The Rival's Shadow
The boardroom on the 50th floor of Blackwell Tower hummed with the low buzz of pre-meeting chatter. Ava smoothed her hands over the fitted black sheath dress Lucian had laid out that morning, another silent command in fabric form. It hugged her like a glove, professional but with an edge that made her feel exposed. She stood at the coffee station, pouring a fresh pot, her role as assistant still a thin veil over the truth.
The door swung open and in walked Damien Voss.
She'd heard the name in whispers around the office, Lucian's fiercest rival, CEO of Voss Industries, the man who'd tried to poach half of Blackwell's top talent last year. He was everything Lucian wasn't blond where Lucian was dark, charming where Lucian was cold, with a smile that promised fun instead
