The rain beat against the tall windows of Blackwood Tower, turning the city lights into blurry streaks of red and gold. The air smelled faintly of polished wood and expensive cologne. Everything about this room made people nervous everything, that is, except Elena Vale.
She walked into the boardroom like she owned it, heels clicking against the marble floor. Across from her, Lucien Blackwood sat at the head of the table. Calm. Cold. Dangerous. And unnervingly aware of her every move.
"Mr. Blackwood," Elena said, holding her papers steady. "I've gone through the merger terms. Some of them could leave my company at risk."
Lucien's lips curved into a tiny, sharp smile. "Risk?" he repeated, his voice low and quiet. "Or inconvenience?"
Elena met his gaze without blinking. "It's not inconvenient if it protects my company."
A hush fell over the room. Lucien wasn't used to people standing up to him. Especially not people like her.
"Explain," he said, leaning back in his chair, his eyes still fixed on her.
She pointed to her notes, explaining each clause. Every word she spoke made him more aware of her her confidence, her focus, even the faint scent of her perfume.
Then, an accident. A clerk spilled coffee on one of her pages. Elena gasped, trying to fix it, and Lucien reached across the table.
Their hands brushed. Just a touch, but electric. Elena's breath hitched. Lucien didn't flinch. His dark eyes held hers a moment longer than necessary before he returned the paper.
"You were careless," he said quietly. Not a scold more a statement.
"I'll be more careful next time," Elena replied, though her heart was racing.
Lucien's lips curved in a faint smirk. "See that you are."
The meeting ended. Everyone filed out, leaving Elena alone with her papers. As she turned to leave, Lucien called her name.
"Ms. Vale," he said.
She paused, pretending to check her notes.
"Next time," he said, voice low, "don't make mistakes like that."
Elena forced a calm tone. "I'll try not to, Mr. Blackwood."
He didn't reply. He just watched her walk away, his dark gaze following every step.
Outside, the rain soaked her hair. She pulled her coat tighter around her, trying to shake the tension from her chest. She hadn't lost not yet but something about him made her uneasy.
And neither of them knew it yet… the spark between them had already been lit.
But as Elena walked into the storm, neither of them realized this was only the beginning. And in Blackwood Tower, beginnings could be dangerous.