THE WRONG STERLING

Elena Brooks was a young journalist at the peak of her career...interviews, high-profile meetings with governors, business trips across states, late nights chasing stories that actually mattered. It had taken years of relentless work, missed holidays, and sleepless nights, but she had finally reached a point where everything felt… worth it. She was proud of herself. And for the first time in a long time, life felt stable. Predictable. Safe. Her wedding was in a few weeks, and while she wasn’t the overly sentimental type, there was a quiet excitement sitting beneath everything she did lately. It showed in the way she double-checked guest lists, or paused a little longer when looking at her engagement ring. Luca had been her constant. Steady. Reliable. The kind of love that didn’t shake you—but held you in place. And Elena had convinced herself that was enough. That it was everything. That morning, she stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the sleeve of her blouse as she quickly ran through her schedule for the day. There were calls to return, a meeting to prepare for, and somewhere in between, she still had to finalize a few wedding details. Her life was full. Busy. Perfectly aligned. So when her phone rang, she almost ignored it. Almost. But something made her pause. The number wasn’t saved. She frowned slightly before picking it up. “Hello?” “Am I speaking with Elena Brooks?” the voice on the other end asked, formal and precise. “Yes, this is she,” Elena replied, straightening unconsciously. “I’m calling from Sterling Inc. concerning a job application from a few years ago.” Elena blinked. For a second, she thought she heard wrong. “Sterling Inc.?” she repeated, her voice slower now, like she was trying to process it properly. “Yes,” the voice confirmed. “The board has reviewed your application alongside your current portfolio, and we would like to offer you the position of Head of the Media and Journalism Division.” Silence. Complete silence. Elena didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. Because there was no way— “Hello, Miss Brooks? Are you still there?” the voice prompted. “Yes...yes, I’m here,” she said quickly, snapping out of it. “I just… I’m sorry, I zoned out for a second.” “That’s understandable,” the voice said calmly. “If you’re available, we’d like you to come in tomorrow to finalize the details. You can begin as early as next week.” Elena’s heart was racing now. Sterling Inc. The biggest corporation in Manhattan. The company she had applied to years ago—back when she was still trying to prove herself, back when her name didn’t carry weight. And now… they were calling her. Offering her one of the most powerful positions in media. “That would be great,” she said, trying and failing to keep the excitement out of her voice. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” When the call ended, she just stood there. For a moment. Then.....a small, disbelieving laugh escaped her lips. Followed by a full-on squeal. “Oh my God.” She pressed her hands against her cheeks, pacing slightly like she had too much energy in her body. This was insane. Even if she knew, deep down that she had earned this… it still felt unreal. Because this wasn’t just any company. Sterling Inc. was power. Influence. Authority. And at the center of it all was Sebastian Sterling. The CEO. Son of Alexander Sterling....the man who built the empire from nothing. After his father’s death, Sebastian had taken over, and from everything Elena had heard, he didn’t just maintain the company. He elevated it. Cold. Calculated. Brilliant. And, according to rumors… dangerously attractive. Elena huffed a small laugh at that. As if that mattered. Still… there was something about it. About him. About stepping into a world that felt bigger than anything she had known before. It excited her. And scared her. But more than anything, She wanted to share the moment. With Luca. Without wasting another second, she grabbed her phone and dialed his number. It rang. And rang. And rang. No answer. She frowned slightly and tried again. Still nothing. “Seriously?” she muttered under her breath. By the third attempt, she sighed, lowering the phone. Maybe he was busy. He had been lately. Work, meetings, late nights....he always had an explanation, and Elena had never really questioned it. Still… A small part of her felt disappointed. This was big. And she wanted him to be part of it. Her expression softened after a moment. Or maybe… She could make it better. A smile slowly spread across her lips. “I’ll just surprise him.” The idea settled instantly. Yes. That was better. She grabbed her keys, her excitement returning full force as she headed out. The drive to Luca’s apartment took about thirty minutes, but it felt shorter with the way her mind kept replaying the phone call. Head of Media and Journalism. At Sterling Inc. She could already imagine his reaction. The way he’d pull her into a hug, maybe spin her around, tell her how proud he was. That thought alone made her smile widen. By the time she pulled into his driveway, her heart was light. Excited. Hopeful. She noticed his car immediately. “He’s home,” she murmured, her smile turning softer. Perfect. She stepped out of the car, smoothing her outfit unconsciously before walking up to the door. Her fingers curled around the handle, her excitement bubbling just beneath the surface. She didn’t bother knocking. This was Luca. Her fiancé. Her future. She pushed the door open and froze. Everything inside her stopped. Her heartbeat. Her thoughts. Her breath. For a split second, her mind refused to process what she was seeing. Like it was protecting her. Like it was giving her one last chance to turn away before reality settled in. But reality didn’t wait. It hit her all at once. Hard. Sharp. “WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE?!” she shouted, her voice breaking through the silence like glass shattering. And just like that, Everything changed.