beneath the cold

veloria gleamed beneath the morning sun like a lie wrapped in gold. Towers of glass scraper the sky and every street hummed with ambition.inside the tallest of them all Vance tower -time didn't move unless he willed it . Alexander Vance stood before the wall length window of his office one hand in his pocket and the other hand holding a tumbler of whiskey he hadn't torch from up here the city looked small manageable. like everything else in his life. He liked it that way. the boardroom behind him was silent no one dared to speak unless when spoken to the men in suits waited some sweating some pretending not to. Alexander voice, when came was calm enough slice through bone. "you are telling me", he said without turning "that our quarter loss is the result of a miscommunication ". The cfo starmmered something about market shifts Alexander finally turned his eyes gray like cold stell cut through the man . there are no shifts,he said there is only competence or failure.you have shown me which side you belong to. He set the glass down with quiet finally "you are done here". the man open his mouth then thought better of it others stayed still as the security guard appeared at the door. Alexander return to his view of the city. another problem solved another weakness remove. he didn't believe in second chances not in business not in life not after what betrayer had cost him. the elevator chimed behind him he didn't turn when he's assistant Miranda, entered her voice was smooth but tight. "sir your new executive assistant has arrived". "send her in ",he said. he didn't expect anything they came and went. he hired the best and dismiss them when they failed to keep up most didn't last three months, some didn't last a week. He turned just as the door opened. she stepped in, clutching a leather folder.No perfume, no flashy heels no nervous giggle like the others. just calm confidence and a pair of eyes that didn't flinch when they met his. Elena Rivera ", she said her voice was low, steady mr Vance. Alexander watched her for a long moment dark hair pulled into a clean twist,a tailored black suit, and something in her expression something unreadable that made the air in the room shift. he gesture towards the desk you are late by 2 minutes she said the elevator stopped at every floor the blunt honesty caught him of guard most would apologize make excuses she simply stated fact. he didn't smile, but a flicker of curiosity touched his gaze you will find veloria doesn't wait for excuse. Neither do I ", she replied. the room fell silent again Miranda looked between them, uncertain,then quietly exited, closing the door behind her. Alexander Walked around the desk his movement controlled deliberate under your resume says you worked under Damian cross I did, Elena said. he's not an easy man" neither am I, she said that earned her the frown of his drow . no one spoke to him like that not here not in his Kingdom he studied her in moments longer he's voice dropping a shade lower tell me miss Rivera what makes you think you will survive here? because I'm not scared easily her words hung between them he could tell she meant it beneath her calm exterion,he sensed something else a quiet storm a strength shaped by its own pain. he stepped closer , testing her reaction. everyone thinks that until I prove them wrong. then maybe she said softly you haven't met the right opponent yet. the tension shaped tight, invisible but sharp for a second Alexander for gods the city outside the clock ticking on the wall he only saw her eyes dark steady on afraid then he blink and the moment was gone. he's straighten retreating behind his mask you will find the terms of employment in the packet on the desk I expect perfection you make one mistake you are out understood. "understood" Good start now she turned to the desk, opening the folder with efficient precision he watched her hands steady, graceful no tremor.she was control wrapped in warmth, and that made her dangerous. he returned to his window pretending to ignore her as she worked but he didn't miss the way her reflection moved across the glass. the way she scanned every document her brow tightening slightly when something didn't add up. this contract she said after a moment has a missing clause on confidentiality he turned slowly you read that already? you said perfection I assume you meant now. for the first time in a long while Alexander almost smelled almost. the hours slipped by he gave her tasks no one usually completed in a day she finished them in half the time she didn't flinch when he was cold didn't soften when he pushed she met every test head on. the evening the sun had sunk into the ocean painting the skyline in molten gold. Alexander Leaned against his desk, watching her shutdown her computer. you lasted the day ,he said impress. they always is he said just no one wins. she gathered her things and looked up at him "maybe it is not about winning". "then what is it about". "Enduring ". the word hit deeper than he expected he didn't show it but something shifted. he watched her work out polished, silent, the falntesi scene of her perfume lingering after she was gone for the first time in years Alexander didn't return so his paperwork he just stood there staring at the door. he told himself it was curiosity nothing more. but deep down in the part of him he had buried long ago something cold began to c***k. and in the city of veloria, where everything had a price Alexander was about to discover that love was the one thing he couldn't buy or control