The revolving doors of Wolf Industries gleamed like the jaws of some monolithic beast, swallowing hurried footsteps and whispered ambitions alike. Sophie Carter stepped inside, clutching her portfolio like a lifeline. The lobby's polished marble and chrome accents gleamed under the soft ceiling lights, every surface reflecting a corporate perfection she felt miles away from.
She walked toward the front desk, heart ticking a little faster than usual.
"Good morning," she said, voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her chest. "I'm here for the ten o'clock interview. Sophie Carter."
The receptionist didn't look up. Instead, she pressed a button beneath the counter, eyes flicking briefly to the screen in front of her. "I'm sorry, Ms. Carter, but your name isn't on the list. Access is restricted—only approved visitors may enter the elevators today."
Sophie's breath hitched. "I—there must be some mistake. I was told to come here."
The woman's polite smile remained fixed, but her tone was firm, final. "Security is strict. No exceptions."
Sophie tried again, desperation creeping into her voice. "Please, I'm scheduled for an interview. It's important."
But it was like talking to glass. The receptionist's fingers danced across the keyboard, already poised to call security.
Behind Sophie, the lobby doors swung open. A sizable entourage filed in—six sharply tailored men in suits, several women exuding authority and sharp wit, and Alexander Wolf himself.
Alex was impossible to Ms. . Standing at an imposing 6 feet 2 inches, his frame was lean yet muscular, built for command rather than mere presence. His sharp, angular face carried subtle hints of Asian heritage—high cheekbones, a strong jawline softened by a smooth, olive complexion, and intense dark eyes that held both steel and storm. His usually immaculate dark navy suit was rumpled from a long day, the jacket unbuttoned, tie loosened just enough to betray his exhaustion and tension. Every inch of him radiated power and weariness in equal measure.
His eyes scanned the lobby with the edge of a man who had just survived a fierce battle—one won, but not without scars.
Sophie's gaze locked on him instantly.
Her heartbeat quickened. She took a half-step forward, then another, slipping silently into the crowd like a shadow. The group moved with purpose toward the elevators, their voices low but electric with tension.
"Did you see the clause they slipped in during the final draft?" one lawyer hissed, eyes narrowed. "That's borderline sabotage."
A second lawyer, younger and more brash, shot back, "Sabotage or smart business? Wolf wouldn't have agreed if it wasn't worth the risk."
The woman with the air of authority cut in sharply, "Enough. We don't negotiate from weakness. The deal stands as it is—or it falls apart. Wolf's final."
Another man groaned in frustration. "We're burning bridges we might need to cross later!"
Alex's voice, cold and steady, finally broke through the rising murmur: "Then we burn. I want results, not friends."
The room seemed to crackle with unspoken challenges as the group pressed forward.
Sophie's curiosity—and a desperate flicker of hope—pulled her after them. She slipped past the receptionist's distracted gaze with surprising ease, her pulse pounding, every instinct screaming not to get caught.
The elevator doors slid open just as Alex stepped inside, followed closely by his lawyers.
Sophie stepped inside behind them, barely a whisper of movement.
The elevator was cramped. Alex's tall frame almost filled the space from wall to wall, his shoulders broad but contained within the confines of the glossy metal. Sophie, at only 5 feet 4 inches, felt swallowed by the closeness of the space—and by the undeniable presence of the man just inches ahead of her.
Four men and two women clustered around Alex, their clipped phrases turning into a low, heated murmur. As Sophie turned she found herself suddenly pressed against something solid, her back flush against the warmth radiating from Alexander Wolf's body and yet who he was she didn't have a clue. The close quarters left no room to shift, and for a moment, her breath caught as their body connected.
Alex's mind was a tempest. The negotiation with the rival firm had been brutal—a battle of wills with every word a weapon. Every concession felt like a chink in his armor, every victory came at a cost. He'd just secured a deal that would shift the company's future—but not without paying in frustration and exhaustion.
The lawyers continued their debate, voices barely restrained inside the elevator.
"That non-compete clause is a poison pill," the brash young man said. "We can't let Oracle's team walk all over us."
"Without it, they'll use our resources against us next quarter," the authoritative woman snapped back.
Alex, voice low but razor sharp, interjected, "This isn't about playing nice. It's about survival. If anyone can make this work, it's us."
He glanced down, feeling the unexpected warmth in front of him. The soft, accidental contact of the unknown woman's body stirred something inside him.
She was smaller than most—barely five feet four inches—yet there was a quiet strength in the way she held herself, despite the cramped space and the tension hanging thick in the air. Her dark hair was pulled back loosely, a few strands escaping to frame a face that was earnest and determined, with eyes that held a spark of defiance even in this intimidating environment. She smelled faintly of something fresh—clean linen, maybe—and there was an unpolished grace to her presence, as if she belonged somewhere much farther from this glass fortress but refused to be pushed aside.
The contrast was sharp: her warmth and vulnerability pressing against his cold, hard exterior. It was an intrusion he hadn't expected—and one that unsettled him more than he cared to admit.
His breath hitched. For a brief moment, the storm inside him quieted—replaced by a strange, unexpected calm.
Sophie's heart thudded wildly, eyes flickering at the subtle movement behind her. His presence was magnetic, overwhelming. She pressed a little closer, almost involuntarily, feeling the heat radiate off him.
The elevator hummed upward, the tension thick—equal parts battle and beginning, the silent collision of two worlds.
And somewhere beneath Alexander Wolf's sharp, impatient exterior, something unspoken stirred.