Emilia "Mia" Thompson groaned, slapping her hand on the alarm clock repeatedly until it finally shut up. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. Another day, another dollar, and another chance to escape her mundane life.
As she stumbled to the kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee hit her, and her best friend, Luna, greeted her with a bright smile. "Morning, sleepyhead! Coffee's ready."
Mia mumbled a thanks, pouring herself a cup. "What's the plan for today?"
Luna, the owner of this cozy apartment and Mia's partner in crime, flipped through a notebook. "You have that tech conference at Rynex this afternoon. Don't forget to wear your A-game face."
Mia nearly spit out her coffee. "Ugh, Rynex? Can't I just cover the cat café instead?"
Luna chuckled. "Nope, you're the best journalist-slacker I know. You'll nail it."
Mia sighed, mentally preparing herself for a day of awkward networking and bland speeches.
Hours later, she arrived at the Rynex headquarters, a sleek glass tower in downtown Seattle. As she entered the crowded lobby, a commotion near the elevators caught her attention. A suited man, eyes blazing, was escorting a disheveled woman out of the building.
Mia's instincts kicked in, and she weaved through the crowd, camera at the ready. The woman, tears streaming down her face, caught her eye. "Please, just let me talk to him!"
The suited man, likely security, shook his head. "Sorry, Ms. Lee, Mr. Ryder's orders."
Mia's lens captured the exchange as the woman's despair turned to rage. "You'll regret this, Ethan!"
A deep voice growled behind her. "What the...?"
Mia spun, her camera swinging wildly, and collided with a solid chest. The impact sent her tumbling backward, her coffee flying.
Strong arms caught her, pulling her close. "Whoa, easy there."
Mia's gaze met piercing blue eyes, and her heart skipped. Ethan Ryder.
Ethan's grip on her waist tightened, sending a jolt of electricity through Mia's body. She pushed against his chest, trying to regain her footing. "I'm fine, thanks."
He released her, his expression unreadable. "You're the journalist?"
Mia smoothed her rumpled clothes, camera still clanging around her neck. "Guilty. Emilia Thompson."
Ethan's gaze lingered, then he nodded curtly. "Ethan Ryder. Let's talk."
He strode toward the elevators, expecting her to follow. Mia hesitated, unsure if she should push her luck, but her journalistic instincts won out.
As they rode up, Ethan's presence filled the space, making her skin prickle. "What was that scene downstairs?" she asked, trying to break the tension.
Ethan's jaw clenched. "Company business. Not for public consumption."
Mia's antennae twitched. "Sounds like a story."
The doors slid open, revealing a sleek conference room with Seattle's skyline as a backdrop. Ethan gestured to a seat. "We'll discuss the conference. Not my personal life."
Mia settled in, notebook at the ready. "Got it. But I do have questions about Rynex's recent acquisitions—"
A sharp knock interrupted them. Ethan's assistant, a poised woman with a sympathetic smile, slipped in. "Ethan, Alex Ryder is here to see you."
Ethan's expression turned glacial. "Tell him I'm busy."
The assistant nodded, but a defiant voice echoed from the doorway. "No, you're not, brother."
Mia's gaze snapped to the newcomer – Alex Ryder, Ethan's eyes, but with a reckless air. Alex's gaze locked on her, and a sly grin spread. "Well, well. Looks like Ethan's got company."
Ethan rose, his voice low and menacing. "Alex, leave. Now."
The tension was palpable. Mia's instincts screamed this was about to get juicy. What would happen next?
The air was thick with tension as Alex Ryder sauntered into the conference room, his eyes never leaving Mia's. Ethan's warning was clear, but Alex seemed to revel in pushing his brother's buttons.
"Ah, come on, Ethan," Alex said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Don't be rude. Introduce me to your... guest."
Ethan's jaw clenched, but he gestured curtly. "Alex, this is Emilia Thompson. She's covering the conference."
Alex's grin widened as he took in Mia's rumpled clothes and camera. "A journalist. How... quaint."
Mia's instincts told her Alex was trouble, but she smiled sweetly. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Ryder."
Alex chuckled, dropping into the chair beside her. "Oh, please. Call me Alex. We're all friends here, right, Ethan?"
Ethan's eyes flashed with anger, but he remained seated, his voice low and even. "What do you want, Alex?"
Alex's grin faltered for a moment, revealing a glimpse of desperation. "Just wanted to... catch up, brother."
