The sun hung high when Stephanie finished helping her mother settle back into bed. The house Riley provided was quiet, clean, and far bigger than anything they'd ever lived in. The medical equipment ran softly in the corner; her mother was already recovering faster than the doctors expected.
Stephanie tightened the blanket around her mother.
"Mum… are you sure you're comfortable?"
Her mother smiled weakly. "Comfortable? Stephanie, this place has three bathrooms. I don't even know what to do with myself."
Stephanie laughed under her breath—that warm, relieved kind of laugh she hadn't made in months.
A knock sounded at the door.
Stephanie frowned. "Who's that? Now really isn't a good time—"
But the mom she opened the door, she sighed immediately.
Taylor stood there, sweating lightly, a bag of groceries in each hand, looking like he had wrestled his way through a military checkpoint.
"Finally!" he groaned as he walked in. "Your guardian's soldiers are overdoing it. They checked the apples. The apples, Steph."
"He's not my guardian," she said quickly.
Taylor glanced at the bag again. "Well, your… mysterious savior… is extremely paranoid. I had to explain why I bought milk twice. Twice."
But before she could scold him, her mother called out warmly.
"Taylor! Come in, come in. Don't stay by the door."
He hurried over, instantly switching to a softer, sweeter voice.
"Auntie, how are you feeling? I brought your favorite fruits. And I bought you that tea you like. Organic. Imported."
Stephanie narrowed her eyes. This boy…
Taylor sat beside her mother, already slipping into conversation like he belonged there.
"You know, Just you and Steph staying in this kind of house isn't really a good thing," he said with a small, smug grin. "I could move in, you know. Help out. Provide some… manly presence—"
"Taylor." Stephanie shot him a warning look.
"What? I'm just saying—"
A firm knock suddenly came from the entrance.
A colder one.
Stephanie's breath hitched. She recognized that knock.
She walked to the door and opened it slowly.
Ethan stood there, wearing his usual professional calm, flanked by two silent guards.
"Good afternoon, Miss Stephanie," Ethan said with a polite bow of his head. "I apologize for the unannounced arrival."
Taylor blinked, whispering under his breath, "Don't tell me these guys are after my apples?"
Ethan continued, ignoring him.
"This morning, you asked Mr. Riley if you could repay his kindness… by working for him."
Stephanie's eyes widened—she had said it, but she didn't expect an immediate answer.
"Yes… I did."
"Mr. Riley has approved," Ethan said. "You are requested to come with me to Styles Industries immediately. He would like to discuss a potential position with you."
Taylor practically choked on air.
"Wait—what? Right now? She is still adjusting herself to the house you guys gave her and her mum!"
But Stephanie's mother looked at her, pride warming her tired eyes.
"Go, Steph."
Stephanie slowly nodded.
"I'll get my things."
Taylor stood up, flustered.
"Stephanie, you just got a job… just like that? With that guy?"
Ethan looked at him with the cold neutrality of someone trained not to care.
"Mr. Styles doesn't like to waste time."
Stephanie grabbed her bag, took one last look at her mother, and followed Ethan out the door.
Whatever Riley wanted from her…
It was now officially beginning.
And so, the black SUV glided through Crescent City like a silent predator, Ethan seated beside her with the stillness of a man carved from discipline itself. Stephanie pressed her palms against her knees, trying to calm her nerves.
She had never been in this part of the city before.
Crescent City's luxury district unfolded around her like a different universe — a world she had only ever seen in magazines left behind at the old community library.
Glass towers curved like shimmering blades.
Bridges arched dramatically between skyscrapers.
Restaurants with gold-lettered signs lined walkways where wealthy elites strolled as if gravity obeyed them differently.
Stephanie couldn't help herself. She turned to Ethan.
"Um… Ethan?" Her voice sounded small against all the gleaming wealth outside.
"Yes, Miss Stephanie?" he answered, not taking his eyes off the road ahead.
"What… what exactly does Riley do?"
She pointed slightly toward the passing skyline.
"I mean… what kind of company does he own that you're all so strict and organized and—"
She gestured helplessly, "—this?"
Ethan's eyes flickered with the faintest hint of amusement — barely noticeable, but there.
"You'll find out very soon," he said calmly.
Stephanie frowned.
"That's not fair. You're being mysterious on purpose."
"Mr. Styles dislikes unnecessary explanations," Ethan replied.
"And I follow his habits."
She glared lightly at him. "That's not an answer."
"It is," Ethan said, as the SUV merged into a private lane. "Just not the one you want."
Stephanie sank back into her seat with a frustrated sigh.
The scenery began to change.
The glamorous luxury district faded into something sharper, cleaner, more modern —
the Corporate Belt of Crescent City.
Tower after tower rose like metal giants, but one building soon dwarfed them all.
A massive structure dominated the skyline — black steel ribs, silver plating, rooftop helipads, and an enormous emblem shining across the entire front:
**STYLES INDUSTRIES
ADVANCED MILITARY SOLUTIONS**
Stephanie's mouth fell open.
Ethan finally looked at her, satisfied.
"Welcome," he said, "to the headquarters of the largest weapons manufacturing corporation in the country."
The SUV slowed in front of a grand entrance where uniformed security stood like statues, saluting as they recognized the vehicle.
Stephanie stared, stunned beyond words.
"This… this is Riley's company?" she whispered.
"Mr. Styles owns seventy-one percent of the corporation," Ethan replied.
"The remaining twenty-nine percent is divided among investors, defense partners, and the government."
Her mind reeled.
Riley — The cold, emotional nonexistent man who helped her at most critical moment of her life.
The man she thought was simply doing her a favor as her father's friend…
Ran this?
Ethan opened the door for her.
"He is waiting for you inside," he said.
Stephanie stepped out slowly, feeling as though she had just walked into a world she didn't belong in.
But somehow… she sensed her life was about to change forever.