Written in stars

Chapter2

A Familiar Stranger

Lena Carter barely made it out of Celestia Corp without her heart hammering through her chest. The moment she stepped outside, she sucked in a breath, pressing a hand against her ribs as if that could somehow steady the strange, unshakable feeling inside her.

It wasn’t just nerves about getting the job. It wasn’t even the overwhelming presence of Adrian Blackwood, the ruthless billionaire CEO who had hired her on the spot.

It was the way he had looked at her.

Like he recognized her.

Like she was someone he was trying to place in his memory but couldn’t quite reach.

And worst of all—she felt the same.

Lena didn’t believe in fate. She didn’t believe in soulmates or past lives or any of the stories she used to devour as a child.

But that moment in his office, when his stormy gaze met hers… something shifted.

A forgotten memory? A dream she couldn’t recall?

Or something much, much deeper?

She exhaled sharply and glanced down at her phone, rereading the email.

"Your first day begins Monday. Do not be late."

Not even a "Welcome aboard." Not even a polite ending. Just a blunt order from the most powerful man in the company.

Ruthless and efficient, she thought. Just like the rumors say.

Lena shook off the eerie sensation and forced herself to focus. This job was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Whatever strange connection she thought she felt—it was probably just nerves.

By Monday morning, she would have forgotten about it.

At least, that’s what she told herself.

---

Monday Morning – Celestia Corp

By the time Lena arrived at Celestia Corp, her nerves were under control—mostly.

Dressed in her best white blouse and a navy pencil skirt, she made her way through the glass-walled corporate empire, her heels clicking against the pristine floors.

The office was intimidating—polished marble, sleek furniture, and an air of untouchable perfection. The people who worked here carried themselves with confidence, their expensive suits and practiced smiles making Lena feel wildly out of place.

As she reached the 30th floor, a tall woman with sharp cheekbones and ice-cold eyes approached her.

"You’re Lena Carter?"

Lena nodded quickly.

The woman barely spared her a glance. "I’m Naomi Clarke, Mr. Blackwood’s executive assistant. Follow me."

Lena obeyed, glancing at the nameplate on the woman’s desk. Executive Assistant to the CEO.

So she worked directly with Adrian Blackwood.

Naomi led her through a hallway lined with glass-walled offices before stopping in front of a minimalist workstation just outside Adrian’s office.

"This is your desk," Naomi said briskly. "You’ll be handling reports, organizing meetings, and making sure Mr. Blackwood’s schedule runs smoothly. He expects efficiency and perfection at all times."

Lena swallowed. "Understood."

Naomi’s eyes swept over her, as if assessing her worth. Then she gave a tight smile. "Good. Because if you mess up, you won’t last long."

Before Lena could respond, a door opened behind them.

And suddenly, the air around them shifted.

A cold, powerful presence filled the space, sending shivers down her spine.

She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Adrian Blackwood had entered the room.

---

Meeting the Storm

"Miss Carter," Adrian’s deep, commanding voice cut through the air.

Lena turned slowly, meeting his gaze.

Dressed in a flawless black suit, Adrian Blackwood was the embodiment of power and control. His presence was overwhelming—sharp angles, controlled movements, and eyes so piercing they felt like they could strip a person bare.

For a moment, Lena was frozen.

Because again—it happened.

That strange pull. That unshakable sense of familiarity.

It made no sense. But for a fleeting second, Lena swore she could see something in his eyes.

Something like… recognition.

Then, as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.

"Follow me," he ordered.

Lena obeyed without question, stepping into his massive office. The moment the door shut behind her, silence stretched between them.

Adrian took a seat behind his obsidian desk, fingers steepled together as he studied her.

"You’ll be reviewing financial reports before they reach me," he said. "Start with this one."

He slid a thick file across the desk.

Lena picked it up, flipping through the documents. The numbers blurred slightly, but then—her brain clicked into work mode.

She skimmed through the projections, spotting an inconsistency on the third page.

"There’s a mistake in the revenue forecast," she said before she could stop herself.

Adrian’s gaze sharpened. "Explain."

Lena swallowed. "The calculations on page three show a twelve percent increase, but the breakdown suggests it should be eight percent. If this isn’t corrected, it’ll throw off the entire quarterly analysis."

A long silence followed.

Then—something shifted in his expression.

For the first time since she met him, Lena swore she saw approval flicker in his stormy eyes.

"Sharp," he murmured.

Lena didn’t know why, but her pulse skipped at the sound of his voice.

Adrian leaned back in his chair, watching her carefully. "You’ll double-check all reports before they reach my desk. I don’t tolerate errors."

"Understood," Lena said quickly.

She turned to leave, but before she could reach the door, his voice stopped her.

"One more thing, Miss Carter."

Lena turned back, heart pounding.

Adrian’s eyes held something different this time—something deeper, something that sent a shiver down her spine.

His next words made her entire world shift.

"Have we met before?"

Lena’s breath caught.

Because the question was dangerous.

And because, deep down, she already knew the answer.

But she couldn’t tell him.

She couldn’t tell him that she had seen him before—just

not in this lifetime.

So instead, she forced a smile and said the only thing she could.

"No. We haven’t."

And it was the biggest lie she had ever told.