Days passed...
The sleek clock on the wall ticked steadily as sunlight poured through the tall windows of Drake's office. He sat at his desk, flipping through a few files with a cold expression.
Drake: "Kian, didn't you accept the collaboration with Royal Empire?"
Kian, standing a few feet away with a tablet in hand, blinked nervously.
Kian: "Actually, sir... I was about to finalize it today. Their team requested a direct meeting to discuss the terms in person."
Drake leaned back in his chair, raising a brow.
Drake: "Set the meeting. Book the boardroom. I want their full team there—no online back-and-forth. If they want this, they'll show up."
Kian: "Yes, sir. I'll confirm it right away. They'll be here tomorrow at 10 a.m."
Drake nodded, his gaze shifting to the skyline outside.
Drake: "Let's see what Royal Empire really wants".
After finalizing the Royal Empire meeting at 10:00 a.m. for tomorrow,Drake turned his attention back to the mountain of work waiting on his desk. His office was a well-oiled machine, and everyone knew not to bring anything to him unless it was necessary—and urgent.
Drake: "Kian, bring me the quarterly performance sheet. I want the updated figures before noon."
Kian tapped rapidly on his tablet and nodded.
Kian: "Already on your desk, sir. The marketing department's numbers are still lagging behind projections."
Drake opened the file and scanned through the data with sharp eyes.
Drake: "Then tell Marketing to stop wasting money on useless digital ads and focus on campaign conversion. I want a revised plan by Friday."
Kian quickly made a note.
Kian: "Understood. Also, the logistics manager is requesting budget clearance for the Chennai branch expansion."
Drake didn't even look up.
Drake: "Tell them I'll approve it only after I see a six-month cost-benefit breakdown. No projections, actual feasibility numbers."
Kian: "Got it. I'll inform them."
Drake closed the report file and shifted to his email, replying briskly to vendors, partners, and international branches. His mind worked like a machine—efficient, calculated, always five steps ahead.
Outside the glass office walls, two junior staff whispered while rushing to the copier.
Staff 1: "He already cleared three reports today and flagged errors in all of them. Does he even sleep?"
Staff 2: "I think he runs on caffeine and pressure."
Back inside, Drake pressed his intercom.
Drake: "Kian, tell Finance to meet me at 4. I need to review last month's revenue flow. No delays."
Kian: "Yes, sir. I'll schedule it now."
Drake didn't stop for a break, didn't slow down—just kept working. Because for him, the empire he built wasn't going to run on its own.
The next morning, the sky was overcast with soft grey clouds—perfectly matching Drake's usual mood.
Drake stood in front of his full-length mirror, adjusting the cuffs of his dark navy suit. His shirt was crisp white, collar sharp, and the silver watch on his wrist gleamed faintly under the light. His hair was slicked back neatly, and a faint shadow of his jawline gave him an effortlessly sharp look. As always, he looked like a man with no time to waste.
He grabbed his coat, slipped on his black leather shoes, and left his penthouse in silence.
Drake had already reached the office.
In the hallway, Kian caught up to him with a tablet in hand.
Kian: "Morning, sir. Just a reminder—the meeting with Royal Empire is at 10. The team from their side has arrived and is waiting in the boardroom. Their CEO is still on the way."
Drake: "Let's not keep them waiting. Let's move."
By 9:50 a.m., Drake and Kian headed toward the grand glass-walled meeting room. The tension in the air was crisp. Inside, several key members from both Starlight Corporation and Royal Empire were already seated, dressed sharp and focused, flipping through files or tapping on tablets.
Polite nods and greetings echoed as Drake entered the room. He didn't smile—but he didn't have to. His presence alone commanded attention. He walked to the head of the table and sat down calmly, fingers interlocked on the table, eyes sweeping across the room.
One of Royal Empire's directors leaned in and said with a slight smile,
Director: "Our CEO is on the way. Just a few more minutes."
Drake: (Coolly) "Of course. We'll begin once everyone's here."
Everyone in the room shifted slightly—some out of nervousness, others out of anticipation. Because when two empires sit at the same table, the whole game changes.
Drake tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his eyes scanning the room, and then shifted toward the assistant seated beside an empty chair.
Drake (to the assistant):
"We've been trying to gather even the basic details about your CEO, but nothing comes up. Not even a photograph. That normal?"
The assistant gave a polite smile.
Stella:
"Yes, sir. She prefers to keep her identity and public profile low. She's very private."
Drake furrowed his brows slightly, leaning back.
Drake:
"She? The CEO of Royal Empire is a woman?"
Stella:
"Yes, sir. Her name is Hazel Knight. And yes, she's the one running the Royal Empire."
The name hit him like a wave.
Hazel Knight.
His jaw stiffened, expression frozen in disbelief.
Before he could process anything further, the glass door creaked open. Every head turned.
There she was.
Hazel Knight entered the room with calm confidence. Dressed in a fitted black blazer over a beige high-neck top, paired with sleek black trousers and pointed heels, she looked poised, powerful—and untouchable. Her dark handbag hung elegantly in one hand, and her long hair flowed in soft waves down her back.
