The Choice Beneath His Desk

Part 2 – The Man Who Came to Take Her Back

Caleb Warren had made one serious mistake.

He believed Adrien Moretti would be intimidated by his family name.

He was about to discover how wrong he was.

Downstairs, six men stood inside the private lobby. Caleb wore an expensive navy suit, a gold watch, and the arrogant expression of someone who had never been told no.

“I don’t have time for this,” he snapped at the receptionist. “Tell Moretti I’m here for Emily.”

The receptionist remained calm.

“Mr. Moretti is aware of your arrival.”

“Then send him down.”

See more Stories :

A few seconds later, Daniel Russo appeared at the top of the staircase.

“Mr. Warren. Follow me.”

Caleb smiled triumphantly.

Finally, someone understood who he was.

But when he entered Adrien’s office, his smile disappeared.

Adrien stood behind his desk, his hands resting on the polished wood. Two security officers stood beside the doors.

Emily sat on the sofa behind him, wearing a borrowed cream sweater. Her hair was dry now, but her fingers were still trembling.

“Emily!” Caleb exclaimed. “What the hell are you doing here?”

She immediately lowered her eyes.

“Come here. We’re leaving.”

Emily didn’t move.

Caleb looked at Adrien.

“This is a private family matter. I appreciate your hospitality, but she’s coming home with me.”

Adrien tilted his head.

“Did she tell you she wanted to leave?”

“She doesn’t understand what’s good for her.”

See more Stories :

“Interesting.”

Adrien walked around his desk.

“I’m asking a simple question. Did she tell you she wanted to leave?”

Caleb’s jaw tightened.

“She belongs with her family.”

“That’s not an answer.”

Caleb stepped forward.

“Listen, Moretti. My family has business connections across three states. You don’t want to interfere in something that could become unpleasant.”

Daniel looked down, hiding a faint smile.

Adrien, however, didn’t smile.

“You came into my building with six armed men, demanding a woman who has explicitly refused to see you.”

He paused.

“And now you’re threatening me?”

Caleb swallowed.

“I didn’t mean—”

“Your explanation is irrelevant.”

Adrien turned toward Emily.

“Do you want to leave with him?”

Emily looked at Caleb.

For years, she had been afraid of that question.

She remembered his grip around her wrist, his threats, and the way he smiled whenever her father agreed with him.

Then she remembered Adrien’s words.

Being under my protection doesn’t mean you belong to me.

She stood.

“No.”

Caleb’s expression twisted.

“Emily, stop this childish behavior.”

“No.”

“Your father is worried sick!”

“Then you should let him know I’m alive.”

“Your father could lose the farm because of you!”

Emily’s eyes filled with tears.

“Don’t use my mother’s farm to threaten me anymore.”

Caleb laughed coldly.

“You think this man will protect you forever? You’re nobody. You have thirty-one dollars and a bag of clothes.”

Adrien’s expression became dangerously still.

“Daniel.”

“Yes, boss?”

“Escort Mr. Warren and his men outside.”

Caleb pointed at Emily.

“This isn’t over!”

Adrien stepped closer.

“For your sake, I suggest you make sure it is.”

The security officers escorted Caleb out.

Only when the doors closed did Emily finally release the breath she had been holding.

“I thought he’d make you angry,” she whispered.

Adrien returned to his desk.

“He did.”

Emily looked worried.

“But you didn’t hurt him.”

“Would that make you feel safer?”

She shook her head.

“No. I just don’t want anyone getting hurt because of me.”

Adrien studied her.

“Emily, you’re not responsible for the behavior of men who refuse to respect your decisions.”

For a moment, she couldn’t speak.

Then Daniel approached with a folder.

“Boss, there’s something else.”

Adrien opened it.

Inside were several documents concerning the Warren family’s financial dealings.

Daniel lowered his voice.

“Caleb’s father recently acquired the mortgage on the Carter farm. But the original lender transferred the debt to a company registered under a different name.”

Adrien examined the paperwork.

“Whose company?”

“Warren Holdings. They purchased the debt for less than half its original value.”

Emily looked up.

“What does that mean?”

Adrien closed the folder.

“It means your father’s financial troubles may not have been an accident.”

Her face went pale.

“Are you saying they planned this?”

“I’m saying we need to find out.”

Adrien turned to Daniel.

“Get the original loan documents. Every payment, every amendment, every signature.”

“Yes, boss.”

Emily looked at the papers.

“Please don’t destroy them.”

Adrien raised an eyebrow.

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“I want the truth. Even if it means my father made terrible mistakes.”

Adrien nodded.

“Then the truth is what you’ll get.”

That evening, Emily was taken to a secure guest residence on the top floor of the building.

For the first time in months, she slept without locking a chair against the bedroom door.

The next morning, Adrien found her sitting in the private garden, studying a small collection of potted plants.

“You’re awake early.”

Emily looked embarrassed.

“I couldn’t sleep anymore. I hope I’m not bothering anyone.”

“You’re sitting in a garden. That’s generally what they’re for.”

She smiled.

Adrien noticed a small notebook beside her.

“What are you writing?”

“Plants I want to grow someday.”

She showed him a page filled with sketches of roses, lavender, hydrangeas, and climbing vines.

He studied the drawings.

“You’re good.”

“My mother taught me.”

Emily’s voice softened.

“She used to say that plants don’t care where they start growing. They just need a chance.”

Adrien looked at her for a long moment.

Then he said something she didn’t expect.

“My mother used to grow roses.”

Emily looked up.

“Really?”

“White ones. She had an entire greenhouse.”

“What happened to it?”

Adrien looked toward the city.

“She died when I was seventeen. The greenhouse was demolished a few years later.”

Emily closed her notebook.

“I’m sorry.”

He nodded.

Then his phone rang.

Daniel’s voice came through.

“Boss, we found something. You need to see this immediately.”

Adrien’s expression hardened.

“What?”

“The Warren family didn’t just buy the farm’s debt. They also forged a document claiming Emily agreed to marry Caleb in exchange for the loan.”

Emily stood abruptly.

“What?”

Daniel continued.

“And there’s a signature on it.”

Adrien looked at Emily.

It was hers.

But she had never signed that document.