Chapter one
CEO PRETTY TROUBLE
Chapter One — The CEO's Secret
“If you see him, don't let him know you remember.”
Those were the last words Evan Cole heard before the lights went out.
Three hours later, he was standing in front of the most feared CEO in the city.
And the man was staring at him like he'd just seen a ghost.
Evan swallowed.
“Mr. Kingston?”
No response.
The man behind the enormous black desk slowly stood.
Adrian Kingston.
Twenty-nine years old.
The youngest billionaire in the country.
Cold.
Untouchable.
And notorious for firing employees who wasted even thirty seconds of his time.
Yet right now, Adrian wasn't looking at Evan's résumé.
He wasn't looking at the contract.
He was staring at Evan's face.
His expression had changed completely.
“You.”
Evan frowned.
“Sir?”
Adrian walked around the desk.
One step.
Then another.
Evan instinctively stepped backward.
“Have we met before?”
The question caught him off guard.
“No.”
Adrian stopped directly in front of him.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“Then why do you have this?”
He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket.
Evan's blood ran cold.
A small silver pendant appeared between Adrian's fingers.
His pendant.
The one Evan had lost seven years ago.
His hand immediately went to his neck.
Empty.
Impossible.
“Where did you get that?”
Adrian didn't answer.
Instead, he asked quietly,
“Who gave this to you?”
Evan stared at him.
“It belongs to me.”
A dangerous silence filled the office.
Adrian's fingers tightened around the pendant.
“You said you don't know me.”
“I don't.”
“Then explain this.”
“I can't.”
Adrian stepped closer.
Evan's heart began pounding.
Not because Adrian was intimidating.
Because something about him felt strangely familiar.
The sharp eyes.
The quiet voice.
That scar beside his eyebrow.
Evan had seen that scar before.
But where?
Seven years ago.
A rainy night.
A boy standing beneath a streetlamp.
A promise.
I'll come back for you.
Evan's breath caught.
His memories came rushing back.
The boy he'd met when he was seventeen.
The boy who disappeared the next morning.
The boy whose name he'd never forgotten.
Adrian.
Evan looked at the man standing before him.
“No…”
Adrian's expression changed.
“You remember.”
It wasn't a question.
Evan stepped backward.
“You…”
His voice shook.
“You're him?”
Adrian said nothing.
That silence was enough.
Evan's entire world tilted.
The gentle boy from his memories was gone.
In his place stood a man whose presence could silence an entire room.
“You lied,” Evan whispered.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“I had no choice.”
“You disappeared.”
“I know.”
“You never came back.”
“I know.”
“You promised!”
Adrian suddenly grabbed the edge of the desk, his knuckles whitening.
“I know!”
The shout startled Evan.
Adrian closed his eyes.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Adrian said quietly,
“Seven years ago, someone tried to kill me.”
Evan froze.
“What?”
“I survived.”
Adrian opened his eyes.
“But the people who came after me never stopped.”
He placed the pendant on the desk.
“They found you.”
Evan's face went pale.
“What?”
“They know about you.”
A cold feeling spread through Evan's chest.
“Who?”
Adrian looked toward the dark window.
“I don't know yet.”
“Then why did you hire me?”
Adrian turned back.
“Because keeping you close is the only way I can protect you.”
Evan stared at him.
“Protect me?”
“Yes.”
“By making me your assistant?”
“Yes.”
“That makes absolutely no sense.”
“It doesn't have to.”
Adrian picked up the contract and pushed it toward him.
“Sign.”
Evan looked down.
Then back at Adrian.
“And if I refuse?”
Adrian's expression became unreadable.
“Then you'll walk out of this building alone.”
Evan stared at him.
“And?”
“You won't make it home.”
Silence.
His fingers slowly curled around the contract.
For the first time, Evan realized something terrifying.
Adrian wasn't threatening him.
He was warning him.
Then—
BANG!
The office windows exploded inward.
Evan screamed as Adrian grabbed him and pulled him behind the desk.
Glass shattered across the floor.
Security alarms erupted throughout the building.
Adrian shielded Evan with his body.
“Don't move.”
Evan's breathing became unsteady.
“Adrian…”
“Stay down.”
Footsteps thundered outside.
Someone shouted.
Then another gunshot echoed through the corridor.
Adrian looked toward the door.
His face turned frighteningly cold.
“They're here.”
Evan stared at him.
“Who?”
Adrian looked at him.
“The people who have been searching for you.”
And then the office door slowly began to open.
End of Chapter One.
