Chapter 1 First chapter

The shrill buzz of an alarm jolted Liana Torres from her sleep.

Her eyes flew open, and panic surged through her chest when she saw the glowing red numbers on her bedside clock. "Oh no!" She scrambled upright, her hair a wild mess around her face. She was late.

On her very first day at Titan Media.

Throwing off the blanket, she dashed to her wardrobe, pulling out the neatly pressed blouse and skirt she had chosen the night before. There was no time to admire how perfectly the cream silk hugged her figure or how the navy pencil skirt gave her the look of quiet authority she hoped to project. She barely had time to smooth her hair into a loose bun, swipe on light makeup, and grab her satchel before rushing out of her tiny apartment.

By the time she reached the towering glass building of Titan Media, her heart was racing faster than her footsteps. The skyscraper loomed above her, glittering with the kind of power that made the world stop and stare. This is it, she thought, taking a steadying breath before stepping through the revolving doors.

Inside, the lobby buzzed with energy. Men and women in sleek suits hurried past with lattes in hand, phones glued to their ears. Liana paused for a second, soaking it all in, before a bright voice snapped her out of her awe.

"You must be the new hire."

She turned to see a woman with sleek dark hair, flawless makeup, and a smile that carried the faintest edge of superiority.

"I'm Vanessa Cole," the woman said smoothly, looking her up and down with quick appraisal. "Communications department. Let me show you around before you get lost in this jungle."

"Thank you," Liana replied, forcing a polite smile as she fell into step beside her.

Vanessa's heels clicked against the marble as she led her through the maze of glass walls and open-plan offices. She pointed out the conference rooms, the executive floor that "wasn't for just anyone," and the cafeteria where whispers of industry gossip spread faster than coffee orders.

Finally, they reached a sleek office with frosted doors. "This is Mr. Jonathan Pierce's department," Vanessa explained. "He's the head of Communications-you'll be reporting to him."

Liana's stomach tightened with nerves as she stepped inside.

Mr. Pierce was in his mid-forties, with sharp eyes behind thin-rimmed glasses. His suit was crisp, his expression businesslike. He looked her over quickly.

"Miss Torres, welcome to Titan Media," he said, not unkindly, but with the tone of a man who had no time to waste. "For now, I want you to start simple. File these reports, organize the press release drafts, and make sure the archives are updated. Think of it as groundwork-you'll understand our flow better this way."

"Yes, sir," Liana said firmly, determination sparking in her chest.

The day blurred into hours of typing, sorting, and answering minor requests that others dropped on her desk. A pile of "urgent but easy" tasks kept growing, courtesy of coworkers who were more than happy to let the rookie handle them. Liana didn't complain. She worked diligently, refusing to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her flustered.

By the time the office lights dimmed and the building quieted, she was still at her desk, finishing the last of the files.

It was nearly 8 p.m. when she finally packed her things, shoulders aching but spirit unbroken. As she stepped into the lobby, the evening hush of Titan Media felt almost surreal compared to its morning chaos.

That's when she saw him.

Through the tall glass doors, a man emerged from the shadows of the underground parking area. He moved with a natural authority, his broad shoulders filling the space beneath his tailored black suit. The fabric clung to a body honed with discipline-long legs, a lean waist, and a chest that stretched the silk like it was crafted only for him. His jaw was sharp, his posture commanding, and his presence made the air shift, though no one else seemed to notice.

He strode to a sleek black car, his hand gripping the door with ease, the faint light glinting against the watch on his wrist.

Liana's gaze lingered for only a moment before she dismissed it. To her, he was just another powerful man in a building full of them. She had no idea that she had just seen Adrian Blackwood, the storm at the center of Titan Media.

When she got home, the warm scent of stew greeted her. Her mother, Elena Torres, looked up from the kitchen table with a smile.

"You're late," her mother said gently. "How was the big first day?"

Liana dropped her bag and sank into a chair, exhaustion finally pulling at her limbs. But there was a spark in her eyes as she began to talk.

"It was overwhelming," she admitted with a small laugh. "So many people, so much noise... but I managed. They gave me the basic tasks, nothing exciting yet. Still-it feels like I'm finally where I'm meant to be."

Her mother reached over, squeezing her hand. "I'm proud of you, Liana. This is just the beginning."

And as the city lights blinked outside their window, neither of them knew that destiny had already begun moving, bringing her closer to the man she had unknowingly crossed paths with.