold," Elena continued carefully. "And bold men don't live long."

Silence.

Then, suddenly, Xavier let out a quiet, amused laugh. "She always did have a way with words."

Elena frowned. "Xavier… what was that bracelet? What did I just do?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked around his desk, leaned down, and placed his hands on either side of her chair, caging her in.

"You delivered a message," he murmured.

Elena's pulse skyrocketed. "What kind of message?"

Xavier smirked, his face inches from hers. "One that puts me one step ahead."

Her breath caught.

She wasn't just an office worker anymore.

She was his pawn.

And the terrifying part?

She wasn't sure she wanted to escape.

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