The First Meeting

The city skyline reflected against the sleek glass of Eve Corp's towering headquarters. A black sedan rolled to a stop, the world outside seemed to hold its breath. The air was charged, a silent anticipation weaving through the employees gathered near the entrance. They stood still, eyes lowered in respect, the weight of her presence pressing against them.

When the door opened, Evelyn Rayner stepped out, a vision of calculated elegance and control. She was draped in a black dress, its heart-line neckline curving elegantly across her collarbones, a subtle contrast to the formidable presence she exuded. The fabric clung to her form, emphasizing every movement, every step of her powerful ascent. The heels of her shoes clicked against the marble entrance.

Employees, some twice or thrice her age, bowed their heads in greeting. Admiration. Fear. Reverence. She embodied them all.

As she stepped into the building, an unexpected wave of emotion crashed over her.

This was her company.

The very empire she had built from nothing with blood, sweat, and relentless ambition. In her past life, her people cast out, and her legacy erased and she had finally lost it all.

The past would not repeat itself. She mumered to herself.

The elevator ascended swiftly to the topmost floor, where her assistant, Gwen, stood waiting.

"Good morning, Ma'am."

"Morning." Evelyn stepped forward, unruffled. "Update me."

Gwen listed the day's events, meetings, contract reviews, investor calls, a private dinner with an international delegation. Evelyn barely spared a glance before instructing, "Clear my schedule after eight."

Gwen hesitated but nodded. "Understood."

Then, the phone rang.

She glanced at the screen. A known number.

A flicker of something crossed her gaze before she masked it. Her fingers hovered for a beat before she answered.

"Evelyn, after your sudden call yesterday, I've looked into Lucas Thornton. I'll send you the files after this call. But here's something interesting you're not the only one looking for him."

Evelyn's grip on the phone tightened slightly. "Who else?"

The voice on the other end chuckled. "Adrian Vaughn."

A sudden chill settled over her. Adrian?

That wasn't right.

Adrian hadn't known about Lucas in her previous life, not until she introduced Lucas to the world herself, bringing him into the upper echelons of power as her lover.

So why now? Why was Adrian looking into him before her?

The voice on the phone chuckled again, amusement lacing his tone. "Who exactly is this Lucas Thornton that has both of you so interested in him?"

Evelyn didn't answer.

Her mind was already moving too fast.

Adrian was never one to waste his time on unknown players.

And Lucas Thornton?

A ghost of a man. An illegitimate son, buried under the weight of a family that never truly acknowledged him.

She spoke, her tone composed but unyielding. "Keep looking into him. Update me on anything relevant."

Then, she added, "And one more name; Rose Wornerholf."

Silence on the other end.Her informant knew better than to question her.

She ended the call, setting the phone down. The weight of the past, the certainty of the present, and the inevitability of the future all coiled around her mind like a storm waiting to be unleashed.

The first time she had met him was last month. In her past life, she had never truly known who he was, or rather, he had hidden himself well enough that she had never questioned it.

It was during lunch with Rose Wornerholf, a woman she loathed with every fiber of her being.

She had met Rose through Mr. Vans, a trusted associate of ten years, who had introduced her as his lover. Over the following months, Rose had made herself known in Evelyn's circle, and for a while, she had been nothing more than a passing acquaintance.

Then, one day, over lunch at an upscale restaurant, Rose had suddenly turned, her eyes lighting up with recognition, and called out to a man.

Evelyn had looked up.A man in a sharp suit, his features cold and unreadable, surrounded by two or three men dressed similarly. Lucas Thornton.

The man she had once fallen for.

The man she had trusted.

The man she had lost everything for.

She had never meant to fall in love. She had been too calculated, too aware. But he had been different. He had played the long game, weaving himself into her life, slowly, subtly, until she had looked at him one day and realized, She was his and that had been her biggest mistake.

But now, he was just a ghost from a past she refused to relive.

With a sharp inhale, she forced the emotions away, burying them deep where they belonged. She had no space for ghosts. No space for regrets.

Shaking the feeling off, she leaned back in her chair, her mind shifting gears.

There was work to do.

And there was revenge to take, after thinking about something, she picked up her phone and dialed a number she knew by heart.

It barely rang before the deep, familiar voice answered.

"Eve."

Adrian Vaughn.

A smile curled at the corner of her lips. "Should we have dinner tonight?"

Then, his voice came, laced with something intimate. "I'll be there at 9"

Conforming the plan, she set her phone down and glanced at the file in front of her.

Zeluis Project.

The soft glow of the city lights outside her office cast long shadows on the sleek glass desk, where a single file lay open. Evelyn Rayner's sharp gaze fell upon the first page. Lucas Thornton.This was it. The project that had changed everything.

In her past life, this project had been a monumental success for Eve Corp. Her company made its debut in AI technology innovation, making waves across industries. But the underrated winner had been Lucas Thornton.

A man who had once been a shadow in his own family, overlooked, invisible had suddenly become the dark horse of the business world.

Because of this project, his name had been splashed across every financial magazine, earning him the recognition he had never gotten from his own bloodline.

Because of this project, they had started working together. And soon enough, she had spent more time with him than with anyone else in her life.

Evelyn exhaled sharply, pushing the memories aside. With deliberate precision, she snapped the file shut and pressed the intercom.

"Gwen, my office. Now."

Seconds later, the door opened, and Gwen entered, tablet in hand, her expression as composed as ever.

"Yes, Ma'am?"

Evelyn leaned back in her chair, tapping her manicured nails against the desk.

"Arrange a meeting with Lucas Thornton."

Gwen, ever the professional, gave a curt nod. "When would you like the meeting to be scheduled?"

Evelyn glanced at the closed file, her mind already calculating the next steps.

"Tomorrow morning. Here."

Gwen nodded again. "Understood. I'll reach out and confirm his availability."

Evelyn watched as Gwen turned to leave before calling out, "And Gwen?"

The assistant paused, glancing back. "Yes?"

Evelyn's gaze turned icy. "Make sure he knows… this is not a request."

A flicker of understanding crossed Gwen's face before she gave a light nod. "I'll make it happen."