Mia's antennae twitched. This was about more than just a family reunion. She leaned forward, her journalistic instincts on high alert. "Actually, Alex, I'd love to hear more about your... connection to Rynex."
Ethan's gaze snapped to hers, a warning in his eyes. But Mia was undeterred. She sensed a story hiding beneath the surface, and she was determined to uncover it.
Alex's smile returned, but it was strained. "Oh, I'm sure it's not that interesting."
The tension in the room was palpable, and Mia knew she'd stumbled into something big. But what exactly?
As Alex's smile faltered, Ethan's expression turned glacial. "Alex, I think that's enough."
But Alex wasn't ready to back down. He leaned in, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Oh, come on, Ethan. I think Ms. Thompson here wants to hear about our little family business."
Mia's eyes narrowed. What was Alex playing at? She glanced at Ethan, but his face was a mask of stone.
Suddenly, Alex pushed back his chair and stood, his movements jerky. "You know what? I think I'll let Ms. Thompson hear it from the source." He tossed a folder onto the table in front of Mia. "Check out Rynex's latest project. It's... enlightening."
The folder flipped open, revealing a sheaf of documents. Mia's eyes scanned the pages, her heart racing. What she saw made her breath catch...
Ethan's hand shot out, snatching the papers away. "That's enough, Alex."
Mia's gaze snapped up, her mind racing. What was Rynex hiding? And what did Alex want from her?
The tension in the room was electric. Ethan's eyes warned her to drop it, but Mia's journalistic instincts screamed to dig deeper...
Ethan's grip on the papers was like a vice, his knuckles white. "Alex, leave. Now."
Alex's grin returned, but it was laced with malice. "Oh, I think I'll stay. Ms. Thompson and I are just getting acquainted."
Mia's instincts screamed at her to get out, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot. She was caught in the crossfire between the Ryder brothers, and she wasn't sure how to escape.
Ethan stood, his voice low and menacing. "Alex, I'm warning you."
Alex shrugged, but his eyes flashed with anger. "You're always warning me, Ethan. But I'm not afraid of you."
The air was thick with tension as the brothers faced off. Mia knew she had to act. She stood, her movements calm, and slipped her camera into her bag.
"I think I've got enough for now," she said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Thanks for the... insight, gentlemen."
Ethan's gaze snapped to hers, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. But he said nothing, just nodded curtly.
As Mia turned to leave, Alex's voice stopped her. "Don't go yet, Ms. Thompson. The fun's just getting started."
Mia's skin crawled, but she smiled sweetly. "I'm afraid I have a deadline to meet. Maybe next time, Alex."
She slipped out of the conference room, her heart racing. What had she just gotten herself into?
Mia practically sprinted out of the conference room, the Ryder brothers' intense stare burning into her back. She didn't stop until she reached the elevator, jabbing the button repeatedly like it would make it arrive faster.
As the doors slid open, she slipped inside, letting out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The elevator was empty, and for a moment, Mia let her mask slip. She leaned against the wall, her heart still racing.
What had she just walked into? The tension between the Ryder brothers was palpable, and Alex's parting shot still echoed in her mind. "The fun's just getting started."
Mia shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs. She had a deadline to meet, and she needed to focus on the conference, not the drama unfolding behind the scenes.
The elevator pinged, and the doors opened to the lobby. Mia straightened, smoothing her clothes and pasting on a professional smile. She slipped out into the crowd, camera at the ready.
As she scanned the room, her eyes landed on a familiar face – Luna, sipping a coffee and grinning at her.
Mia's phone buzzed with a text from Luna: "Spill. NOW."
Mia chuckled, feeling a sense of normalcy return. She typed out a quick response: "You won't believe what just happened..."
Mia hit send, and Luna's eyes widened as she read the text. She quickly typed out a response: "OMG, details. NOW."
Mia smiled, feeling a sense of excitement. She loved sharing stories with Luna, and this one was shaping up to be a doozy.
As she walled towards Luna, a hand on her arm stopped her. "Ms. Thompson."
Mia turned to find a sleek, suited woman with a sympathetic smile. "Yes?"
"I'm Sophia, Ethan Ryder's assistant. Mr. Ryder would like a word with you."
Mia's heart skipped a beat. What did Ethan want? She glanced at Luna, who was watching with interest.
"Tell him I'm busy," Mia said, trying to sound firm.
Sophia's smile didn't waver. "He's waiting in his office. It's... important."
Mia hesitated, her mind racing. What could Ethan want? And why did she feel like she was walking into a trap?