The sun hit Obsidian Tech's glass facade like it was made of diamonds. Lena stepped out of the car, her heels sharp against the pavement, and for a moment, it felt like the world stopped to watch her walk. As she entered the lobby, a wave of applause erupted. “Lena!” “She did it again!” “You’re amazing!” Cameras flashed. Faces beamed. The hallway echoed with the sound of hands clapping and voices cheering. It felt like a dream—no, a vindication. Behind her smile was a cocktail of pride and satisfaction. All those nights burning through coffee and contracts, second-guessing herself, getting help from random anonymous persons... This made it worth it. Obsidian Tech had signed a deal. A real one. High seven-figures in licensing fees for their software solution—and she had landed it. What no one knew, what even she didn’t fully realize, was that the seed money for her first startup office, the marketing boost that gave her early traction, the quiet emails from "an anonymous invest

The venue was nothing short of breathtaking, its towering glass walls glistening under the dusky city lights. The grand event was being held in one of the most coveted locations in the city—a building owned by Echelon Eight, the empire whose shadow loomed over the business world like a storm. In the heart of this architectural masterpiece was the Echelon Tower, an exclusive establishment where world leaders, corporate giants, and the wealthiest elites gathered for affairs of power and wealth. The building itself symbolized the epitome of success. Echelon Eight had its hands in every major industry—finance, technology, real estate, and even covert operations. If you wanted to change the world, you made a deal with them. If you wanted to stay on top, you stayed in their good graces.************** Inside Echelon Tower, Rowan Kane sat in a lavish office, bathed in the warm golden light of sunset. Around him were ten servants—dressed in black, each holding garments and accessories

He wasn’t the same. His clothes? Impeccable. His suit was tailored to perfection, not the modest, understated style he had once worn. It was dark—almost black—but with a sheen that caught the light in a way that suggested wealth, refinement. His shoes—polished, perfectly cut—shone under the soft lighting of the ballroom. Everything about him screamed power. The subtle details of his appearance, his cold but assured demeanor, made him stand out among the crowd like a predator among prey. He was no longer the man she had dismissed. And then there was his aura. There was a gravity around him now, a subtle force that made the air feel thicker whenever he moved through it. He wasn’t just another face in the crowd anymore. Rowan had become something more—a man who commanded attention without saying a word. But what really caught Lena’s attention was the way the people around him treated him. She had been walking toward the bar when she saw him. At first, she thought it was just someone

The following morning, Lena was up early. She dashed into the bathroom quickly, water cascading down her body, and then she dressed in the most exquisite dress she had in her wardrobe. “Looks like someone is about to kick some ass this morning.” a voice from her bed echoed in her ear. She quickly startled in extreme shock. “Who.. who’s that?” she asked, almost stammering. The guy rose up. Naked. His abs and muscles all over the place. It was Dominic. For a moment, Lena was quickly drawn in and enticed by his build, his muscles, and most especially, his big black wood, staring right at her with a smug, knowing glint. “You don’t remember, do you?” Dominic stretched, his voice smooth as silk, but laced with mischief. “You were a mess last night. One too many glasses, a cab ride home... and well, here we are.” Lena’s heart raced, her mind scrambling through the blurry fragments of the night before. Bits and pieces came rushing back — the drinks, the humiliation, the silent drive

The sudden burst of activity in Lena's office had its own rhythm. Emails flooded in, calls stacked one after another, and for the first time in days, the air felt breathable and the Air Conditioning seemed to cool her off. She leaned back in her chair, watching the phone screen buzz with the kind of energy she hadn't seen in weeks—green lights, responses, follow-ups. Movement. Dominic strolled in with that devil-may-care smile of his, a portfolio tucked under his arm. He set it down gently in front of her. "Asset recovery from the Morgenthal proposal. They agreed to revisit the terms," he said. “And the tech sector wing of Dorne Ventures just confirmed their pitch appointment. You’re on fire, Lena.” She didn’t smile. Just nodded, thumbing through the paperwork. “This doesn’t mean we’ve won,” she said. Dominic chuckled. “No, but it means we’re not bleeding anymore.” A soft knock came at the door. Her assistant peeked in, holding a sealed envelope and a coffee. “From Mr. Granger