Nina Rosella."
The voice stopped her immediately.
She froze—like someone who had just been caught doing something she shouldn't. For a brief second, she didn't turn back.
Then slowly… she did.
"I am sorry, sir. It was traffic."
Her usual excuse.
Dr. Smith looked at her for a moment. He was used to this. Nina had a way of getting away with things—not because she tried, but because she was… easy to forgive.
Still, this time, he sighed.
"If this happens again, you'll be on a one week shift."
He walked past her without another glance.
Nina blinked.
"One week? That's crazy…" she muttered under her breath. "I actually have to start waking up early."
Shaking her head slightly, she walked into the ward, still lost in her thoughts, not paying attention to where she was going.
And that was her mistake.
She pushed open a door,
and stepped into the wrong room.
The air felt different immediately.
Heavy. Controlled.
Her steps slowed.
A long table. Men in suits. Senior doctors. Silence.
And at the head of it all,
Her.
Ravel Dominique.
The woman everyone had been talking about.
The one about to take over the hospital.
The one people whispered about in lower tones.
Power sat on her shoulders like it belonged there.
Everything about her was deliberate—her posture, her gaze, the way she held the pen between her fingers like she owned not just the document in front of her, but the entire room.
Tall. Perfectly put together. Sharp.
There was something almost masculine in the way she carried herself.
Not in appearance—but in dominance.
Authority.
The kind that didn't need to be announced.
Nina swallowed slightly.
"I am so sorry—"
But she didn't panic.
Her voice came out calm. Composed.
Almost like she didn't realize she was standing in a room she had no business being in.
And that,
That was what caught Ravel's attention.
Her pen stilled mid-signature.
Dark eyes lifted slowly.
And for the first time since the meeting began—
She looked… interested.
Not because the girl was loud.
Not because she was beautiful.
But because she wasn't afraid.
Or maybe—
She didn't know she was supposed to be.
Nina held her gaze for a second too long before stepping back slightly.
"I'll leave," she said simply.
No stuttering. No shaking.
Then she turned and walked out.
Just like that.
Like she hadn't just interrupted something important.
Like she hadn't just been seen.
Silence followed her exit.
A quiet, unfamiliar kind.
Ravel leaned back slightly in her chair, her eyes still fixed on the now closed door.
Then, calmly—
"Who is that girl?"
No one questioned her.
No one ever did.
More like no one had the power to.
"Just a level five medical student, ma," one of the senior doctors replied quickly. "Nothing to worry about."
Ravel didn't respond immediately.
Her gaze remained distant for a second longer.
Then—
"Hmm."
She signed the document.
The hospital was hers now.
But her mind wasn't entirely on it anymore.
Investigate her."
The words were calm. Simple.
But they carried weight.
The room didn't need further explanation.
Her assistant nodded immediately. "Yes, ma."
Ravel Dominique didn't look back as she walked out of the hospital, heels echoing against the polished floor. Outside, a convoy of black cars waited for her.
Doors opened before she even reached them.
She stepped in.
Control followed.
The mansion was quiet when she returned.
Too quiet.
The kind of silence that only existed in places where everything and everyone was controlled.
Not even politics was excluded.
The next morning,
Ravel didn't wait.
"Have you done your findings?" she asked, her voice steady as she flipped through a document on her desk. "About the girl from yesterday."
Her assistant, Philip, stood in front of her, tablet in hand.
"Yes, ma."
He adjusted his glasses slightly.
"Her name is Nina Rosella. Her mother, Loretta, works as a full-time cleaner in one of your office branches. Her father, Nelson, works at the central bank. According to medical records, he's a cancer survivor."
Philip paused briefly before continuing.
"The family exhausted most of their finances during his treatment."
Silence.
Ravel's fingers tapped once against the table.
"Hmm…"
Interesting.
Very.
She leaned back slowly, her gaze unfocused for a second—as if piecing something together only she could see.
Then—
"I want her."
Philip blinked.
Just once.
"But ma… she's quite young," he said carefully. "I could arrange someone more suitable. Perhaps—"
Ravel's eyes lifted.
Sharp.
Cold.
"Are you questioning my authority?"
The temperature in the room dropped instantly.
Philip straightened. "No, ma."
"Good."
