Chapter 1 — A Dangerous First Glance
Lena Hart had always told herself that staying invisible was safest. But that strategy had failed spectacularly today.
After losing her previous job, moving into a cramped apartment, and draining her savings, she'd taken the receptionist position at Cross Industries out of desperation. The kind of place most people only dreamed of working for—or feared.
The lobby was impossibly grand, polished marble floors gleaming under the fluorescent lights. Every step she took echoed, reminding her that here, she was just another human—fragile, replaceable, easy to overlook. That had always been comforting… until she saw him.
Adrian Cross.
Even from across the lobby, his presence pressed against her senses. Tall, impeccably dressed, every movement precise. His dark eyes scanned the room, unflinching, unyielding, and then they landed on her. Lena felt an involuntary shiver run down her spine, as if he could see right through the carefully constructed armor she had worn all her life.
Her heart beat too fast. It wasn't fear exactly. It was… something else. A pull she couldn't name.
The assistant beside her cleared his throat. "First day… Mr. Cross wants to meet you."
Lena's stomach tightened. She had expected a brief greeting, a nod, maybe a handshake. But the aura around Adrian Cross promised nothing brief and nothing simple.
He didn't stand when she entered. He barely moved at all, yet the room seemed smaller, charged, focused entirely on her.
"Sit," he said, voice calm but carrying an authority that made Lena obey without thinking.
His eyes didn't leave hers. They measured her, tested her, as if he could weigh her worth with a single glance.
"I've been told you're capable," he said finally. "Why Cross Industries?"
"I… need to work," she replied cautiously, trying to sound confident. "I can handle responsibility."
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "We'll see."
It wasn't intimidation, exactly. It was control, quiet and absolute. Lena had never met anyone who could make her feel so exposed and so alive at the same time.
"Do not disappoint me," he said softly, leaning back in his chair. His gaze lingered, almost claiming.
Lena forced herself to nod, but inside, she felt a spark—unsettling and thrilling. Something about him wasn't right. And yet she didn't want to look away.
As she left the office, Lena caught herself glancing back. He hadn't moved. His eyes were still on her, unwavering. And she had the sudden, undeniable feeling that he wasn't going to forget her. Neither would she
Lena Hart had always told herself that staying invisible was safest. But that strategy had failed spectacularly today.
After losing her previous job, moving into a cramped apartment, and draining her savings, she'd taken the receptionist position at Cross Industries out of desperation. The kind of place most people only dreamed of working for—or feared.
The lobby was impossibly grand, polished marble floors gleaming under the fluorescent lights. Every step she took echoed, reminding her that here, she was just another human—fragile, replaceable, easy to overlook. That had always been comforting… until she saw him.
Adrian Cross.
Even from across the lobby, his presence pressed against her senses. Tall, impeccably dressed, every movement precise. His dark eyes scanned the room, unflinching, unyielding, and then they landed on her. Lena felt an involuntary shiver run down her spine, as if he could see right through the carefully constructed armor she had worn all her life.
Her heart beat too fast. It wasn't fear exactly. It was… something else. A pull she couldn't name.
The assistant beside her cleared his throat. "First day… Mr. Cross wants to meet you."
Lena's stomach tightened. She had expected a brief greeting, a nod, maybe a handshake. But the aura around Adrian Cross promised nothing brief and nothing simple.
He didn't stand when she entered. He barely moved at all, yet the room seemed smaller, charged, focused entirely on her.
"Sit," he said, voice calm but carrying an authority that made Lena obey without thinking.
His eyes didn't leave hers. They measured her, tested her, as if he could weigh her worth with a single glance.
"I've been told you're capable," he said finally. "Why Cross Industries?"
"I… need to work," she replied cautiously, trying to sound confident. "I can handle responsibility."
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "We'll see."
It wasn't intimidation, exactly. It was control, quiet and absolute. Lena had never met anyone who could make her feel so exposed and so alive at the same time.
"Do not disappoint me," he said softly, leaning back in his chair. His gaze lingered, almost claiming.
Lena forced herself to nod, but inside, she felt a spark—unsettling and thrilling. Something about him wasn't right. And yet she didn't want to look away.
As she left the office, Lena caught herself glancing back. He hadn't moved. His eyes were still on her, unwavering. And she had the sudden, undeniable feeling that he wasn't going to forget her. Neither would she
Lena Hart had always told herself that staying invisible was safest. But that strategy had failed spectacularly today.
After losing her previous job, moving into a cramped apartment, and draining her savings, she'd taken the receptionist position at Cross Industries out of desperation. The kind of place most people only dreamed of working for—or feared.
The lobby was impossibly grand, polished marble floors gleaming under the fluorescent lights. Every step she took echoed, reminding her that here, she was just another human—fragile, replaceable, easy to overlook. That had always been comforting… until she saw him.
Adrian Cross.
Even from across the lobby, his presence pressed against her senses. Tall, impeccably dressed, every movement precise. His dark eyes scanned the room, unflinching, unyielding, and then they landed on her. Lena felt an involuntary shiver run down her spine, as if he could see right through the carefully constructed armor she had worn all her life.
Her heart beat too fast. It wasn't fear exactly. It was… something else. A pull she couldn't name.
The assistant beside her cleared his throat. "First day… Mr. Cross wants to meet you."
Lena's stomach tightened. She had expected a brief greeting, a nod, maybe a handshake. But the aura around Adrian Cross promised nothing brief and nothing simple.
He didn't stand when she entered. He barely moved at all, yet the room seemed smaller, charged, focused entirely on her.
"Sit," he said, voice calm but carrying an authority that made Lena obey without thinking.
His eyes didn't leave hers. They measured her, tested her, as if he could weigh her worth with a single glance.
"I've been told you're capable," he said finally. "Why Cross Industries?"
"I… need to work," she replied cautiously, trying to sound confident. "I can handle responsibility."
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "We'll see."
It wasn't intimidation, exactly. It was control, quiet and absolute. Lena had never met anyone who could make her feel so exposed and so alive at the same time.
"Do not disappoint me," he said softly, leaning back in his chair. His gaze lingered, almost claiming.
Lena forced herself to nod, but inside, she felt a spark—unsettling and thrilling. Something about him wasn't right. And yet she didn't want to look away.
As she left the office, Lena caught herself glancing back. He hadn't moved. His eyes were still on her, unwavering. And she had the sudden, undeniable feeling that he wasn't going to forget her. Neither would she