REFORGE & REIGN

I knew my life would change the moment he looked at me. I knew that look. The kind that does not ask. The kind that decides. Victor Hale did not raise his voice. He never did. He only leaned back, fingers linked, eyes calm. Calm like he already knew how this would end. I stood in front of him with my hands clenched by my sides. My palms were damp. My heart was loud. Too loud. “You’re late,” he said. “I came as fast as I could.” He smiled. Not kind. Never kind. “You always say that.” I swallowed. My throat felt tight. “You said it was urgent.” “It is.” He paused, then added, “For you.” That single word landed hard. For you. Everything with Victor was always for me. Every threat. Every reminder. Every quiet warning dressed like concern. He stood and walked closer. Slow. Careful. He stopped when he was too close for comfort. “Do you know why I called you, Aria?” I shook my head. “No.” “You’re lying.” My breath caught. I hated that he could read me so easily. “I think you do know,” he continued. “You just don’t want to say it.” I stayed silent. Silence had kept me alive before. Sometimes it worked. Victor sighed, like I was a disappointment he had expected. “You owe me.” There it was. The sentence that ruled my life. “I’ve been paying,” I said quickly. “Every month. I never missed” He lifted a hand. I stopped at once. “You pay what I allow you to pay.” His eyes hardened. “And what you owe is not money.” My chest tightened. Fear crept in, slow and cold. “I saved you,” Victor went on. “I pulled you out when no one else would. I cleaned your mess. I buried the past you thought would ruin you.” I looked down. My nails dug into my skin. “I didn’t ask you to,” I said softly. Victor laughed. “You never had to. That’s how debts work.” I wanted to scream. I wanted to run. But I stayed where I was, like always. “What do you want?” I asked. His smile returned. Sharp. Satisfied. “I want you to meet someone.” That was not what I expected. “Meet… someone?” “Yes.” He turned and walked back to his chair. Sat. Watch me. “A man.” My heart skipped. “Why?” “Because he’s my enemy.” The room felt smaller. “His name is Damon Blackwood.” The name hit harder than I expected. I had heard it before. Everyone had. Damon Blackwood was not just rich. He was powerful. Dangerous. The kind of man people whispered about. “I can’t,” I said at once. “I’m not, I'm not like that.” Victor tilted his head. “Like what?” “I’m not someone who seduces men for information.” He chuckled. “You don’t give yourself enough credit.” Anger flared. “You don’t know me.” “I know everything about you.” That shut me up. Victor leaned forward. “You will get close to Damon Blackwood. You will earn his trust. And you will tell me everything he says, everything he does, everything he hides.” I shook my head. “That’s dangerous.” “Yes.” “He could ruin me.” Victor’s eyes gleamed. “So could I.” Silence crashed between us. I felt trapped. Again. “Why me?” I asked. “Why not someone trained for this?” “Because he won’t suspect you.” Victor smiled. “You look harmless.” I hated that word. “I’m not harmless,” I said. “I know.” His voice softened. “That’s why you’re perfect.” My chest burned. “And if I say no?” Victor stood again. This time, his smile disappeared. “Then I reopen your file.” My blood turned cold. “You wouldn’t,” I whispered. “I would.” He stepped closer. “And you know what happens next.” Images flooded my mind. Police lights. Courtrooms. Cells. A future stolen before it could begin. I closed my eyes. “Say it,” Victor urged. “Say you understand.” “I understand,” I whispered. “Good girl.” I opened my eyes. Rage flickered inside me, hot and sharp. “What exactly do you want from him?” I asked. Victor turned away. “That will come later.” That scared me more than anything. “How do I get close to him?” He glanced back. “That part is already arranged.” My heart jumped. “What do you mean?” “You start tomorrow.” Tomorrow. No time to think. No time to plan. “You’ll work for him,” Victor added. “Close enough to see his world. Close enough to touch it.” I stiffened. “Work for him how?” “As his assistant.” I stared at him. “That’s impossible.” Victor smiled again. “Nothing is impossible with the right pressure.” I felt sick. “What if he finds out?” I asked. “He won’t.” Victor’s voice was calm. Too calm. “Unless you make a mistake.” I took a shaky breath. “And if I do?” Victor stepped close one last time. His voice dropped. “Fail me,” he said quietly, “and I will destroy you.” The words wrapped around my throat. I nodded. Because I had no choice. As I turned to leave, his voice followed me. “Oh, Aria?” I paused. “Be careful,” he said. “Damon Blackwood is not a man who lets go.” My pulse raced. Neither was Victor Hale. And I was caught between them. If I failed him, I would lose everything. But as I walked out, I couldn’t shake one terrifying thought: what if getting close to Damon Blackwood ruined me first?