The morning sun barely seeped through the tinted glass of Lucian Vale's skyscraper headquarters in Manhattan. A symbol of power and prestige, the towering Vale Industries building overlooked the city, standing as a testament to its owner's unstoppable ambition.
Inside, the executive conference room exuded the same luxury and authority as the man who owned it. A long obsidian table, floor-to-ceiling windows, and state-of-the-art technology surrounded the high-profile meeting. Lucian Vale sat at the head, his presence alone commanding the room.
Dressed in an immaculate black three-piece suit, tailored to perfection, Lucian looked untouchable. His broad shoulders and sculpted physique made even the most powerful men in the city feel smaller in his presence. The dark vest hugged his torso, the white silk shirt crisp beneath it, and a luxury watch gleamed on his wrist—a silent reminder of his wealth. He tapped his gloved fingers on the table, sharp eyes locked on the ongoing presentation.
At the front of the room stood Bianca, his stunning Black secretary, flawlessly dressed in a deep navy bodycon dress that screamed both power and elegance. Her heels clicked against the polished floor as she presented the latest expansion strategy to two VIP clients. Her voice was silk and steel, confident, professional, unshaken.
Beside Lucian, Logan Briggs sat—his imposing figure clad in a dark gray tactical suit, looking more like a bodyguard than a gym trainer. His presence was intentional; he wasn't just there for security—he was there to remind the world that Lucian Vale wasn't a man to be crossed. His sharp blue eyes scanned the room, always assessing threats.
Near the door, Nina Hayes, his executive assistant, stood poised and efficient in a sleek black pencil skirt and a pristine white blouse. The tablet in her hand pinged softly, an incoming email lighting up the screen. As she opened it, her expression shifted.
Something significant had just landed in her inbox.
She leaned slightly toward Lucian, lowering her voice so only he and Logan could hear.
"Mr. Vale, we have a lead."
Lucian's eyes flicked toward her. He never missed anything.
"What lead?" His voice was calm, but dangerous.
Nina turned the tablet slightly, revealing the email.
Celeste Carter.
Her resume, her photographs, and—most importantly—a picture of her standing with the enemy.
Lucian's eyes darkened.
Something inside him twisted as his gaze locked onto the photograph. The man beside Celeste—the enemy—hadn't changed much in eleven years. Same smug arrogance, same deceitful smirk.
A ghost from the past.
Lucian exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening against the armrest of his chair. For a moment, the conference room faded, drowned out by the roaring memories clawing at his mind.
The past was knocking.
He stood abruptly. "Continue without me."
Bianca barely faltered in her presentation. The clients remained unaware, but Logan and Nina exchanged glances as Lucian turned on his heel and strode toward his private penthouse office—a place where only a few were ever allowed to enter.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Lucian pulled off his gloves and tossed them onto the mahogany desk. His breaths were measured, controlled, but his jaw was clenched so tightly it ached.
He turned back to the tablet, his gaze burning into Celeste's photograph.
And then, slowly, his eyes drifted to the man beside her.
His enemy.
Lucian Vale had spent eleven years preparing for this moment.
And now, the game has finally begun.