"Behind the sleek, mahogany desk, she sat poised, her eyes fixed intently on the paperwork scattered before her. The soft glow of the desk lamp cast a warm, golden light on her face, illuminating the sharp lines of her features and the determined set of her jaw. The silence of the study was almost palpable, broken only by the soft scratch of her pen as she worked. And then, without warning, the rain began, drumming a soothing melody against the windowpane, casting a rhythmic spell that seemed to seep into the very marrow of her bones.As the rain drummed against the windowpane, she felt an unsettling chill seep into her bones. Her muscles tensed, her mind went blank, and the memories she'd long suppressed began to resurface. The coldness crept in, like a slow-moving fog, seeping into her pores and freezing her thoughts. She felt herself becoming detached, as if she was observing herself from outside her body, helpless to stop the memories from flooding back and that's when a sudden knock interrupted her thoughts bringing her back to earth from the depths of her memories, the memories that have been haunting her for years."
"Come in " her cold voice rang out, making the already frantic assistant more apprehensive.
"Her assistant slowly opened the door, his gaze directed at a point just beyond her, as he stepped inside. With evident trepidation, he seemed hesitant to speak, his presence a clear indication that he'd come to discuss something urgent. Yet, he'd deliberately broken one of her cardinal rules: never to disturb her on rainy days."
"She looked straight at him, her eyes piercing into his very being as if searching for his deepest secrets. Her gaze was unyielding, freezing him in place, until her voice shattered the silence. 'Speak,' she said, the single word jolting him back to awareness."
Christopher her assistant ,stood in front of her desk, his expression serious. "I'm afraid there's a problem with our shipment, ma'am."
She looked up from the papers she was reviewing, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "What kind of problem?"
Christopher hesitated before speaking. "It's been... detained. By someone. We're not entirely sure who yet."
Her eyes narrowed. "Detained? What do you mean detained?"
"I just got a call informing us that our shipment was confiscated the minute it reached the deck, but we're still not sure about who did it but we have that person's location."
She angrily stood up, "who dares confiscate my Kiara Wood's things "
Kiara Blackwood slammed her hand on the desk in her lightly lit study room, her eyes blazing with anger. "Who dares to confiscate my things?" she demanded, her voice echoing through the room. Christopher, her assistant, stood calmly beside her, his expression serious. "I'll get the car ready, ma'am," he said, already moving towards the door. Kiara nodded, striding out of the study room and through the mansion to the waiting car. As she stepped out into the night air, the cold wind hit her like a slap, a stark contrast to the warmth of her house. The rain that had been falling just moments before had slowed to a drizzle, but the air was still crisp and chilly. Her driver, a tall, imposing man, held the door open for her. Kiara slid into the backseat, her eyes fixed on the back of the driver's head. Christopher got into the front passenger seat, turning to face her. "We'll be there soon, ma'am," he said. Kiara nodded curtly, her expression unyielding. "Let's go," she said, her voice icy. The driver nodded, closing the door behind them and pulling away from the mansion.
As the car pulled up to the location, Kiara Blackwood's eyes narrowed. The building loomed before them, its walls imposing and unyielding. Kiara's driver opened the door for her, and she stepped out onto the wet pavement, her heels clicking sharply on the cold stone. Christopher followed closely behind her, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
Kiara's gaze swept the area, her eyes lingering on the guards stationed at the entrance. They eyed her warily, their hands resting on the butts of their guns. Kiara's expression didn't change, but her eyes flashed with annoyance. Who did this man think he was, trying to keep her out?
"Let's go," Kiara said curtly, striding towards the entrance. Christopher followed her, his eyes fixed on the guards. Kiara's heels clicked sharply on the floor, echoing off the walls as she approached the entrance. The guards stepped forward, blocking her path. "I'm afraid you can't come in here," one of them growled.
Kiara's eyes flashed with anger, but her expression remained icy. "We'll see about that," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.
Kiara's eyes locked onto the guard, her gaze piercing. "You'd do well to move out of my way," she said, her voice low and even, but with a hint of steel beneath. "Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll have to take... measures." The guard hesitated, clearly intimidated by Kiara's imposing presence. Christopher stood silently beside her, his eyes fixed on the guard, his expression unreadable.
Unseen by Kiara and Christopher, a man watched the exchange on a bank of CCTV monitors. His eyes were fixed on Kiara, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. He found her audacity intriguing - nobody dared to show up at the compound and demand entry like that.
The man's voice was low and smooth as he spoke into the comms device in his ear. "Let her in," he said, his eyes never leaving Kiara's face.
One of the guards, the one who had been arguing with Kiara, touched his earpiece, his expression changing from hostile to neutral. "Wait," he said, holding up a hand. "I've just received word to let you through."
Kiara's eyes narrowed, her expression skeptical. "How convenient," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Kiara swept past the guard, her heels clicking on the marble floor as she entered the building. Christopher followed closely behind her, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The interior of the building was just as imposing as the exterior, with high ceilings and dark wood paneling. Kiara's gaze swept the lobby, but there were no visible security cameras or obvious signs of surveillance. The atmosphere was one of understated luxury and subtle power. Kiara's eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the details, her expression unchanging. Christopher followed her gaze, his eyes watchful and alert.
As Kiara entered the opulent room, her eyes scanned the space until they landed on the figure sitting on a sleek, black leather couch, surrounded by the trappings of wealth and power. The room was dimly lit, with only a few strategically placed lamps illuminating the space. The overall effect was one of cold, calculating luxury.
He was reading a book, his features illuminated by the soft glow of a nearby lamp. Kiara's heels clicked on the marble floor as she approached him, her presence commanding attention. The man slowly raised his head, his cold eyes meeting hers.
The air in the room seemed to grow even chillier, the tension between them palpable. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the only sound the soft hum of the air conditioning. Kiara's gaze narrowed slightly, her eyes flashing with a hint of challenge. The man's expression remained unreadable, his eyes fixed on hers with an unnerving intensity.