Sparks and Secrets
Zara Daniels stared up at the VossTech skyscraper, feeling like a tiny ant daring to step into a lion's den. The glass tower reflected the morning sun like a shard of ice in the city skyline, dazzling and intimidating at the same time. She clutched her camera bag tighter, wishing she could disappear, but there was no way out now. Today, she had an appointment with Adrian Voss, the nineteen-year-old billionaire everyone whispered about—the prodigy who ran one of the most powerful tech empires in the country.
The lobby smelled of polished marble and expensive cologne. People in sharp suits moved silently, almost like they were gliding, ignoring the teenager with scuffed sneakers and a notebook clutched under her arm. Zara tried not to flinch as she walked toward the receptionist desk, but her nerves betrayed her with every squeak of her shoes.
"You must be the student journalist," the receptionist said with a practiced smile. "Mr. Voss is expecting you."
Zara gave a tight-lipped smile back. "Lucky me," she muttered under her breath, stepping toward the elevator. The doors slid shut behind her, and she felt her heartbeat spike. Just one interview, she told herself. Nothing could go wrong.
When the elevator opened on the top floor, Adrian Voss was standing with his back to her, staring out at the city with his hands clasped behind him. His posture was perfect, almost sculpted, and his presence alone made her stomach twist.
"You're late," he said without turning.
Zara raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I'm two minutes early."
He finally turned, and his grey eyes pinned her like she was an insect. "We don't have time for games," he said, sitting behind the enormous black desk.
Zara plopped down across from him and flipped open her notebook. "Good. Let's start. Why is your company so secretive about the Black Lab projects?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin line. "That information is classified. It's irrelevant to the public."
Zara leaned closer, refusing to back down. "People want answers. Secrets create fear, Mr. Voss. The public deserves transparency."
"Then stop being afraid," he replied coldly, without even looking away from her.
She clenched her fists under the desk. "Your attitude doesn't make you innocent."
"And your tone doesn't make me guilty."
The tension was suffocating. It wasn't a debate; it was a collision. Two stubborn minds, unwilling to give an inch.
"What exactly are you hiding?" Zara demanded.
Adrian's hand shot out, and his chair rolled back. "This interview is over," he said, voice clipped.
Frustrated, Zara grabbed her bag to leave, but her elbow nudged something on his desk. A tiny metallic flash drive rolled across the smooth surface and stopped at her feet.
She glanced down. Adrian didn't notice. Without thinking, she slipped it into her pocket. She didn't know what was on it, but instinct screamed that it was important.
"Stay out of my business," he said as she reached the door.
"Maybe you shouldn't make it so suspicious," she muttered back, stepping into the elevator.
The doors closed behind her, and she pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. The drive in her pocket felt heavier than it was, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd just walked straight into something far bigger than an interview.
Whatever secrets Adrian Voss was hiding, she had just stolen them. And her life was about to change in ways she could never have predicted.