Secrets And Shadows

Noah couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Not during work.

Not during class.

Not even when he was trying to sleep.

⸻

Who was Adrian Knight?

⸻

The question kept repeating inside his head.

Because nothing about that man made sense.

⸻

Normal people didn’t live in mansions guarded by armed security.

Normal people didn’t have private doctors.

Normal people didn’t make strangers run away in fear with a single look.

⸻

And yet…

Despite all the warning signs…

Noah couldn’t bring himself to be afraid.

⸻

Which was probably a terrible idea.

⸻

Three days later, Noah sat in the campus library pretending to study.

Pretending.

Because his laptop screen currently displayed a search engine.

And the words:

Adrian Knight.

⸻

He pressed Enter.

⸻

Several articles immediately appeared.

⸻

Knight Corporation CEO Expands Global Business Empire.

Young Billionaire Adrian Knight Named One of the Most Influential Businessmen in America.

Knight Corporation Shares Reach Record High.

⸻

Noah’s eyes widened.

⸻

“Billionaire?”

⸻

He clicked another article.

Then another.

And another.

⸻

The more he read, the more shocked he became.

⸻

Adrian wasn’t just rich.

He was unbelievably rich.

The kind of rich that owned skyscrapers.

Private jets.

Luxury hotels.

Entire companies.

⸻

“No wonder he lives in a palace.”

Noah muttered.

⸻

But something felt strange.

⸻

Very strange.

⸻

There were hundreds of articles about Adrian’s business achievements.

Yet almost nothing about his personal life.

⸻

No interviews.

No family information.

No close friends.

Nothing.

⸻

It was as if someone had deliberately erased half his existence.

⸻

And somehow…

That was even more suspicious.

⸻

“Noah.”

⸻

Noah nearly jumped out of his chair.

⸻

Liam stared at him.

⸻

“You’ve been staring at your laptop for twenty minutes.”

⸻

Noah quickly closed the screen.

⸻

“Nothing.”

⸻

Liam narrowed his eyes.

⸻

“You’re hiding something.”

⸻

“I’m not.”

⸻

“You are.”

⸻

“I’m not.”

⸻

“You absolutely are.”

⸻

Noah sighed.

⸻

Some things never changed.

⸻

Meanwhile…

Across the city…

Adrian was having a much worse day.

⸻

His office occupied the top floor of one of the tallest buildings downtown.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city.

Expensive furniture filled the room.

Every detail screamed power.

⸻

Yet Adrian’s attention wasn’t on any of it.

⸻

His attention was on the photograph lying on his desk.

⸻

A photograph of Noah.

⸻

Luca walked into the office.

Then stopped.

⸻

“Boss.”

⸻

Adrian didn’t answer.

⸻

“Are you staring at Noah again?”

⸻

Adrian finally looked up.

⸻

“No.”

⸻

Luca pointed at the photograph.

⸻

“Really?”

⸻

Silence.

⸻

Luca laughed.

⸻

Because everyone in the organization had noticed.

⸻

The boss was distracted.

⸻

Dangerously distracted.

⸻

And the cause was always the same.

⸻

Noah Parker.

⸻

The sweet college student who somehow managed to occupy Adrian’s thoughts twenty-four hours a day.

⸻

“It’s becoming a problem.”

Luca said.

⸻

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

⸻

“What is?”

⸻

“You.”

⸻

Adrian looked unimpressed.

⸻

“Very specific.”

⸻

Luca ignored him.

⸻

“You visited his bookstore.”

⸻

“So?”

⸻

“You asked for updates about him.”

⸻

“So?”

⸻

“You know his class schedule.”

⸻

Silence.

⸻

Luca smiled.

⸻

“Exactly.”

⸻

Adrian looked away.

⸻

Because unfortunately…

Luca wasn’t wrong.

⸻

For the first time in years…

Someone interested him.

⸻

Someone who wasn’t trying to impress him.

Use him.

Fear him.

Or manipulate him.

⸻

Someone genuine.

⸻

Someone kind.

⸻

Someone named Noah.

⸻

The realization was dangerous.

⸻

Very dangerous.

⸻

Especially for a man like Adrian.

⸻

That evening, Noah left campus later than usual.

⸻

The sky had already grown dark.

⸻

Streetlights illuminated the sidewalks.

⸻

A cool breeze drifted through the city.

⸻

And for the first time all day…

Noah felt relaxed.

⸻

Until he noticed the black SUV.

⸻

Parked across the street.

⸻

His stomach tightened.

⸻

Because he had seen that vehicle before.

⸻

At Adrian’s mansion.

⸻

“No way.”

⸻

The SUV remained still.

⸻

So did Noah.

⸻

Several seconds passed.

⸻

Then the passenger door opened.

⸻

And Luca stepped out.

⸻

Noah blinked.

⸻

“What are you doing here?”

⸻

Luca smiled.

⸻

“Good evening, Noah.”

⸻

“No.”

⸻

Luca laughed.

⸻

“No?”

⸻

“No mysterious greetings.”

⸻

“No weird surprises.”

⸻

“No billionaire bodyguards appearing in dark SUVs.”

⸻

Luca looked genuinely amused.

⸻

“You sound stressed.”

⸻

“I wonder why.”

⸻

That only made Luca laugh harder.

⸻

Finally, he handed Noah a small envelope.

⸻

Noah stared at it.

⸻

“What is this?”

⸻

“A message.”

⸻

“From Adrian?”

⸻

“Yes.”

⸻

Noah immediately became suspicious.

⸻

“What kind of message?”

⸻

Luca’s smile widened.

⸻

“The boss wanted to invite you to dinner.”

⸻

Silence.

⸻

Complete silence.

⸻

Noah looked at the envelope.

Then at Luca.

Then back at the envelope.

⸻

“Dinner?”

⸻

“Tomorrow night.”

⸻

“No.”

⸻

Luca blinked.

⸻

“No?”

⸻

“No.”

⸻

The answer came so quickly that even Noah surprised himself.

⸻

Luca looked shocked.

⸻

Nobody said no to Adrian Knight.

⸻

Nobody.

⸻

Yet Noah had done it twice.

⸻

And somehow…

Luca had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time.

⸻

Far away, sitting in his office, Adrian’s phone buzzed.

⸻

A message from Luca.

⸻

He said no.

⸻

For several seconds, Adrian stared at the screen.

⸻

Then slowly…

A smile appeared.

⸻

Because Noah Parker was proving to be far more interesting than anyone he’d ever met.

⸻

And Adrian had no intention of giving up.

To Be Continued… ❤️🔥

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