The Vosstech boardroom smelled of expensive polish and pressure. Stephanie sat alone at the long glass table, papers strewn around her, laptop open, a growing tension in her chest. The so-called "opportunity" Nathan had given her wasn't just difficult—it was sabotage. And yet, she wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of watching her break.
She inhaled deeply, tapping her pen against her notepad.
"A new proposal model that doubles client retention, restructures global delivery, and secures two new international partnerships… in two weeks?" she muttered to herself, eyes narrowing. "Is this a task or a trap?"
The door opened with a click. Damien Voss strolled in, hands in his pockets, wearing an unbothered smirk and a navy suit tailored for charm.
"Working hard already, Quinn?" he teased, glancing at the mess of research. "Or are you trying to impress my cousin with your brilliance?"
Stephanie didn't look up. "I don't have time for games, Damien."
"That's what makes them fun." He walked to her side, leaning casually against the table. "Nathan's testing you, you know. He does that to people he doesn't trust—or the ones he finds interesting."
She turned sharply. "What do you want?"
His smile didn't fade. "To help. I know the internal systems better than anyone. I could make this easy for you, Stephanie."
"Why would you help me?"
"Because I like you. And Nathan… doesn't always know what's good for him." His eyes danced with mischief. "Think of me as your inside man."
Stephanie hesitated. Every instinct screamed not to trust Damien—but she needed something. Some crack in this impossible wall.
"Fine," she said. "But if you screw me over, I'll drag you down with me."
Damien chuckled. "Now we're getting along."
Across the hall, Nathan Voss stood by the tinted glass of his office, watching the exchange. His jaw clenched as he saw Damien lean in closer to Stephanie, whispering something that made her roll her eyes—then smirk.
He turned away sharply.
Why did it bother him? Damien flirting was as predictable as sunrise. But the thought of Stephanie trusting his snake of a cousin, relying on him—it burned like acid.
Later that evening, Stephanie stepped outside Vosstech's marble doors, clutching her laptop bag and unfinished work. The sun had dipped below the skyline, painting the sky in hues of fire and steel. She stopped at the steps, breathing in the crisp air.
"You should be careful trusting people like Damien," came a voice from behind.
She turned. Nathan stood a few steps away, shadows cloaking half of his face. The wind caught his coat, making him look like he'd walked out of a noir film—dark, controlled, dangerous.
Stephanie crossed her arms. "And here I thought you wanted me to fail."
He took a slow step forward. "I want to see what you'll do under pressure. Damien… will only try to distract you."
"Is that your way of warning me? Or staking a claim?" she asked coolly.
Nathan's eyes flickered. He stopped just in front of her, his voice low.
"You're not a toy, Stephanie. And you're not here to be played with—not by me, not by Damien, not by anyone."
Her breath caught, but she didn't let it show. "Then maybe stop playing god. You set me up with a deadline meant to crush me."
"No," he said, his voice rougher. "I set it to see what you're made of. And so far… you're full of surprises."
There was a beat of silence. Too long. Too charged.
"You don't scare me, Nathan."
"Good," he said softly. "Because most people should be."
Then he stepped back, nodding slightly before walking away, his coat billowing behind him. Stephanie stood frozen, pulse racing, his scent—clean, dark, like winter nights and expensive cologne—lingering in the air.
Back at home, Stephanie curled up on the sofa with her laptop, pretending to focus—but her mind was a storm. Damien's offer, Nathan's warning, and the memory of the accident—the flashes of fire and shattered glass that never left her. She clutched her pendant, the one her father gave her. She could almost hear his voice.
"Don't trust too easily, sweetheart. Especially not men who look like they've lost something they'll never get back."