The air in the conference room was suffocating. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the skyline, but the view felt meaningless — cold and detached, just like the man sitting across from her.
Julian Thorne.CEO. Tycoon. Predator in a tailored suit.
His gaze was unreadable, the kind that could strip a person's soul bare without a single word.
"Sit," he ordered quietly.
Elara sat, straight-backed, masking the storm beneath her calm expression. She'd faced ruthless investors before, manipulative family members, even betrayal — but Julian was different. There was something dangerously magnetic about him.
He slid a contract across the table. "This is my offer."
Her fingers brushed the paper. The words merger, joint control, and non-disclosure jumped out at her like silent traps.
"What do you want from me, really?" she asked, her voice steady but her pulse racing.
Julian leaned back, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips. "Your company, for starters. Your cooperation... indefinitely."
She met his eyes, fire meeting ice. "And if I say no?"
He stood, his shadow falling over her. "Then I'll make sure you lose everything — your business, your reputation, and the people who still believe in you."
For a moment, silence consumed the room. Then, Elara exhaled softly. "So this is it," she murmured. "A deal with the devil."
Julian's smirk deepened. "You'll find I keep my promises, Miss Vale. Especially the dangerous ones."
She looked down at the pen in her hand. Signing meant survival — but at what cost?Her father's legacy hung in the balance. So did her freedom.
The pen trembled slightly as she pressed it to paper.Each stroke carved a new fate.
When it was done, Julian extended his hand."Welcome to hell," he said, almost gently.
Elara shook it, meeting his gaze without flinching."Then I hope you're ready," she replied. "Because I don't plan to burn alone."