napping point of his patience. He sank into the high-end leather chair, taking a deep breath to suppress the searing pain radiating from deep within-a brutal manifestation of the ma

ccably groomed hair, his bloodshot, sleep-d

rl has

ed an enigma behind the heavy oak door. He wondered: was he being too callous, preparing to turn a woman into a mer

k, k

t, smoothing the creases of his vest-a Pavlovian reflex

remained fixed on the lifeless file on his desk, his lips pressed into a thin, hard line. He chose silence t

wood, and heavy painkillers. Aiden heard hesitant footsteps on the polished marble floor. Unlike the sharp, assertive click o

ld, neutral palette. Under the dim lights, the red appeared misplaced, even defiant. Upon closer inspection, the leather at the heels was slightly worn-a testament to t

asked, his fingers aimlessly flipping through papers. His

m; it didn't feel like fear, but rather a frozen state of shock. Just as he was about to look up and hurl a scat

Jane. It's a plea

h

white page. His entire body stiffened as if struck by a high-voltage current. His heart skipped a beat,

as if he were bearing the entire

nged with a hidden melancholy; the same saintly face of his unrequited first love-the girl he only dared to watch

her eyes, he was now just a stranger-a powerful, dangerous, and oppressive man. She could never f

e, who told yo

chest. He offered no warmth in his greeting; instead, he fixed her with a scrutinizing

rd fury. Why was a girl as proud and intelligent as Alma standing here? Why had she appeared in this space, thick with

ry defense, realize with bitter clarity that she was nothing more than a commodity

reeze whatever courage she had left. Alma bit her lip, her eyes flickering with wary hesitation. She felt suffocated in the vastness of the room. The man in front of her was n

ands gripping the straps of her handbag so tightly her knuckles turned white. "

al instinct screamed at her to flee from this terrifyin

ted, his voice firm and absolute-a comman

ld fate ever grant him a second chance in the six short months he had left? A dark, primal sense of possessiveness surged within him

er, a bitter, faint smile ghosting his lips. "But he withheld the name. So, I n

er, the haunting image of her father's gaunt face and the mountain of unpaid bills forced her

entity. Her voice was still strained with extreme tension, yet a spark of resilienc

distant motion: "Take a seat, Miss Alma. We shall se

nk y

her skirt and sat gingerly on the edge of the seat, mirroring the ex

es brimming with hope. "I have prepared my resu

ndows, looking out at the city as the lights began to flicker on. He needed to turn his back so Alma wou

he glass reflection. A message had just arrived from Nolan: "Here is the final candidate's file. I

l resume with nothing

willing to accept a humiliating transaction for money. But hearing her mention "professional qualifications" and seeing how she c

thrown a desperate angel into the clutches of a dying monste

tance Providence could arrange. The game had only just begun. Aiden clenched his fists, watching Alma's frail silhouette reflected in the glass.