Rain had a strange way of making the city look lonely.
People were rushing past me with umbrellas, cars were honking, and the streets were filled with noise. Yet somehow, everything around me felt silent.
Because in that moment, my world had just fallen apart.
My name is Elina Carter, and today was the day I lost everything.
It happened in the afternoon.
I was standing inside my office, holding a file tightly in my hands while my manager looked at me with an expression I couldn't understand.
"I'm sorry, Elina," he said, avoiding my eyes. "But the company has decided to let you go."
At first, I thought I had heard it wrong.
"Let me go?" I repeated softly.
"Yes. Effective immediately."
My fingers slowly loosened around the file.
"But… I didn't do anything wrong," I said. My voice sounded small even to myself.
He sighed. "This decision came from higher management. There's nothing I can do."
Higher management.
That meant someone powerful had decided my future without even knowing who I was.
I felt my chest tighten.
Three years.
I had given three years of my life to this company.
Late nights. Extra work. Sacrificing weekends.
And this was how it ended.
Just like that.
I walked out of the office holding a small box of my belongings. No one looked at me. No one stopped me.
Maybe in this city, people losing everything was a normal thing.
But for me, it felt like my entire world had collapsed.
By the time I stepped outside the building, the sky had turned dark.
And then it started raining.
At first, it was light. Then heavier.
Within minutes, I was completely soaked.
But I didn't move.
Because I didn't know where to go.
Home didn't feel like home anymore.
Work was gone.
Dreams were shattered.
I laughed quietly to myself.
"What a perfect day," I whispered.
Cars rushed past me, splashing water on the road.
That's when I heard it.
The sound of a car stopping right in front of me.
It wasn't just any car.
It was a long, black luxury car — the kind you only see in movies or in front of five-star hotels.
People nearby suddenly slowed down.
Some even turned to look.
The car door opened.
A tall man stepped out.
He was wearing a black coat, his hair slightly wet from the rain, and his presence was… intimidating.
No.
More than intimidating.
It was the kind of presence that made people step back without realizing it.
His sharp eyes landed on me.
And for some reason, I couldn't look away.
Why was he looking at me?
Did he mistake me for someone else?
He walked closer.
Step by step.
My heart started beating faster.
When he finally stood in front of me, the world around us seemed to disappear.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he said something unexpected.
"Are you Elina Carter?"
My eyes widened.
How did he know my name?
"I… yes," I replied slowly.
His expression didn't change.
Instead, he opened the car door beside him.
And said in a calm, cold voice,
"Get in the car."
I stared at him in shock.
"I'm sorry… what?"
He looked directly into my eyes.
"Your life is about to change."
The rain kept falling.
My heart started racing.
Because deep inside, I had a strange feeling.
If I stepped into that car…
Nothing in my life would ever be the same again.
And I had no idea whether that was a good thing —
or the beginning of something dangerous.