A LOVE UNTAMED

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

Her eyes flew open with panic surging through her chest. She turned around and 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 for her first day at work.

At Titan Media a top media company in the country.

Throwing away 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 stood before the mirror. Checking her time again, she smoothen her hair into a loose bun, applied a light makeup, and grabbed 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 for awhile. 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 so you'll be reporting to him."

Liana's stomach tightened as anxiety rushed over her. Her nerves palpitating as she stepped inside.

Mr. Pierce was in his mid-thirties, 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 and trembling.

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 showing off his masculinity beneath the tailored black suit. The fabric clung to a body toned 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 counter with a smile.

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

Liana dropped her bag and sank into the sofa 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.

Liana woke before her alarm this time. She had barely slept the previous night, her mind replaying yesterday's chaos like a movie on repeat. The panic of waking late, the rush across the city, the piles of files she had struggled through, and-most of all-that fleeting glimpse of the mysterious man in the black suit. His image still haunted her thoughts, though she pushed it aside, reminding herself she had far more pressing concerns to take care of.

Today had to be different. Today she had to prove she belonged at Titan Media.

By the time she left her tiny apartment, she was dressed sharply in a fitted cream blouse tucked into a navy pencil skirt, her dark hair pinned neatly at the nape of her neck. She had memorized the train schedule, bought her coffee on the way without spilling a drop, and arrived at the glass towers of Titan Media with fifteen minutes to spare.

The lobby bustled with movement, assistants carrying garment bags for some film premiere, publicists whispering into phones, interns rushing with clipboards. It felt like walking into the heart of a storm.

She swiped her new ID badge and made her way upstairs through the elevator, reminding herself to breathe.

At her desk, she was greeted not by a calm morning but by a fresh mountain of tasks-emails to sort, old press releases to cross-check, and at least two red-stamped folders marked "URGENT." Liana's heart sank. She hadn't even taken her coat off yet.

"Early bird," a smooth voice chimed.

She turned to see Vanessa Cole leaning against her cubicle wall, coffee in hand, looking effortlessly stylish in a sleek red dress. Her smile was dazzling, but her eyes flickered with something sharper yet mysterious.

"You're really trying to make an impression, huh?" Vanessa said, sipping her drink.

Liana forced a polite smile. "I just don't want to fall behind."

"Smart," Vanessa replied, tilting her head. "Oh, by the way Mr Jonathan Pierce wanted the event schedules filed by noon. But don't stress. It's easy if you know the system."

She set a thick folder onto Liana's desk with a dramatic little thump.

Liana swallowed, glancing at the already overwhelming pile. "Right. Thanks for letting me know."

Vanessa's lips curved. "Of course. We're a team, after all." With that, she turned and clicked away on her heels, leaving a faint trace of expensive perfume in the air.

Liana exhaled slowly. A team? More like an obstacle.

The hours blurred as she typed, filed, cross-checked, and retyped. Jonathan Pierce stopped by once, a tall, no-nonsense man with a neatly trimmed beard and a tone that demanded efficiency. "Keep your head down and stay sharp, Torres," he told her curtly. "This place moves fast. Fall behind once, and you'll regret it."

"Yes, Mr. Pierce," she replied, heart pounding.

By late morning, she had nearly finished the stack. She gathered the updated schedules into a neat pile, determined to deliver them to Pierce before noon.

She hurried down the long glass hallway toward his office, the papers tucked securely against her chest. Her heels clicked sharply against the floor, echoing in the near empty corridor.

Then it happened.

She rounded the corner too quickly.

The collision was sudden, solid, firm, and completely unyielding. The stack of papers exploded from her arms like a flock of startled birds flying in the air, scattering across the floor.

"Oh no-!" she gasped, immediately dropping to her knees to grab them.

A low, steady voice cut through the air. "Careful."

Her hands froze. That voice.....deep, commanding, threaded with something smooth and dangerous. Slowly, she looked up.

And her breath caught.

It was him.

The man from last night.

Up close, Adrian Blackwood was almost unreal. His suit was charcoal black, tailored to perfection, his tie knotted with precision. His dark hair swept back with effortless style, his jawline sharp, his lips curved in the faintest shadow of amusement. But it was his eyes-deep and dark that pinned her in place.

Liana's pulse quickened. She opened her mouth but no words came out.

"You should watch where you're going," he said, kneeling gracefully to help her gather the papers. His large hand brushed against hers for a fleeting second, warm and steady.

"I-I'm sorry," she stammered, cheeks burning. "I wasn't looking."

He studied her quietly as he stacked a few sheets and handed them back. His presence was overwhelming-like standing too close to fire.

Before she could say more, a passing employee slowed, dipping his head respectfully. "Good morning, Mr. Blackwood."

Liana froze. Mr. Blackwood?

Her eyes widened. This wasn't just some man in a suit. This was Adrian Blackwood-the President of Titan Media's Film & Streaming Division. Her boss's boss. One of the most powerful men in the company.

