A Modern love story

chilling emptiness. Now, back within the familiar, suffocating walls of her stepmother's house, the reality of her precarious situation had crashed down with brutal force. Claire, ever the o

en the one to scrounge for food. Claire, perched at the table like a disgruntled queen amidst her dwindling kingdom, regarded Elara with her usual disdain, oblivious to the quiet storm brewing beneath the younger woman's carefully neutral e

elf standing before the imposing edifice of Sterling Enterprises. The sheer scale of the building, a gleaming tower that pierced the sky, both intimidated a

ce of her stepmother's house. Polished marble floors reflected the sleek, modern furniture in cool, muted tones of grey and silver. Abstract art, large and imposing, adorned the walls, hinting at a world of wealt

oiffed dark hair framed a face that seemed permanently etched with disapproval. Her eyes, sharp and assessing, flicked ov

ment under the receptionist's scrutiny. "Elara Vance,"

s tapped impatiently on t

e PA to the

t. Someone will be with you shortly." Her gaze flic

ed professionals exuding an air of quiet confidence. She observed them, trying to gauge her competition, a knot of anxiety tightening in her stoma

deliers, the sea of powerful faces... and amongst them, a man with a sharp, intelligent gaze who had engaged Damon in a terse, almost hostile conversation. Mr. Sterling, Damon had sneere

and called out a name. Elara wasn't surprised it wasn't hers. T

ong, hushed corridor lined with closed office doors, the silence amplifying the nervous flutt

Behind a large desk overlooking a breathtaking panorama of the city sat a man whose piercing blue eyes se

le tightening of his jaw. "Ms. Vance," he said, h

s gaze unwavering. "I reviewed your CV. Your qualifications are... adequate." He paused, hi

tried to keep her expression neutral. "I..

no humor. "Oh, but we have. Several months ago, at the De La

to crumble. She swallowed hard, trying to downplay the connection. "Yes, I... I knew Mr. De La Cus."

deed. His... wife, if I recall correctly." A hint of something akin

the shift in the atmosphere. T

t's just say I wasn't particularly fond of his methods, or his... acquisitions." His gaze flickered over Elara,

er connection to Damon, and something in his tone sugges

e, Ms. Vance. Why should I hire the former wife of a man I despised?

ast is my own. It does not define my capabilities or my need to earn an honest living. If you choose to judge me based on my former association, that is your prerogative. However, I assure you

with unspoken animosity and a strange, unsettling intrigue. Finally, he leaned forward, a predatory glint in his