Shadows of Obsession

The city of New York never truly slept. Skyscrapers stood tall against the midnight sky, their glass windows reflecting the pale glow of streetlights. In the heart of it all, Knight Enterprises, a towering empire built on power and ruthlessness, remained alive even after hours.

Inside the dimly lit office on the topmost floor, a young woman sat at her desk, her tired eyes glued to the computer screen.

Meet Alina Brooks – The Innocent Prey

Alina Brooks had never been the kind of girl to seek attention. She loved her quiet life, her stable job, and the simple joy of sipping coffee while watching the rain from her tiny apartment window.

But lately, she had been feeling… uneasy.

The feeling of being watched had started weeks ago. At first, she thought she was imagining it—brushing off the occasional shivers running down her spine. But then came the messages.

Her phone buzzed, and she hesitated before looking.

Unknown Number: Didn’t I tell you to go home early, Alina?

Her breath hitched.

Her eyes darted around the empty office space, her heart pounding.

She typed back with trembling fingers.

Alina: Who is this?

Three dots appeared… then disappeared. Silence.

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to breathe. Maybe she was overthinking. Maybe it was a prank.

But deep down, she knew it wasn’t.

Someone was watching her.

And they were closer than she realized.

---

Meet Aiden Knight – The Cold Protector

A heavy knock on the glass door made her jump.

Alina turned sharply, her eyes widening.

There he was.

Aiden Knight.

Her boss. CEO of Knight Enterprises. The man everyone feared.

He stood in the doorway, dressed in a crisp black suit, his piercing blue eyes scanning the room with unreadable intensity. His sharp jawline and broad shoulders only added to his aura of dominance.

Aiden wasn’t just powerful. He was untouchable.

But right now, his gaze was fixed only on her.

“What the hell are you still doing here?” His deep, authoritative voice sent a shiver down her spine.

Alina swallowed. “I—I had work.”

He exhaled sharply, his jaw clenching. “At this hour?”

She hesitated. How could she tell him she was afraid to go home? That someone was watching her, following her, invading her life?

Aiden’s eyes darkened as he stepped closer.

“Go home, Alina,” he said, voice low. “Now.”

She nodded quickly, gathering her things.

As she reached for her phone, another message appeared.

Unknown Number: You left just in time. He almost saw me.

Alina felt the world tilt beneath her.

Somewhere in the dark, someone was watching. Waiting. And he was closer than she thought.

---

Meet Kai Reynolds – The Unseen Threat

Across the street, leaning against his black Maserati, Kai Reynolds watched her.

His silver hair glowed under the city lights, and his blood-red eyes gleamed with something dangerous… obsessive.

She looked so innocent. So unaware. So… his.

He ran his thumb over his phone screen, smirking at the message he had just sent her.

She was scared.

Good.

Kai had been watching Alina for months. She belonged to him—she just didn’t know it yet.

He had been patient. Leaving her small hints, warnings, signs of his presence.

But now, Aiden Knight was getting too close.

Kai’s smirk faded. His fingers twitched.

Aiden thought he could protect her? How amusing.

Because in the end, Alina would always be his.

---

Meet Ava Mitchell – The Best Friend & Voice of Reason

The next morning, Alina sat at a café, stirring her coffee absentmindedly.

"Earth to Alina?"

Alina snapped out of her daze as Ava Mitchell, her best friend, waved a hand in front of her face.

Ava was bold, sharp, and fiercely protective. Unlike Alina, she never hesitated to speak her mind.

"You look like you’ve seen a ghost," Ava said, sipping her latte.

"Maybe I have…" Alina muttered, thinking about the texts.

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Don’t tell me you’re still getting those creepy messages?"

Alina hesitated. Then, reluctantly, she nodded.

Ava slammed her cup down. "That’s it. We’re going to the police."

Alina panicked. "No! It’s just… I don’t want to make a big deal out of nothing."

Ava groaned. "Alina, this is NOT nothing. You have a stalker."

Alina bit her lip. Deep down, she knew Ava was right.

But what terrified her the most was the feeling that her stalker wasn’t just watching.

He was getting closer.

---

Meet Daniel Carter – The Right-Hand Man

Inside Knight Enterprises, a man leaned against Aiden’s desk, arms crossed.

Daniel Carter—Aiden’s best friend and right-hand man—was the only person who dared to challenge him.

"You know," Daniel smirked, "this is the first time I’ve seen you actually care about an employee."

Aiden didn’t look up from his work. "Don’t start."

Daniel chuckled. "I’m just saying, you’re getting… protective over a woman."

Aiden’s grip on his pen tightened. "She’s in danger."

Daniel raised a brow. "From whom?"

Aiden finally looked up, his blue eyes darkening. "Someone who won’t stop until he has her."

Daniel’s smirk vanished. "Then we have a problem."

A big one.

---

The Stalker Leaves His Mark

That night, Alina returned home, exhausted.

She turned on the lights and gasped.

On her bed was a single black rose.

A note lay beside it. Her hands trembled as she picked it up.

"You think he can protect you? Sweetheart, I’ve been watching you long before he even knew you existed. You're mine. And I’ll prove it soon."

The blood drained from Alina’s face.

Somewhere in the dark, Kai Reynolds smirked.

Game on.

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To Be Continued…

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