FINDING ROSE

ADRAIN 

The meeting with the school board had drained me, their persistent insistence on pre-selecting a candidate for the Sterling & Co. internship is clashing with my principles, I alone would choose.

Now, as I  walked through the parking lot, ethan by my side, the late afternoon sun catching the lines of my  suit. Each step was measured with an unspoken assertion of authority.

The parking lot stretched quiet under the afternoon sun. My car sat there four tires slashed. I stopped, letting my gaze settle on it for a brief moment. Irritation flickered, sharp and fast, but fleeting. This was nothing I couldn't fix.

"Ethan," I said, voice calm. "Arrange for another car. Tow this one."

He nodded immediately, moving to make the calls. I didn't linger, didn't fuss. The car was replaceable. The audacity behind the act? That deserved attention. That was interesting.

The replacement car arrived, and I stepped in, leaving the destroyed vehicle behind without a second thought. 

Today demanded my focus. The Sterling & Co. board awaited, and my attention shifted to the meeting, though a spark of curiosity lingered beneath my composed exterior.

Hours passed, discussion after discussion, and by the time I returned to my office, dusk had settled over the city. Ethan was waiting, tablet in hand. 

"Sir," he said quietly, sliding it across the desk. "You'll want to see this."

I raised a brow, expression neutral, but my interest was piqued. The footage played.

Her.

The girl who had dared to slash my tires. At first, I didn't recognize her. Then the memory of the earlier accident resurfaced the fear, the face from this afternoon. 

And then it hit me: the school's persistent recommendation. The one student they'd been insisting I consider for the Sterling & Co. internship.

A slow, deliberate smile touched my lips, controlled, mischievous.

"Inform the school," I said, voice low. "She will be selected. 

And... she will learn exactly what it means to provoke me."

Ethan's brow lifted, a mixture of amusement and caution in his eyes. "Understood, sir." He said as he left my office to make the necessary arrangements.

I leaned back, letting the thought linger for just a heartbeat. The car was nothing. The game? Everything.

The soft hum of my phone vibrating on the desk pulled me from my thoughts. Anthonio. I answered, voice low, measured.

"Adrian. Let's meet at Tyrel's tonight. I need a check-in. You, me, Tyrel... see how you're holding up."

I raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. "Very well," I said simply, ending the call.

By evening, we were seated in the private room of Tyrel's five-star restaurant. The thick wooden doors shut behind us, muting the clinks and chatter of the main dining hall. The soft glow of recessed lights created an intimate bubble, perfect for candid conversation.

Anthonio leaned back in his chair, that infuriating grin plastered across his face. "So," he began, eyes twinkling. "Your little car is vandalized. How does it feel to be taken down a notch?"

I let my fingers tap lightly on the polished table. My voice, low and calm, carried enough weight to hold the room. "It's... inconsequential."

Anthonio laughed, shaking his head. "Inconsequential? Adrian, you really aren't going to do anything?"

I let the silence linger, slow and deliberate, before responding. "Some things are better watched than fixed immediately."

At that moment, the tall, cool figure of Tyrel walked in, his calm presence carrying across the room. He greeted us with a smooth smile that didn't quite reach his cunning eyes, always observing. 

"Gentlemen," he said, sliding into the chair across from us. "What's all this? Secret meeting I should know about?"

Before I could answer, Anthonio leaned back, waving his hand casually. "Ah, Tyrel. Perfect timing. Adrian's car got vandalized today. Big deal. Laugh it off, right?"

Tyrel's smile widened slightly, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Vandalized, you say? That's... interesting. And how does Adrian plan to handle the culprit?"

I leaned back, letting the tension stretch, my voice slow, measured, and undeniably authoritative when I finally spoke. "That... will be handled in due time."

Anthonio burst out laughing, clapping me on the shoulder. "Oh, I like this version of you. Calm, collected, and deadly. Can't wait to see what you do next."

Tyrel's grin remained polite but sharp. "I'll admit, I'm curious as well. Watching someone like you in action is... entertaining."

I allowed myself a brief, satisfied smirk, letting them imagine all the possibilities while keeping my thoughts entirely to myself. The game had just begun.

 The waiter arrived promptly, taking our orders. Anthonio picked the flashiest dishes with a grin, Tyrel chose thoughtfully, and I kept my selection simple.

When the food arrived, I ate steadily. Anthonio laughed between mouthfuls, teasing Tyrel and me, while Tyrel's calm smile remained. 

The conversation was easy, light at times, with just enough tension beneath the surface to keep it interesting.

Anthonio leaned back after finishing, a teasing glint in his eyes. "That car of yours... still gives you trouble, huh?"

I paused, taking a slow sip of water, letting the moment stretch. "It's been dealt with," I said quietly, my voice calm but carrying weight.

Tyrel's smile curved, knowing more than he let on. Anthonio waved his hand dismissively, still grinning.

Once we were done, I set down my utensils carefully and stood. "Thank you for your company. I have business to attend to."

Anthonio's grin softened, sincere for a moment. "Careful on your way back and if you want to get a new one, my company is always open"

I allowed a faint smirk. "I'm aware."

Tyrel's sharp, calculating smile followed me as I left. 

Outside, the city stretched in quiet light. I slid into my car, as the driver drove off letting the night settle around me. 

Back at the penthouse, in one of my hotels where I made my home everything was still. Quiet. A perfect place to think, plan, and act. 

Tonight, my next move was already forming. I couldn't help but let out a little laugh.