Cassie adjusted the recorder in her hand, eyes scanning the glass building before her. Valkar Enterprises towered over Metro Manila’s skyline like a monolith of power and corruption. This was where her investigation began.
She squared her shoulders and stepped inside.
The lobby buzzed with activity—businesspeople in sharp suits, phone calls, deals being made, and secrets being kept. Cassie’s heart raced, but she kept her expression neutral. Stay calm. Stay focused.
Approaching the receptionist, she cleared her throat. “Cassandra Veylan, here for my interview with Mr. Kross.”
The receptionist, a petite woman with a plastered smile, typed something into her computer. “Ah, Mr. Kross is expecting you. Take the elevator to the top floor. Someone will meet you there.”
Cassie nodded and stepped toward the sleek elevators. As she rode up, her mind raced. Lukas Kross—one of the youngest, most enigmatic CEOs in the business world—was a man of secrets. She had a feeling today would only be the beginning.
The doors slid open to reveal an opulent office, but it wasn’t the luxurious décor that caught her attention—it was the man standing near the window. Tall, broad-shouldered, and sharp-featured, Lukas Kross exuded power. His dark eyes flicked to her, his gaze piercing, yet unreadable.
“Miss Veylan.” His voice was smooth, almost too calm. “You’re early.”
Cassie swallowed, maintaining her composure. “I believe being early shows... initiative.” She crossed the room and extended her hand, but Lukas merely raised an eyebrow, glancing at her hand before turning away.
“I don’t waste time on pleasantries.” He walked toward his desk, motioning for her to sit. “I understand you’re here to interview me about the merger. I suggest we get to the point.”
Of course you don’t waste time, she thought, her jaw tightening. But Cassie wasn’t here to play by his rules. She took a seat, adjusting her recorder on the desk, her eyes never leaving him. “Actually, I’m interested in more than just the merger, Mr. Kross.”
Lukas’s eyebrow arched slightly as he sat across from her, fingers steepling together. “Oh? Then what else do you think I can offer?”
“Your business practices are... unconventional.” Cassie leaned forward, her voice steady. “People talk about your rise to power, about your connections to groups outside the legal framework.”
He didn’t flinch. If anything, a flicker of amusement crossed his features. “And you believe everything you hear, Miss Veylan?”
“Not everything.” She locked eyes with him. “But I do believe in evidence.”
Lukas leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “So you’re here for a smear campaign? Or is this your way of baiting me?”
Cassie’s fingers tightened on the armrest, though she kept her voice level. “I’m here for the truth. My readers deserve that much.”
“The truth.” Lukas’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Do you even know what that is? Because in this world, Miss Veylan, the truth is... subjective.”
“Not when people’s lives are at stake,” she shot back. “People like my friend Evelyn Hale—”
He raised a hand, cutting her off. “I’m not responsible for what happens to every person in this city.”
“No, just the ones connected to you,” she said sharply, her pulse quickening. “What are you hiding, Mr. Kross? And why does everyone around you seem to disappear?”
Lukas stood abruptly, his presence towering over her. “I don’t owe you any explanations. And I certainly don’t answer to baseless accusations.”
Cassie stood too, her heart pounding, though she refused to show her nerves. “We’ll see about that. People will talk, Mr. Kross. I’ll make sure of it.”
He stepped closer, his gaze dark and intense. “Be careful, Miss Veylan. You’re playing a dangerous game.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” she whispered, meeting his stare head-on.
His lips twitched into something resembling a smile, but it was more predatory than amused. “Maybe you should be.”
Silence hung heavy between them, the tension crackling like a live wire. Cassie’s breathing hitched, her pulse racing with a mix of fear and something she couldn’t quite place. He wasn’t just a powerful man—he was dangerous.
She forced herself to speak, breaking the charged silence. “This interview is over.” She grabbed her recorder and turned toward the door.
Before she could leave, Lukas’s voice followed her. “Miss Veylan.”
Cassie stopped, her hand gripping the doorknob, but she didn’t turn around.
“I’d watch my back if I were you. Not everyone you’re investigating will be as... forgiving as I am.”
She glanced back, meeting his eyes one last time. “I’m not the one who should be worried, Mr. Kross.”
Without another word, she exited the office, the adrenaline still surging through her veins. As she stepped into the elevator, Cassie released a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. She hated how rattled he made her feel, but one thing was certain—she was getting close to something big. And Lukas Kross wasn’t going to intimidate her into backing down.
The doors slid shut, and as the elevator descended, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d just walked into a storm.