Her gaze lingered on him for a second longer before she looked away, already uninterested.
"Send people to monitor her movements."
She stood up from the couch, adjusting her sleeve slightly.
"I want to know where she goes, who she speaks to, what she does."
A pause.
"Everything."
Philip nodded quickly, already typing.
"Yes, ma."
Ravel began walking toward her office space—the part of the house where real decisions were made.
"She's twenty-five," she added, almost absently.
"She'll make mistakes."
And when she does—
Ravel smiled faintly.
"I'll be there."
Minutes later, she was seated in her chair, legs crossed, presence commanding as always.
On the screen in front of her, preparations for a meeting with a potential gubernatorial candidate were already in place.
Power.
Influence.
Control.
She had all of it.
But for the first time in a long while—
Her mind drifted.
Not to politics.
Not to money.
But to a girl who walked into the wrong room…
…and didn't look afraid.
Ravel couldn't sleep.
She had tried.
Even the sleeping pills—stronger than usual felt useless in her system.
Her eyes remained open, fixed on the ceiling, her mind replaying the same image over and over again.
A girl.
Calm.
Unaware.
Unbothered.
Her jaw tightened slightly.
"I want to meet her."
The words came out quietly, but there was no hesitation.
"She's doing something to me…" she murmured to herself. "I haven't been this… interested in a while."
And just like that
She decided.
She picked up her phone.
"Philip. My room. Now."
She didn't wait for a response before ending the call.
A minute later, the bell rang.
Of course it did.
She opened the door.
"You sent for me, ma," Philip said, standing straight.
"Yes."
Ravel turned away, walking back into the room.
"I want a meeting with Nina."
There was a brief pause.
"I can't explain it," she continued. "I want her… and I'm not interested in hiding it."
Philip hesitated slightly.
"Ma, we could arrange for her to be brought here. Quietly. The boys can—"
"No."
The word cut through the air instantly.
Ravel turned, her gaze sharp.
"No one touches her."
A beat.
"I'll go to the hospital."
Her expression softened—just slightly.
"I want it to look like coincidence."
Philip nodded immediately. "Understood, ma."
"Clear my schedule for tomorrow."
"Does that include your political meeting?"
Ravel didn't even pause.
"I have something more important."
That was the end of the discussion.
The next day,
Everything went exactly how she wanted.
Ravel arrived at the hospital with fewer guards this time.
After all—
She owned the place.
What was there to fear?
"You're late again, Nina?"
Dr. Smith's voice echoed through the hallway.
Nina stopped, already knowing she was in trouble.
"I'm sorry, sir lady thing" she said
"She has her reasons."
Another voice interrupted.
Smooth. Controlled.
Dr. Lucia.
A young surgeon.
Nina's lecturer.
Her eyes lingered on Nina for a second too long—something unreadable passing through them.
"I understand," Lucia added softly.
Nina lowered her head slightly. "Thank you, ma."
As the two doctors walked away, Nina let out a small breath.
Then,
She felt it.
A stare.
Heavy.
Intentional.
She looked up.
And there she was.
Ravel Dominique.
Standing at the end of the hallway.
Alone.
But somehow… still commanding everything around her.
Nina recognized her instantly.
"Hello, ma," she said politely.
Ravel stepped closer.
"Hi, Nina."
Nina blinked.
"You know my name?"
A faint smile touched Ravel's lips.
"It's written on your scrubs."
Nina glanced down briefly, a little embarrassed.
"Oh…"
Ravel studied her for a second.
Taking her in.
Completely.
"I need a little help in my office," she said calmly. "Do you mind?"
Nina shook her head quickly. "No, ma."
"Good."
Ravel reached for her hand.
Not forcefully.
But firmly enough to lead.
Nina followed.
She didn't know why her heart was beating faster.
Or why something about this felt… off.
The elevator doors closed.
Silence filled the space.
Thick. Uncomfortable.
Nina stood still, her hands clasped in front of her.
Ravel watched her.
Unapologetically.
Then—
"I want you, Nina."
Her voice was low.
Certain.
Not a question.
Not a request.
A statement.
Ravel held her gaze, completely unbothered by the shock that spread across Nina's face.
She wasn't expecting a reply.
She didn't need one.