Nira Ellison knew the exact moment her life started falling apart. It wasn't the day her father lost everything, It wasn't the night their accounts were frozen, or when the headlines turned his name into something people whispered about.
It was later.
The day she realized no one was coming to fix it.
"Miss Ellison?" The voice pulled her back to the present.
Nira blinked once, her fingers tightening slightly around the strap of her bag as she stood in the middle of a glass building that didn't feel real.
Too clean.
Too polished.
Too… expensive.
"Are you here for the interview?" The receptionist asked
"Yes" She nodded.
Her voice came out steady. Controlled and nervous.
Like she wasn't two days away from losing the last place she could call hers.
Like she hadn't spent the entire night staring at the ceiling, wondering how everything had slipped so far out of her hands.
"Name?"
"Nira Ellison."
The receptionist paused.
Just for a second.
But it was enough for her to notice Something flickered across her face like recognition? surprise?
Nira couldn't figure that out.
Then it disappeared just as quickly.
"Please wait." She smiled professionally at her.
Nira nodded slowly, stepping aside.
Her eyes moved across the lobby.
People walked past her without looking twice. Conversations stayed low, efficient. Everything about the place felt like it ran on control.
Nothing out of place.
Nothing uncertain.
Unlike her life.
A quiet breath left her lips.
This was just an interview.
Just a job.
Nothing more.
"Miss Ellison."
The voice came from behind her.
Low.
Measured.
Wrong.
Something in her chest tightened before she even turned. And when she did everything stilled.
He stood a few steps away, one hand tucked into the pocket of his black suit, the other resting loosely by his side.
Tall.
Sharp.
Controlled in a way that didn't feel natural—it felt practiced.
Like nothing about him was accidental.
But it was his eyes that held her.
Dark.
Focused.
Unmoving.
Not the look of someone seeing her for the first time.
No.
This was something else.
Something that made her stomach twist.
"Follow me," he said.
No introduction.
No explanation.
Just expectation.
Authority.
Nira hesitated.
"Shouldn't I—"
"I don't repeat myself."
The words weren't loud.
But they landed.
Firm.
Final.
Her lips pressed together slightly.
Then—against every instinct telling her not to—
she followed.
The elevator doors slid shut behind them.
Silence filled the space instantly.
Heavy.
Nira kept her eyes forward, but she could feel it—
His presence.
Too close.
Too aware.
Like he was paying attention to things she wasn't even conscious of.
Her breathing.
The way her fingers tightened.
The slight shift of her weight.
It made something uneasy settle under her skin.
Why does this feel like a mistake?
The thought came uninvited.
Sharp.
Unwelcome.
She ignored it.
She had to.
The doors opened.
He stepped out first.
She followed.
Of course she did.
His office was exactly what she expected.
Minimal.
Cold.
Expensive in a way that didn't need to prove itself.
Power sat in the room like it belonged there.
He walked behind the desk and turned slightly.
"Sit."
Nira sat.
Her pulse had picked up now—steady but noticeable.
He didn't sit immediately.
Instead, he watched her.
Not casually.
Not politely.
Carefully.
Like he was looking for something.
Or confirming it.
"Nira Ellison."
The way he said her name—
It wasn't a question.
It wasn't even curiosity.
It was certainty.
Her brows pulled slightly.
"Have we met before?"
A pause.
For the first time, something shifted in his expression.
Small.
Almost invisible.
Then gone.
"No."
Too fast.
Too smooth.
Not true.
Nira felt it instantly.
But she didn't push.
She didn't know why… but something told her that wouldn't end well.
He finally sat down.
Leaning back slightly, his gaze still locked on her.
"You applied for this position."
"Yes."
"Why?"
The question was simple.
But the way he asked it…
It felt like he already knew the answer.
Nira swallowed lightly.
Because I'm broke.
Because I have nowhere else to go.
Because I'm running out of time.
"I'm qualified."
A faint curve touched his lips.
Not a smile.
Something sharper.
"Not what I asked."
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Her fingers tightened slightly in her lap.
"I need it," she said finally.
Honest.
Unfiltered.
Real.
Something flickered in his eyes again.
This time, it stayed a second longer.
He reached for a file on the desk.
Opened it.
Didn't look at it.
"You start tomorrow."
Nira blinked.
Her heart skipped.
"What?"
"You're hired."
Just like that.
No interview.
No process.
Nothing.
A cold feeling slid down her spine.
This wasn't normal.
"Why?" she asked before she could stop herself.
His gaze lifted to hers again.
Slow.
Intentional.
Dangerous.
Because now she could see it clearly—
He wasn't just looking at her.
He was studying her.
Like she mattered.
Like she was part of something she didn't understand.
"Because," he said quietly,
"you shouldn't have come here."
Her breath caught.
"What does that mean?"
He stood.
The conversation was over.
"It means," he said, walking past her,
"you're already too involved."
A chill ran down her spine.
"Involved in what?"
He stopped at the door.
For a second—
just one—
his expression changed.
Something darker.
Something heavier.
Then it was gone.
And when he looked back at her, his voice was calm again.
Controlled.
Cold.
"In me."
Nira didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Because suddenly—
that feeling from earlier came back.
Stronger.
Clearer.
Not unease.
Not confusion.
Something worse.
Regret.