Zianna stared at the phone in her hand, a familiar number etched into her memory. It was the number Kian had given her, the number of the daring trader who had taken her on a wild ride through the financial world, the trader who had become an unexpected ally.
She had never met him in person.
She had never seen his face.
Their relationship had been solely through emails and phone calls, a strange dance of trust and strategy. But now, she was ready to meet him. She was ready to see the face behind the voice.
She took a deep breath, a tremor of anticipation running through her.
She typed a message, her fingers trembling slightly.
[Ready to meet.]
She sent the message, then hit the call button, her heart pounding in her chest.
A few minutes later, Kian's voice answered, calm and confident.
"Zianna, I'm ready."
They met at a small cafe, tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the murmur of hushed conversations.
Zianna looked around, scanning the faces, searching for Kian. Then, she saw him.
He was sitting by a window, his back to her. He was younger than she expected, not much older than a teenager. He was talking to a woman, his voice low and intimate.
Zianna's heart sank. Was this the woman he was with? Had he been talking about her?
She took a step closer, her mind racing.
Then, the young man turned, and her breath caught in her throat.
It wasn't the woman.
It was Kian.
He was standing, his eyes meeting hers, a flicker of recognition in his gaze.
"Zianna," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'm glad you could make it."
Zianna was speechless. The young boy, the teenager, was the mastermind behind the audacious gamble. The visionary trader. The genius behind the strategy.
He took a step closer, his voice low and intimate.
"I wanted to show you something," Kian said, "I've always played the game a little differently. Here's some proof. You can look me up. I'm Kian. The same one you've been in contact with."
He handed her a small card. It had a name, a number, and a series of codes that only Zianna, as a seasoned financial manager, could decipher.
Zianna's mind was reeling. She stared at the card, then back at Kian's face.
"How?" she finally managed to ask, her voice barely a whisper.
"The game is about seeing things differently, Zianna," Kian said, his voice laced with a subtle, almost playful, authority. "It's about thinking outside the box. It's about being smarter, faster, more agile. And it's about knowing how to move."
Zianna nodded, still struggling to process the revelation.
"So, what now?" she asked, her voice a mix of awe and trepidation.
"We have a lot of money," Kian said, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Billions. What are we going to do with it?"
Zianna knew the potential was enormous. They could buy, they could invest, they could create their own empire. But how?
Kian, as always, had an answer.
"We can use the money to create something new, Zianna," Kian said, his voice low and intense. "We can create our own company. We can build our own world. We can change the game."
He took a step closer, his eyes locking on hers, a subtle gleam of power and authority in his gaze.
"And I have an idea for how we can do it," Kian said, his voice a low murmur. "You're a genius, Zianna. You're brilliant. You're one of the best. But I'm the one who can see the bigger picture. I'm the who can create the opportunity. And I need you, Zianna. I need your skills, your intellect, your talent. You can be the face of our company, the one who makes it all happen. You'll take all the credit. The fame, the glory. But the company, the money, the power - those will be mine. I'll be the one behind the scenes, pulling the strings, making it all work."
Zianna stared at Kian, her mind racing. His proposal was bold, audacious. But it was also fair. He was offering her a partnership, a chance to be a part of something bigger than herself. But he was also laying out the terms of their agreement.
"And the money?" Zianna asked, her voice calm and steady. "What about my share?"
Kian smiled, a gleam in his eye. "You're free to do what you want with it, Zianna. Invest it, spend it, give it away. It's yours. But you'll be working for me. You'll be building my empire."
Zianna pondered his proposition, weighing the risks and the rewards. She knew she had a choice to make. She could walk away, go back to her old life, and try to forget this whirlwind adventure. But she knew, deep down, that she couldn't resist the challenge.
She couldn't resist the chance to play the game with Kian.
"Alright," she said, her voice firm and confident. "I'm in."
Kian's smile widened, a glint of triumph in his eyes. He had won her over. He had secured his partner. He had found his weapon.
"Good," Kian said, his voice low and reassuring. "We'll change the game. We'll win big. And you'll be the one who makes it all happen."
Zianna nodded, a sense of determination filling her. She knew she was taking a risk. She knew she was entering a dangerous game.
But she also knew, deep down, that she couldn't resist the allure of power. The thrill of the chase. The promise of a future that was still unwritten.
And she knew that Kian was the key to it all. He was the one who had shown her a different way, a path that led to a new world of possibility.
And she was ready to take that path, with him by her side.
A silence settled between them, a silent agreement. They had made their deal. They were partners.
"So, what's the name of the company?" Zianna asked, her voice a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.
Kian paused, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"I've been thinking," he said, his voice low and deliberate. "I want something bold. Something that reflects our vision, our ambition."
He leaned back, his eyes scanning the cafe, his mind working.
"We're going to shake things up," he said, his voice laced with confidence. "We're going to change the game. We're going to be the ones who make the rules."
He paused again, a slow smile spreading across his face.
"I have an idea." He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The company name… it's going to be… 'Starlight.' "
"Starlight," she repeated, letting the name roll off her tongue. "I like it."
Kian nodded, his gaze meeting hers.
Zianna felt a surge of excitement. She had made her decision. She was in. She was going to build an empire with Kian. She was going to change the game.
"Alright," she said, her voice filled with confidence. "Starlight it is. Let's do this."