Chapter 1: A World She Never Belonged To
Aria Valkyrie pressed her forehead against the cold glass of the taxi window, watching the city skyline blur into a river of lights. She had never felt so small, so insignificant, and yet so alive. After years of struggling to make ends meet, moving from one low-paying job to another, she had finally received an offer that could change her life—a position in one of the most powerful corporations in the city. But the salary and prestige came with a price she hadn’t anticipated: working directly under Damian Blackwood.
She had heard the rumors. Damian was a man who commanded respect without ever raising his voice, a billionaire whose name alone could close deals and crush rivals. Aria wasn’t intimidated by money or power, but she was wary of men who thrived on control—and Damian was the kind of man who made everyone bend to his will.
The taxi screeched to a halt in front of a sleek black limousine. Aria’s stomach tightened as she stepped out, her heels clicking against the marble steps of the towering skyscraper. The building looked like a palace for the city’s elite, its polished glass reflecting the night sky. She adjusted her blazer and tried to steady her racing heart.
Inside, the office was a world apart from anything she had ever known. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city, and the faint hum of activity suggested a machine that never slept. Assistants scurried past, carrying files and tablets, all perfectly synchronized, all perfectly composed. She felt like an intruder.
“Miss Valkyrie?” a calm voice called from behind her.
Aria turned to find a man in a sharp, tailored suit standing a few steps away. His presence was commanding but not oppressive; every inch of him spoke of confidence and control. He had dark eyes that seemed to pierce through the smallest lie, and a posture that suggested he had never known weakness.
“I’m Damian Blackwood,” he said, his tone polite but carrying a weight that made it impossible to interrupt. “Welcome to Blackwood Industries.”
Aria swallowed. “Thank you, sir. I… I’m honored to be here.”
He gave a faint, almost imperceptible nod and gestured toward the elevator. “Your office is on the 45th floor. I expect a full report on the Henderson merger by the end of the week. Don’t disappoint me.”
She blinked, trying not to let her nerves show. “I won’t.”
As the elevator ascended, the city lights stretched beneath her like a sparkling ocean. Aria tried to focus, reminding herself that this was her opportunity. But a small, insistent voice in the back of her mind whispered that stepping into Damian Blackwood’s world was more dangerous than she could imagine.
Her first day passed in a whirlwind of introductions, meetings, and navigating the unspoken hierarchy of the office. Every glance seemed to carry a subtle test, every smile a hidden calculation. By the time she left the building, her head was spinning, her hands trembling slightly from exhaustion.
Outside, the night was still and quiet, but the city below pulsed with life. Aria took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in her chest. She had survived worse, hadn’t she? This was just another challenge, another mountain to climb.
But as she slid the keycard into her apartment door, her phone buzzed. A message she hadn’t expected appeared on the screen:
"We need to talk. Meet me at the rooftop of Blackwood Tower. – D."
Her fingers froze on the phone. Damian Blackwood. The man who was supposed to be her boss. The man whose presence alone made her heart race and her mind reel.
She stared at the message for a long moment, debating whether to ignore it. But something inside her—a mixture of curiosity, courage, and sheer stubbornness—won.
That night, she would meet him. And whatever awaited her on the rooftop, she knew her life was about to change forever.
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End of Chapter 1
