In the city of Westbridge, where each sector is built on industry and ambition. Its skyline is shaped by real estate empires, its harbors filled with cargo ships, its financial towers run by corporations that quietly control billions.
Energy companies that fuel the city's endless movement, while universities produce the next generation of leaders. In Westbridge, power doesn't just belong to one industry. It belongs to the people who know how to control them all.
And at the center of the financial district stands the Valemore Group. It's CEO, a 22-year-old brainy genius that took over the Valemore Corporation, only months after graduation, and in just two years the company had seen a lot of significant successes.
This Friday wasn't particularly different from every other day—the morning sun, was just rising, people were rushing to get to work, buses took students to their respective schools; however, there was one person who was different today.
Inside the Valemore Tower, at the top-most floor, the very handsome genius that took over the Valemore Corporation, sat in his revolving chair behind his desk. His fingers rhythmically tapping slowly on the desk, as his thoughts wandered off a bit.
Rowan's day was not normal; everything irritated him today—the moving city, the loud traffic, the late employees that were supposed to have arrived at least half an hour ago. His mind has rarely ever been emptied since the moment he turned 17, but it never really bothered him, he even got used to it, but recently—since the anniversary day—all his thoughts kept circling back to one person...and it was annoying.
He exhaled and relaxed a bit on his ergonomic chair, then a knock came through his door before Caleb stepped in, a file and cup of coffee in hand. Caleb Rhodes—the handsome, efficient and composed Personal Assistant to the CEO of Valemore Corporation.
He had known him since college, and they had been close ever since—although they'd never show it at work. He started working with him two years ago—when Rowan took over the company and he had been very helpful since then. But right now, this CEO almost considered firing, this his 'friend' for taking all the time in the world to bring his reports.
"What did you find?" Rowan questions, going straight to the point. Caleb puts the coffee on the table, opens the file and begins to explain her background.
He didn't look apologetic at all—but Rowan just ignored it, it was too early to start the day with Caleb's annoying mode of speech.
"Aurelia Thorne, the only heir to the Thorne Group. She is 20 years old, recently graduated and was raised by her aunt, who is currently the temporary acting CEO of Thorne Industries. She lost her parents in a fatal accident during winter—the Westbridge Collapse of 2012. She was the girl all over the news back then, the one who survived. She recently started working at Thorne Industries and got accepted into the Halden Executive Program." Caleb makes a pause and then adds—
"She leaves for Halden today."
He places the file on Rowan's desk, and steps back a bit. Rowan opens the file to look through it, reading the other details Caleb didn't mention. There is a photo of Aurelia in it, she looked younger—maybe a year or two back; in the photo, she wasn't smiling, she just had the same neutral expression he had seen on her.
Rowan looks up from the file and then asks a few more questions, face betraying nothing. "How long has she been working at Thorne Industries and how does the board view her?"
Caleb takes a pause, trying to read what was going through Rowan's head—and then answers. "Officially, six months since she graduated. Some board members think she's too young, while others think she's exceptional."
She didn't look weak at the gala—young... yes but not weak, more like interesting. He chuckled inwardly at the thought before looking down at the picture in the file again.
And for a moment, memories flash in his mind—of fire, ashes and this time, of blood. The echoes of a name he absolutely refused to acknowledge, haunts him but the moment quickly disappears as he closes the file.
His hand tightens slightly. "Keep monitoring the Thorne Group." Caleb raises a brow but says nothing. He just nods and turns to leave, closing the door behind him. He exhales, settling into the silence in his office while his mind took him to places, he would rather not go.
---
And about 16 miles away, at the Westbridge International Airport, someone was preparing to board her flight to Halden.
"Lee, you really are leaving me," Nadia pouted, tugging at Aurelia's clothes. They were at a café in the airport opposite the security check-in area. "Don't be dramatic, I'm not going forever and I'll be right back in a bit." Aurelia answered raising an eyebrow. "You're right, it's just three years," Nadia finally said, before adding, "Make sure you come back dating a hot guy that can fulfill all your greatest wishes," her face lighting up with a teasing smile.
"Then make sure, you have someone good, by the time I'm back, take care of yourself and don't date a repeat of that asshole—even if you do, the moment I'm back I'm chasing the idiot away." Aurelia countered before pulling her into a hug. To her, Nadia deserved the best, not some delusional piece of shit that thinks his face card would always let him get away with the crap he does.
Nadia released her, saying her final good-byes before watching her go to the security check-in area. A few minutes later, Aurelia turned back, probably to see if Nadia was still there—she was, so she waved one last time and disappeared into the VIP lounge area.
Aurelia sat in the plane staring at the city disappearing beneath her, she thought about Nadia—Surely she must have gotten home by now. She thought about her future, and those annoying old geezers that think she's incompetent just because she's young. Then she thought about how long it would take for the plane to land, it was supposed to be a ten hour flight so she was going to be up in the sky for a relatively long time.
First class was comfortable, and the hostesses were hospitable so she quickly got relaxed. However, something made her heart tighten—not pain, just a brief uneasy feeling. Like she left something important back in Westbridge. Must be nothing, she thought shaking it off while the plane continued towards Halden. As she relieved herself of all intruding thoughts, somewhere else in Westbridge, Rowan was still thinking about the girl in the file.
Neither of them knew it yet, but the distance between Westbridge and Halden would not be enough to keep their fates apart.