Meeting Kira

As I stood outside the towering glass-and-steel building, I could already tell why Kira was considered one of the bigshots in the business world.

The structure itself screamed power—not just wealth, but control. The kind that only a few people in the world could truly wield.

I sighed, rolling my shoulders. "As long as she cooperates and gives me the answers I need, there won't be any problems."

With that, I stepped inside.

The Entrance – Cutting Through Formalities

The reception area was as extravagant as expected—high ceilings, polished floors, and an air of unspoken authority. The kind of place designed to intimidate the weak.

Too bad I wasn't one of them.

I walked straight toward the reception desk, where a well-dressed woman sat, typing away on her computer.

She barely glanced at me before speaking. "Do you have an appointment?"

I smirked, resting a hand on the counter. "Not really. But I think Kira will want to hear what I have to say."

She finally looked up, her eyes assessing me. "Ms. Kira is a busy woman. If you don't have an appointment, I'm afraid—"

I cut her off, sliding a small card onto the desk.

Not my business card.

A photo of Gregory Volkov.

Her eyes flickered with recognition, and for the first time, she hesitated.

I leaned in slightly, my voice calm but firm. "Tell her Samuel Gebb is here. And that I'm here about Gregory."

Her breath hitched slightly before she nodded quickly, picking up the phone.

I smirked to myself. "That's more like it."

As I waited, my eyes wandered around the lavish reception area. The sharp edges of the architecture, the soulless efficiency—everything here screamed power and control.

But then, my gaze landed on something unexpected.

A small child—probably four or five years old—laughing brightly as he played near the waiting area. His innocent joy stood in stark contrast to the cold, calculated world of business surrounding him.

For a brief second, I felt something strange in my chest.

A thought slipped into my mind before I could stop it.

"If Abigail had been loyal to me… If she hadn't aborted our child during her company's downfall…"

I clenched my fists slightly.

If things had been different, maybe she and the past Samuel…

But then, I caught myself.

I sighed, shaking the thought away.

"No way."

I scoffed internally, my expression turning cold again.

"She never deserved to be a mother. Or a wife. Or even a CEO. A woman like her? She's made for the gutters."

I had no regrets about the way things turned out.

If that child had been born, he would have suffered. Either he would have grown up to be just like her, or worse—she would have used and abused him endlessly.

"It's good she aborted him."

The past was the past.

And I had no place for 'what ifs' in my life anymore.

Just as I pushed the thought away completely, the receptionist's voice brought me back to reality.

"Mr. Gebb, Ms. Kira will see you now."

I exhaled, cracking my neck before stepping forward.

The elevator ride to Kira's office was silent, save for the faint hum of machinery. As the doors slid open, I stepped into a spacious, elegantly designed office with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city skyline.

Sitting behind a polished mahogany desk was Kira Mikhailova—one of the most influential businesswomen in the industry.

She was stunning, but in a way that was more dangerous than beautiful. Her icy blue eyes studied me like a predator assessing its prey. Her sharp, well-tailored black suit did little to hide the power she radiated.

She didn't look up immediately as I entered, instead finishing whatever document she was signing.

"Samuel Gebb." Her voice was smooth, authoritative. She finally met my gaze. "I assume you're here about Gregory Volkov."

I smirked, stepping forward. "Sharp. Saves me the time of explaining."

She leaned back, crossing her legs. "You wouldn't be here unless it was important. So, tell me—what do you want?"

I pulled out the photo of Gregory, setting it on her desk.

"You worked with him on a secret real estate project. His father told me you were his closest business partner before he vanished. So, tell me—where is he?"

Her expression didn't change. If she was surprised, she didn't show it.

Instead, she picked up the photo, staring at it for a few seconds before setting it down.

"I liked Gregory," she admitted. "He was ambitious. Smart. But also… reckless."

I leaned against the chair across from her desk. "How so?"

She exhaled slowly, folding her hands. "He was dealing with people he shouldn't have been dealing with. Investors who don't operate within legal boundaries."

"And you let him?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She let out a small chuckle. "I advised him to be cautious. But Gregory wanted power—fast. He didn't listen."

I narrowed my eyes. "Who are these investors?"

She hesitated. That was the first time I saw a crack in her composure.

"Samuel…" she said, her voice lowering slightly. "You don't want to get involved with them."

I smirked, leaning forward. "Too late. I already am."

She stared at me for a long moment before sighing.

"Fine." She slid open a drawer and pulled out a flash drive, setting it on the desk.

"This contains records of Gregory's last known meetings. The locations, the people he spoke to, and… the last project he was working on before he disappeared."

I picked up the flash drive, twirling it between my fingers. "And why are you giving this to me so easily?"

Her lips curled into a small smile. "Because I know you, Samuel. You don't back down. If I don't give you what you need, you'll dig until you find it yourself. Might as well make things easier for both of us."

I chuckled. "Smart woman."

She tilted her head. "Be careful, Samuel. If Gregory got too deep, and you're following his footsteps… then you might be next."

I smirked, standing up. "Let them come. I don't bow to anyone."

Her eyes flickered with amusement. "That's what I like about you."

With that, I pocketed the flash drive. Just as I was about to walk out, I paused. Something about her words stuck with me.

I turned back to Kira, narrowing my eyes. "You said you liked Gregory. In what way? As a lover… or something else?"

For the first time, she hesitated.

Her usual cold, calculating demeanor didn't falter completely, but there was a flicker of something in her gaze—something she quickly buried.

"Gregory was… important to me," she said slowly, choosing her words carefully. "But love? No. I don't mix emotions with business. He was ambitious, reckless—but he had potential. That's what I liked."

I studied her for a moment before chuckling. "Smart move. Love tends to screw people over."

She raised an eyebrow. "Bitter much?"

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "These days, I'm getting a lot of cases just like Gregory's. And honestly? I don't trust marriages. Not anymore."

She leaned back, intrigued. "Because of your own personal life?"

I nodded, smirking bitterly. "I've seen it too many times. Women change when they get power. They cheat, manipulate, and throw away the people who helped them rise."

Kira tapped her fingers against the desk, tilting her head. "Sounds personal."

I met her gaze, my voice calm but firm. "Because it is."

For a moment, there was silence between us.

Then, Kira let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "You're a strange man, Samuel. You don't just dig for answers—you question everything."

I smirked. "That's how I survive."

She exhaled, her gaze turning unreadable. "Then let me give you some advice—don't assume all women are the same. Some of us don't change. Some of us don't betray."

I chuckled. "Maybe. But I haven't met one yet who proved otherwise."

She smirked. "Then maybe you're looking in the wrong places."

I pocketed the flash drive, turning toward the door.

"We'll see."

With that, I walked out.

I had answers to find—and no time for illusions of trust.