"Secrets Behind Closed Doors"
"You're insane," he said finally. His voice is low, but deliberate. "And reckless. And… you might just be the only person in this building who isn't terrified of my ex-wife."
Mira felt heat rise to her face. She blinked. "I'm not scared of her."
"Not yet," he said, almost to himself. Then he looked at her squarely. "You want to help. Fine. You want to throw yourself into something you don't understand. Fine. But do you understand what you just walked into?"
"No. I don't. But I have to."
"Have to." He said the words slowly, tasting them. "You have no idea what you're saying, or what's waiting for you if you proceed."
"I do," she whispered. "I have a father. He doesn't have time to wait for your rules."
Dominic's gray eyes locked on hers, unreadable. For a long, tense moment, Mira felt like she could drown in the silence. Then he leaned back, finally letting a slow exhale escape.
"You're serious," he said. "Completely serious. No hesitation."
"I've never hesitated in my life," Mira said, though her voice shook.
He nodded once, sharply. "Then we might have a problem… or we might have a solution. Either way, you just made yourself a part of my world."
Mira's stomach twisted. She didn't know if she should feel fear or relief. Maybe both.
Her gaze flicked to the files Camille had left behind. Something inside her clicked. She had stepped too far. But she couldn't step back. Not now. Not ever.
Dominic's voice broke the quiet. "Sit down, Miss Chen. We need to talk… about exactly how useful you can be."
Mira swallowed. Her heart raced, every beat a countdown she couldn't pause. "I'm ready," she whispered.
He studied her for a long moment. "I hope you are. Because once this starts… there's no turning back."
Her mouth opened, words caught in her throat. The weight of two million dollars, thirty days, and her father's life pressed down harder than she could breathe.
"Two million," she whispered again. "I… I have no idea how to…"
Dominic's hand cut the words off with a gesture. "That's the point. You don't. That's why we have work to do. And mistakes will cost more than money."
Mira's hands trembled, but her voice held firm. "Then we start now."
He leaned back, watching her carefully. "Good. Because nothing will ever be the same after this."
And then, the door clicked.
Camille's voice floated from outside the glass wall: "Dominic… I see you brought company. Interesting choice."
Mira froze.
And just like that, she realized she had stepped into something far bigger than herself… and far more dangerous than she could have imagined.
Mira steps into a private executive office she clearly does not belong in and freezes as Camille's voice cuts through, reminding her she is already in a game far beyond her control.
The man behind the desk did not look surprised to see me.
"You again?" His voice was calm. Controlled. Like he wasn't even irritated.
"I'm not 'again.' I'm here to get answers," I snapped. My voice cracked before I could stop it. "I applied yesterday. I followed every instruction. Why was I rejected?"
He leaned back in his chair. "Rejected? Do you mean your application for Ashford Industries?"
"Yes!" I nearly shouted. "Exactly. I don't care why. I need to know why!"
His gray eyes didn't flinch. "Do you even know what you're asking?"
"I don't care," I said, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. "I don't have time to care. I have… I have someone I need to save."
He raised an eyebrow. "Someone?"
"My father," I said, my voice breaking. "He's dying. I need… I need money for his treatment. I applied for this job because it was the only chance I had to make something happen."
He stared at me. Silent. Calculating. Dangerous.
"I" I swallowed, my throat dry. "I don't have another option. I don't have weeks. I don't have months. Just… just a few weeks. That's it."
The chair creaked as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "So you barged into my office because you were desperate."
"Yes!" I said, louder. "I'm desperate! My father… My father's life depends on this! Can you even understand what it's like to watch someone you love fade away because you're powerless?"
I thought I saw a flicker in his expression. But if there was one, it disappeared immediately. He sat back, arms crossed, silent again.
"I see," he said finally. His voice was low. "Do you understand what you just did, walking in here uninvited?"
"Yes. I do. And I don't care," I said. "I just… I need help."
For a moment, he said nothing. Then the door opened.
"Dominic, we need to talk."
A chill ran down my spine. The voice was smooth, controlled, but it carried a sharp edge. It made the hair on the back of my neck rise.
A woman walked in. Perfect posture, perfect smile, dangerous calm. Camille. His ex.
She didn't glance at me. She didn't have to. She only had to place a slim folder on the desk, letting it slide across with a soft click.
"Camille…" Dominic's voice was low, tense. "What is this?"
Her smile widened. "You know what it is. Don't pretend you don't. If certain details come out… your inheritance could vanish."
Inheritance. The word hit me like a punch. My stomach dropped.
I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be seeing this. But I couldn't move. My feet felt frozen to the floor.
Dominic's eyes snapped to me. Something dangerous flickered in them. "Miss Chen… how much did you hear?"
"I… I don't know," I admitted. "Enough. I think… I shouldn't even be here."
"You shouldn't," he said, voice tight. "And yet… here you are. And now you know too much. Do you understand the kind of trouble that brings?"
"I… I think so," I said, trembling. "But I can help. I… I want to help."
His eyes narrowed. "You? Help?"
"Yes!" I said, nearly yelling. "I don't care about rules. I don't care about… anything. I just… I can't let him die. I can't"
"You mean your father," he said, finishing my sentence. His tone was low. Dangerous. Controlled. And somehow… judging.
"Yes! My father!" I shouted. "And I don't care what it costs me. I will do anything!"
He leaned back. Studied me. His expression didn't change. And yet, there was something behind his eyes. Something sharp. Something that made my stomach twist.