1.World Unseen Beauty
Author’s POV
Austin Hawk, the cold-hearted CEO, stepped out through the back door of the bar into the chilly night. He lit a cigarette, his movements precise, each drag steady as the smoke curled around him. The faint glow of the streetlight illuminated his sharp features, and his intense aura was enough to make anyone think twice before approaching him, even in the pitch-black night.
Moments earlier, Austin had witnessed something that ignited a storm of rage within him—his childhood sweetheart, Grace Smith, in the arms of his cousin brother who is also his business competitor.
The betrayal had carved a deeper scar into his already icy heart. He kicked an empty beer barrel next to him, the loud clang echoing through the alley.
But just as his fury consumed him, a soft, melodic whisper floated through the air, cutting through the silence.
He froze, turning his head towards the source of the sound. There, crouched behind another barrel, was a woman—no, a vision. All he could see was her back, her long blonde hair cascading down over the pure white dress she wore, glowing faintly under the dim light.
Austin frowned, his sharp mind deciding it was none of his business. He cleared his throat, ignoring her entirely, and took out his phone.
“Dany,” he barked, his deep voice reverberating. “Bring the car to the back. Now.”
He hung up before his driver could respond. But as he glanced back towards the girl, she turned slowly, her face now visible.
His breath caught.
Her eyes—deep blue, almost glowing—locked onto his. At that moment, a flash of lightning illuminated her face, revealing beauty so profound it felt unreal. She looked like a goddess descended from the heavens, her fear and desperation only enhancing her ethereal presence.
For a rare moment, Austin found himself frozen. He walked towards her with steady steps, his gaze unyielding, as if drawn by an invisible force.
She stood slowly, trembling, and met his imposing figure. With trembling hands, she reached out and grasped his arm. Her lips moved, and a single whispered word escaped.
“Help.”
Austin’s sharp gaze narrowed. “Speak clearly,” he commanded, his tone cold and unwavering.
The girl flinched at his voice but managed to repeat the word, her voice so faint it barely carried. “Help…”
A mocking smile tugged at his lips. “Help? Why should I help you?”
Her hands shook as she reached for the diamond pendant hanging around her neck, her movements uncertain. She hesitated as though it held immense significance, but before she could speak, Austin tilted his head, studying her.
“Do you even know who I am?” he asked, his tone edged with annoyance.
She shook her head, her wide eyes filled with confusion.
The realization that she didn’t know him—him, the world’s most influential businessman—irked him. Annoyed, he turned to leave, but before he could step away, she lunged forward and wrapped her arms around him.
The unexpected embrace stopped him cold. Her slender frame pressed tightly against his chest, her trembling figure seeking refuge.
For a moment, he stood still, uncomprehending. She buried herself further into him, hiding between his broad chest and the wall behind them.
From a distance, a group of fifty men stormed into the alley, shouting and overturning barrels in their search. One of them, a giant of a man dressed in black, walked with thunderous footsteps that shook the ground. His terrifying presence could freeze anyone in their tracks.
The girl clutched Austin tighter, her head pressed firmly against his chest. Her hand slipped inside the fabric of his suit jacket, hiding herself completely. Austin glanced down at her, his sharp mind struggling to piece the situation together.
Her soft fragrance—sandalwood mingled with roses—filled the air around him. It teased his senses, an intoxicating scent unlike any he’d ever encountered.
The giant in black came closer, his men scouring the alley, but Austin stood his ground. With one hand braced against the wall behind them and the other holding his cigarette, he remained unfazed.
As the men searched, Austin’s driver, Dany, pulled up silently behind the crowd. Seizing the moment, Austin scooped the girl up effortlessly into his arms and strode to the car. Before anyone could notice, he slipped inside, the door closing behind them.
Inside the car, the girl curled into his lap, trembling and hiding her face. Her desperate vulnerability stirred something unfamiliar in him—a strange protectiveness he couldn’t explain.
Dany glanced at them through the rearview mirror, his eyebrows raising slightly. In all his years, he had never seen Austin this close to anyone, let alone so intimately holding someone.
Austin cleared his throat, masking his discomfort. “Drive,” he commanded.
As the car pulled away, Austin cast one last glance at the towering man and his crew, now oblivious to their target’s escape.
He looked down at the girl, still trembling in his lap. “We’re far from them now,” he said in a deep voice.
She nodded faintly but didn’t move.
For a moment, Austin’s cold demeanor softened. He studied her delicate features—her perfect braid slightly undone, her skin glowing faintly in the dim car light.
Leaning slightly closer, he inhaled her intoxicating fragrance again, his mind swirling. This woman… she’s no ordinary girl.
For the first time in years, Austin Hawk felt his carefully built world tremble.
For a man like Austin Hawk, whose world revolved around power, control, and dominance, this woman was a question he didn’t yet have the answer to. Her beauty wasn’t loud or flaunted—it was quiet, unseen, yet utterly undeniable.
She was, without a doubt, This world’s unseen beauty.
