Chapter 1 : The Contract
310 Words
Rain painted silver streaks across the windows of the penthouse as Elena Vasquez studied the photograph lying on the table.
Lucian Moretti.
Thirty-four years old.
Head of the Moretti empire.
The most powerful man in the city.
And her next target.
The photograph should have made this easy. It usually did.
Instead, she found herself staring at the sharp lines of his face, the cold confidence in his dark eyes. Even in a still image, he looked dangerous.
The kind of man who walked into a room and made everyone else feel smaller.
A knock sounded at the door.
"You're late," Elena said without looking up.
The handler entered, placing a black envelope beside her.
"Private gala tomorrow night. Moretti will be there."
Elena opened the envelope.
Inside was an invitation embossed with gold lettering.
A smile touched her lips.
Perfect.
Twenty-four hours later, crystal chandeliers illuminated one of the city's most exclusive events.
Elena moved through the crowd effortlessly, dressed in black silk, every step measured and graceful.
She felt his presence before she saw him.
A subtle shift in the atmosphere.
Conversations lowering.
Attention turning.
Lucian Moretti had arrived.
The room belonged to him the moment he entered.
Their eyes met across the ballroom.
Just for a second.
Yet something about that look felt wrong.
Lucian didn't glance away.
He studied her.
Calmly.
Patiently.
As if he already knew exactly who she was.
A strange tension settled in her chest.
Dangerous.
Unexpected.
The kind of feeling that got people killed.
Then, to her surprise, Lucian raised his glass slightly in her direction.
A silent acknowledgment.
An invitation.
Or perhaps a warning.
For the first time in years, Elena felt uncertainty.
And she hated it.
Because the mission had suddenly become much more complicated.
And somewhere deep down, she suspected Lucian Moretti knew it too.
.
.
.
Enjoyy!!!
- Writer
