The city of Silvercrest never slept. Skyscrapers of glass and steel reflected the sunlight like diamonds, while luxury cars zipped past on polished streets. The hum of business deals and the chatter of ambitious people filled the air. Money ruled this city, and those who had it moved as if the world owed them everything.
But not everyone in Silvercrest lived in glittering towers. On the edge of the city, in a neighborhood of cracked streets and faded buildings, lived Elara and her mother, Mara. Their small house had seen better days—the paint peeled in strips, the wooden floorboards creaked under each step, and the roof leaked whenever it rained. Yet it was home, and it was theirs.
Since her father had passed, Elara had carried more responsibility than most girls her age. Her mother did what she could, but her failing health left Elara to manage almost everything—from cooking and cleaning to stretching every coin to pay their bills. Life was hard, unforgiving, but they survived.
That morning, Elara prepared a small breakfast: stale bread, a bit of butter, and weak tea. It wasn't much, but it was what they had.
"Mom, I'll bring home something from the interview today," she said softly.
Mara, wrapped in a worn shawl, smiled faintly, though worry shadowed her face. "You've always made me proud, Elara. Even if we don't have much… we have each other, and that's enough."
Elara forced a smile, swallowing the lump in her throat. She loved her mother more than anything, but she hated how fragile their life was. "I'll make something happen, Mom. I promise."
Grabbing her worn bag, she stepped outside. Today was important. Today, she was going for an interview at Lumina Corp, one of the largest and most prestigious companies in Silvercrest. If she got the job, it could change everything.
The streets were bustling. Cars gleamed like polished jewels, people hurried past in expensive clothes, and every corner seemed to promise a life she had never known. She gripped her bag tighter, feeling out of place, but she kept walking.
And then it happened.
A sleek black car came barreling down the road. Elara froze as it swerved dangerously close to her. Her stomach twisted, and she stumbled backward, clutching her bag to her chest.
The window rolled down, and a man leaned out—tall, sharp-featured, with piercing dark eyes.
"Watch where you're going," he said coldly, not an ounce of apology in his voice.
Elara's jaw clenched. "Excuse me? You almost ran me over, and you dare act like it's my fault?" she snapped.
The man smirked. "I didn't hit you. Consider yourself lucky. People like you shouldn't be walking streets like this anyway."
Her blood boiled. "People like me?! People like me survive every single day without whining! People like me fight for every scrap of what we have, unlike people like you, who think the world owes you everything!"
The man's dark eyes flicked to her, clearly taken aback by her boldness. Then, without another word, he rolled the window up and sped away, leaving only dust and the roar of his engine behind him.
Elara stood frozen, trembling with a mix of fear and indignation. She hated that she felt both terrified and… strangely alive.
"Unbelievable," she muttered, brushing herself off. "Who does he think he is?"
Still, she had an interview to get to. With her heart racing and adrenaline still thrumming through her veins, she continued toward Lumina Corp, determined not to let one arrogant driver ruin her chances.
Little did she know, the man who had almost run her over—the infamous Adrian Blackwood, Silvercrest's richest and most feared CEO—would cross her path again very soon.
Two worlds had collided in a single moment, and Silvercrest was about to witness the beginning of a story neither of them could have predicted.