A smirk curled at the corner of her lips as her eyes locked onto Drake's.
Hazel:
"Good morning, Mr. Drake Damon."
Without waiting for a response, she strode over and sat beside her assistant Stella, crossing her legs gracefully, completely unfazed.
Drake didn't speak. Couldn't.
He sat there, frozen, every word in the room drowned out by the storm in his chest. His gaze stayed locked on her—not as a CEO, not as an opponent across the table, but as her. Hazel Knight.
His heart pounded against his ribs, loud enough he swore someone could hear it.
His mind raced.
She hasn't changed…
Her eyes—sharp yet soft, the same eyes that once made him forget every version of pain. The curve of her lips, still holding that signature smirk that used to get under his skin and somehow into his heart. Her presence filled the room without effort, her confidence louder than any introduction.
She's even more beautiful now.
Time hadn't dulled her. It refined her.
Draped in elegance and power, she looked like everything he remembered—and everything he never expected her to become.
He blinked, trying to pull himself together, but his thoughts kept spinning:
How is she here? Why didn't I know? Hazel… is Royal Empire?
For a second, he wasn't Drake Damon, the sharp, unshaken businessman—he was just a man, blindsided by a ghost from the past, now sitting in front of him like she owned the world.
And maybe… she did.
The room slowly settled, the tension almost palpable—Drake still visibly shaken, and Hazel calmly flipping open a sleek black folder like she hadn't just shattered the atmosphere.
Kian cleared his throat, stepping forward to break the silence. "Alright, let's begin."
He glanced between Drake and Hazel before continuing professionally.
"As per our earlier proposal, Starlight Corporation is looking to expand its presence across the international luxury sector. We've identified Royal Empire as a key strategic partner due to your unmatched market influence, global reach, and innovation in branding."
Hazel leaned back slightly, one brow raised, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. Kian pushed forward, staying steady.
"We're proposing a collaborative campaign rollout—mutually managed teams, shared design input, and exclusive cross-branding rights on both sides. Production would remain independent, but marketing will be co-executed under a unified identity for this launch."
He turned to Stella briefly. "We've reviewed Royal Empire's recent analytics—your growth in the European and South Asian markets is exactly the type of momentum we're seeking to align with."
Hazel gave a faint nod, impressed but saying nothing yet.
Kian concluded, "We believe this collaboration can redefine luxury partnerships on a global scale. That is, if we can find a common rhythm."
He stepped back, giving the floor back to the CEOs, eyes subtly flicking to Drake.
Drake hadn't said a word. Still stunned.
Hazel smirked again, her gaze slicing straight through him.
"Quite the pitch," she finally said smoothly, eyes now on Kian, but her words clearly aimed elsewhere. "Let's see if your CEO agrees."
She looked at Drake—waiting.
Drake finally blinked, straightening his posture. His voice came out calm, composed—masking the storm inside.
"We accept the collaboration with Royal Empire," he said, eyes meeting Hazel's for a fleeting second.
The deal was official. But the war of emotions had only just begun.
Hazel smirked lightly at Drake's response, then turned her attention fully to the meeting. The room shifted back into a professional rhythm as one of the senior staff from Royal Empire stood up and began presenting.
Staff Member (Royal Empire):
"We've already reviewed Starlight Corporation's portfolio, and we believe both our brands can mutually benefit through this collaboration. Phase one will focus on co-developing a luxury lifestyle product line—interiors, scents, and signature essentials. Royal Empire will handle brand aesthetics and distribution while Starlight oversees production and backend logistics."
Hazel nodded, interjecting briefly.
Hazel:
"I'd also like a complete transparency report on cost margins and time estimates. We'll need weekly syncs for the first two months. Stella, note that."
Kian (from Starlight Corporation):
"We're ready to allocate a dedicated cross-team. Our design leads and procurement teams are already on standby for prototyping once initial specs are signed."
Hazel remained sharp, her brows slightly drawn as she scanned the documents laid before her, occasionally giving pointed but clear feedback. Her tone was crisp, her posture confident—unshakable.
Meanwhile, Drake sat silently beside Kian. He was supposed to be listening, nodding, maybe chiming in—but his eyes kept finding their way back to her. Hazel.
His thoughts whispered loudly in his mind:
" that calm expression when she's focused… She didn't even glance at me. She moved on. Maybe I'm the only one stuck in the past…"
He clenched his jaw slightly and looked down at his notes, but even the printed words blurred behind his thoughts. Hazel was here—in power, in control, and without hesitation. And maybe… without him.
As the final discussion point wrapped up, Hazel stood up first with composed elegance. All eyes briefly shifted to her. She gave a professional, graceful smile and looked directly at the members of Starlight Corporation.
Hazel:
"Thank you all for your time and cooperation. I'm glad Royal Empire has the opportunity to work alongside Starlight Corporation. I look forward to what we'll build together. Let's make it a partnership worth remembering."
She gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, poised and commanding, then turned and walked toward the exit. Her assistant Stella followed closely behind, collecting documents, offering quick nods to the others.
Hazel didn't glance back once.
And Drake… just watched her leave..