He gave the employee a short nod before glancing back at her. For a moment, his gaze lingered, sharp and unreadable, as if he were cataloging her. Then he rose to his full height, papers now neatly gathered, and handed her the last sheet.

"Don't make a habit of it," he said evenly, then strode past, his commanding presence trailing behind him like a shadow.

Liana remained crouched on the floor, clutching the files to her chest. Her heart thudded so loudly she swore someone could hear it.

Of all the people she could have bumped into,on her second day it had to be him.

And the worst part?

She had a sinking feeling he would remember her.

Liana pressed a hand against her chest as the elevator doors slid shut Infront of her. Her pulse was still erratic from the collision in the hallway. The tall man's piercing gaze lingering in her mind like a brand. She didn't have the luxury of dwelling on him though. Mr. Pierce's words echoed in her ears: "Both the files and the event schedule draft. Before noon."

Her watch read 10:47 AM. Time was already slipping.

She marched back to her desk, slid into her chair, and opened her laptop. The files for the Film & Streaming Division were already neatly compiled in the folder beside her, but the schedule draft was another story. The upcoming Titan Media Gala was only weeks away, and she had been tasked to propose a preliminary lineup of events and timing - a job usually reserved for someone far higher than a second-day intern.

Her fingers flew across the keyboard, drafting possible flow:

Opening remarks by Adrian Blackwood, President of Film & Streaming Division.

Her hand hesitated as she typed his name. So that's who he was... she thought, remembering the weight of his gaze when she bumped into him earlier.

She forced herself to move on.

Keynote by Jonathan Pierce.

Showcase of upcoming media projects.

Networking sessions.

Closing cocktails.

She polished the outline, rearranging segments until they flowed with elegance and efficiency. Her training in communications came alive here - this was her strength, turning chaos into clarity.

At 11:28 AM, Vanessa strolled by, coffee cup in hand. She peered at Liana's screen with an exaggerated smirk.

"Ambitious for an intern to draft something like that. Careful, sweetie. The higher-ups don't like overstepping boundaries."

Liana kept her expression neutral. "Mr. Pierce asked me to."

Vanessa's painted lips curved into a saccharine smile. "Of course he did." She sipped her coffee and sauntered off, leaving a trail of perfume and disdain.

Liana printed the draft, double-checked the files, and stacked everything in a slim leather folder. Her heart pounded as she glanced at the clock. 11:41 AM. Just enough time.

She made her way to the executive floor. It was quieter, colder, with a gravity that pressed down on her shoulders. The secretary outside Jonathan Pierce's office looked up as she approached.

"I'm here to deliver the files and the schedule draft for Mr. Pierce," Liana said, clutching the folder tightly.

The secretary gave a brief nod. "Go right in. He's expecting you."

Liana inhaled deeply, steadied her hands, and stepped into the office.

Mr. Pierce sat across his desk, spectacles perched low on his nose, reviewing a thick binder. But it wasn't his presence that froze her steps.

Seated across from him, legs crossed, was Adrian Blackwood.

His head turned slowly at the sound of the door, and his eyes locked onto her - the same eyes that had held her in the hallway, sharp and unreadable. Recognition flickered there, and something else she couldn't name.

Liana's throat went dry. She lowered her gaze quickly, stepping forward with as much composure as she could muster up.

"Here are the files you requested, Mr. Pierce," she said, placing them on his desk, "and the preliminary draft of the event schedule."

Pierce skimmed the first page, then looked up at Adrian. "This is the intern I told you about. Quick, efficient, and not easily rattled."

Liana felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Not rattled? If only he knew.

Adrian leaned back in his chair, studying her with unnerving calm. His voice, deep and smooth, filled the room.

"So, you're the one drafting my opening remarks schedule."

The air seemed to still.

Liana forced herself to meet his gaze, even as her pulse hammered. "Yes, sir. It's only a preliminary outline. Adjustments can be made to your preference."

A faint curve touched his lips not quite a smile, more like a test. "Confident for a second-day intern."

Her fingers tightened around the edge of her folder. "I... I only tried to structure it in a way that would reflect Titan Media's prestige and image."

For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. Then Adrian leaned forward, flipping through the pages.

"Interesting," he murmured.

Jonathan Pierce dismissed her with a nod. "Good work, Torres. You're free to go."

Liana turned to leave, her legs rigid as ever, but as she reached the door, Adrian's voice followed her.

"Miss Torres."

She stopped, her hand on the doorknob. Slowly, she looked back.

His gaze was direct, unblinking. "I don't forget faces."

The words struck her like a spark. Her breath caught, but before she could respond, Jonathan was already speaking to Adrian again, their discussion returning to business.

She slipped out of the office, heart racing, her mind in turmoil.

He remembered.

And she had the unsettling feeling this was only the beginning.