Sweet Fate

I exhaled slowly, a faint plume of mist curling into the biting air. My gaze drifted across the crowded street, catching the fleeting silhouettes of strangers moving past one another without a second thought. I tightened my grip on the crossbody bag resting against my side. Inside lay the humble remnants of my past life: a few clothes, a laptop, and a journal. Nothing more. In this unfamiliar city—a place I was now supposed to call home—I felt like an absolute phantom. The biting chill did nothing to soften the city’s restless pulse. People bundled up in tailored coats as though the cold were second nature, rushing past with eyes glued to their phones or fingers wrapped around steaming cups of coffee. Norwyn city stood tall as a striking, modern metropolis—radiant on the surface, yet humming with a wild, untamed undertow beneath. Closing my eyes, I drew in a long, steady breath. I wanted to bury my shadows here, to lose the memories that haunted me. --- “Miss Briar?” A voice broke through my thoughts. A man stepped into view, his unruly black curls defying order and thin metal frames, eyes shadowed by deep exhaustion. He wore a light brown shirt beneath a darker jacket, paired with matching plaid trousers and worn leather shoes whose polish had long faded away. “Regina, please,” I corrected gently, extending my hand. He took it with surprising softness, his touch cautious. “Mr. Wolfe?” “Adrian is fine. Please, have a seat, Regina.” I took the chair opposite him. Adrian slid a stack of papers across the dark wood toward me. “I’ve gone through your manuscript. Honestly... I was captivated. The way you construct your antagonist’s mind gave me chills.” He narrowed his eyes slightly, studying my expression. “How many books have you published, Regina? It’s hard to believe a writer with this level of craft hasn't crossed my radar before.” “It’s my debut,” I replied softly. Surprise flickered across his features, giving way to open disbelief. “Your debut? Wow... I certainly didn't see that coming.” I gave a faint, quiet nod. “My company is offering a standard ten percent royalty per copy. We’ll launch with an initial run of five thousand copies to test the waters. Given that you’re a new author, we’ll see how the audience responds before committing to a second printing,” he explained, leaning forward. “How does that sound?” Ten percent. Is that all my worth? I crossed my arms over my lap, inhaling slowly. “Ten percent…” I let the words linger in the air, creating a deliberate pause. Adrian reclined into his chair, attempting to project confidence, but his fingers tapped an anxious rhythm against the desk. He had clearly expected me to jump at the offer. “It’s a standard figure for a newcomer.” Our eyes locked. He was trying to steer the room, to convince me this was the best deal I’d ever get. “It seems your publishing house underestimates my story’s worth,” I said smoothly, offering a small, cool smile. “I appreciate your time, but I’ll take my work somewhere that recognizes its true value.” I stood up, gathering my bag to leave. “Regina, wait!” Adrian blurted out, his chair scraping loudly against the floor as he scrambled around the desk to intercept me at the door. “Name your price,” he insisted, searching my face. “Fifteen,” I said without hesitation. He released a heavy breath, his eyes searching mine deeply. “Twelve.” I held his gaze in unwavering silence. “Fifteen.” He squeezed his eyes shut and let out another long sigh. A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. “Fine,” he murmured, defeated. “I’ll pitch it to my boss. Come back tomorrow.” “Thank you,” I replied, stepping past him into the crisp corridor air. --- “You can set your security code later, and here’s the backup key,” the landlady said, placing two small metallic keys into my palm. She was a middle-aged woman with a radiant, watchful presence. “Thank you,” I offered quietly. Her gaze lingered on me, a soft, knowing smile touching her lips as if trying to decipher the secrets I carried. “I hope you find peace here.” I furrowed my brow slightly, unsure of her intuition, but returned the subtle nod. She turned, and her footsteps slowly faded down the hallway. Alone at last. I programmed the lock on my apartment door, my fingers moving automatically over the key pad. I had leased the space for a year using what remained of my savings after abandoning my old life… and everything in it. The interior was soft, pristine, and almost entirely draped in shades of white. Pure. Almost too spotless. I sank onto the bed in the center of the room, breathing in the delicate, fresh scent of clean linen. I prayed this sanctuary would let me rebuild myself. Running away wasn't easy. I had tried to hold on for so long, but surrendering to a new life was better than letting my soul break entirely. Sighing softly, I held up my right hand. It felt stained with blood and vengeance. This hand had harmed someone… though he hardly deserved to be called human. That monster. I felt no remorse for ending his life. My only fear was that the shadows of my past would trace my steps here. My eyelids grew heavy, and exhaustion pulled me under. --- “Wait here for just a moment. I’ll head in to brief my boss. Here, I brought you some coffee.” Adrian offered me a steaming mug, guiding me to a couch in an extraordinarily quiet third-floor hallway. Oddly enough, the entire wing had only one grand entrance, marked by a sleek silver plaque: Soren H. Caelum Caelum... The name sounded ancient and refined. I leaned back, inhaling the rich aroma of roasted beans. Muffled conversation drifted from behind the heavy doors. “You need to read this yourself, Soren. This novel has the potential to break records,” Adrian urged, his voice filled with genuine excitement tempered by slight hesitation. “You know I wouldn't push an author unless I believed in them.” Then came a deep, velvety response. “Isn't it rather bold for a debut author to demand such terms?” The voice was low, smooth, and struck a sudden, electrifying chord deep within my chest. Goosebumps stirred along my skin. I couldn't explain why my pulse reacted so violently to a sound. “Just bring her in. I want to see the person who understands the heart of a villain so... intimately.” A faint smile touched my lips. People often remarked on how disturbingly vivid my depiction of dark motives was. Given my former life, it was no surprise. The double doors glided open, and Adrian appeared. “Regina? Thank you for waiting. Soren would like to see you now.” I rose and stepped into the suite, greeted by the warm fragrance of aged leather, parchment, and dark espresso. Soft, warm sunlight flooded the elegant space, illuminating rich walnut furnishings. Then I looked up. The instant my eyes met the man behind the desk, a sharp, searing ache struck my chest—intense, electric, and sending an unfamiliar wave through my bloodstream. Snap. An unseen connection locked between us—sudden, intoxicating, and impossible to ignore. His eyes, rich as warm amber catching the light, widened as he stared at me, catching his breath as if hit by a ghost. The pen slipped from his fingers, rolling forgotten across the documents on his desk. I closed my eyes briefly, fighting to regain control over the magnetic pull surging through me. Soren . His name felt like a spell on my tongue. “Please... take a seat, Regina,” he commanded quietly. His voice was a low, resonant murmur, thick with unspoken tension. A soft shiver traced my spine once more. I sat down, taking a slow breath to mask the wild pounding in my heart, and offered a composed smile—even as my chest thrilled with that inexplicable spark. My instinct whispered that this moment was not just a meeting. It was the start of an unavoidable destiny. To be continued.