The morning sun crept through Kimberly's curtains, casting warm light across her room. She groaned softly as the alarm buzzed on her nightstand. It was one of those mornings when she didn't want to move, but the world expected her to. She stretched, rubbed her temples, and slowly sat up. Her eyes caught the faint reflection of herself in the mirror calm, elegant, but still tired from yesterday's chaos.
After a hot shower, she stood in front of her wardrobe for almost ten minutes before picking out a fitted white shirt, a black pencil skirt, and nude heels. She tied her hair into a neat ponytail and applied light makeup. Looking at herself in the mirror, she smiled faintly. Back to being the boss, she thought.
Downstairs, Roy was already waiting, dressed sharply in his usual black suit. He gave her that calm, unreadable look he always had, and without a word, opened the car door for her. The morning ride to the office was silent except for the soft hum of the car's engine. Kimberly didn't say much she had too much on her mind.
At the office, she buried herself in work. Meetings. Calls. Reports. Emails. Everything felt normal again or at least she tried to make it so. She smiled at her employees, gave her usual confident speeches, and walked through the hallways like the powerful CEO she was. But deep down, she couldn't stop thinking about Lord Christian. The name alone carried a strange chill. Everyone in the business world whispered about him the faceless billionaire, the ghost investor, the man no one dared to cross.
By evening, her head was buzzing again, but she refused to rest. When she got home, Roy was waiting near the door, leaning against the car with his hands in his pockets. "You ready?" he asked.
Kimberly sighed, holding her clutch purse tightly. "I guess so."
He opened the car door, and she stepped in. The drive was quiet for a while, city lights flashing across her face through the tinted glass. She glanced at Roy, noticing how his jaw tightened every time he changed lanes. "You don't seem relaxed," she said softly.
"I'm fine," he replied, eyes fixed on the road.
"Really? Because you're gripping that steering wheel like it owes you money."
Roy smiled faintly but didn't answer. When they arrived, the restaurant looked nothing like she expected. It wasn't crowded or noisy like most fine dining places. It was calm, silent, with soft golden lights glowing behind frosted glass doors. Two men in black suits stood at the entrance. As Kimberly and Roy approached, one of the guards stepped forward, raising a hand.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. Only you are allowed inside."
Kimberly frowned. "Excuse me? I can't come in with my bodyguard?"
"Those are the orders," the man said politely, though his tone was firm.
Her eyes narrowed. "And who gave that order?"
"Lord Christian himself."
She turned to Roy, frustration building in her chest. "This doesn't feel right. I've never met this man before, and now they're saying I can't bring you in? What if he's a killer or something?"
Roy's expression softened. "He's not."
"You sound so sure," she said, folding her arms. "Like you actually know him."
"Kimberly," he said quietly, "you'll be fine. Go in. Hear what he has to say."
"Why do you always make it sound like everything's under control when it's clearly not?" she muttered. But he didn't reply.
She sighed and finally followed the hostess inside. The hallway was long and quiet, each door leading to private rooms. It felt strange like everyone who came here wanted to hide. The hostess stopped in front of a door and smiled politely. "This way, ma'am. Lord Christian doesn't like waiting."
Kimberly took a slow breath. "Of course he doesn't," she murmured.
The hostess opened the door, and Kimberly stepped in. The room was dim, lit only by a soft red light that gave everything a warm glow. The air smelled of cedar and expensive wine. She turned to say something to the hostess, but the woman had already closed the door behind her.
For a second, Kimberly stood there in silence until she sensed someone behind her.
She turned quickly, and her breath caught in her throat. A tall man stood there, his presence strong and commanding. His black suit trousers were perfectly pressed, fitting over long legs. His jacket hung loosely on his shoulders, and he wasn't wearing a shirt beneath it, revealing a toned chest that caught the dim light. A black hat shadowed most of his face, and a matching mask covered the rest.
She didn't know what to say. The man before her looked like he had walked out of a dream or maybe a nightmare. But even in the dim red light, he looked familiar somehow. Something about the way he stood… the shape of his jaw… the calmness in his movements.
"You like what you see?" his deep voice asked, breaking the silence.
Kimberly blinked and forced herself to look away. "Hi… Lord Christian."
He chuckled lowly. "You don't have to sound so nervous."
"I'm not nervous," she lied, adjusting her posture.
They sat down at a table already set for two. Their dinner began quietly, but soon, the conversation flowed easily. To her surprise, Lord Christian wasn't cold or arrogant like the rumors said. He asked her about her company, her late projects, her ambitions. He listened really listened when she spoke. His voice was deep, calm, but held a power she couldn't ignore.
"So," she said after a while, "why does no one know what you look like? People say you never show your face."
He smiled faintly under the mask. "Some faces are better left unseen."
"That sounds like something a villain would say."
"Maybe," he replied, leaning back. "Or maybe I just prefer peace. Fame ruins that."
Kimberly tilted her head. "You talk like someone who's hiding from something."
He looked at her for a moment, silent, then said softly, "Maybe I'm hiding for something."
She didn't understand what he meant, but the tone in his voice made her heart skip. They continued talking about art, travel, the world, and even music. He spoke about how he loved silence, how he used to play piano when no one was around. There was something hauntingly gentle about him. Everything she'd heard about his cruelty, his ruthlessness none of it matched the man sitting before her now.
For a moment, she forgot who he was supposed to be. She just saw a man calm, mysterious, and strangely kind.
When dinner ended, he stood up and bowed slightly. "Thank you for tonight, Miss Hayes. It's rare I meet someone who speaks their mind."
Kimberly smiled faintly. "Thank you for not being as terrifying as people said."
He chuckled softly. "I'll take that as a compliment."
The hostess returned and led her out. Roy was waiting by the car. She slipped into the seat, and as they drove off, the night air felt lighter somehow but her heart didn't. She kept replaying Lord Christian's voice in her mind. It sounded so familiar. Too familiar.
Roy broke the silence. "So," he said, glancing at her, "what do you think of him?"
Kimberly hesitated. "He's… different. Not what I expected."
"Better?" Roy asked quietly.
She looked at him, searching his face for something a hint, a clue but his expression gave nothing away. "Yeah," she said finally. "He's a better person than I thought."
Roy smiled faintly but said nothing more. His eyes stayed on the road, but his grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly like he knew something she didn't.
And deep down, Kimberly felt it too.
Something about that dinner wasn't just business.
Something about Lord Christian his voice, his presence was pulling her into a secret she didn't yet understand.