Ariella's fingers trembled as she bent down to gather the scattered papers. The smell of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the faint scent of expensive leather filled the room. Every nerve in her body screamed with embarrassment, yet she kept her eyes lowered, avoiding Damian's intense gaze.
His eyes, a sharp shade of stormy gray, pierced through the quiet hum of the office. For a moment, the usual coldness melted away, replaced by a flicker of something unfamiliar — a hint of surprise, maybe even concern.
The golden ring on his slender finger pulsed gently, as if alive. A faint red glow seeped from the intricate engravings — ancient symbols that seemed to shift under the light.
"Are you... alright?" His voice was lower than before, almost hesitant, as if he was testing the waters of his own emotions.
Ariella swallowed hard. The last thing she wanted was to appear weak or vulnerable in front of this man, this titan of the business world who seemed to carry the weight of the entire city on his shoulders.
"I'm fine," she managed to say, her voice steady but quiet. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to cause trouble."
Damian's cold stare returned with full force, sharp and unforgiving. "Get out."
Her heart sank, but she obeyed without another word, carefully clutching the remaining package to her chest as she stepped back toward the door.
As she turned to leave, her sleeve caught on the edge of Damian's polished mahogany desk. A small symbol caught her eye — a carved rune glowing faintly beneath the surface, like a secret embedded in the wood itself.
She paused. The symbol looked ancient, otherworldly. Her curiosity overcame her caution.
Before she could stop herself, she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, "Who gave you that ring?"
Damian stiffened. His jaw tightened, the brief warmth in his eyes disappearing.
"No one you need to worry about," he said sharply, cutting the moment short.
Ariella nodded, biting her lip. But the question lingered in the air, weaving itself into the space between them like an invisible thread.
As she exited the office, the city's rainstorm beat harder against the towering glass walls. Lightning cracked across the sky, illuminating the world in harsh flashes. Somewhere, distant thunder rumbled — as if nature itself sensed the turmoil rising within Blackwood Tower.
Ariella wrapped her arms around herself, the weight of the mysterious encounter pressing down on her.
She didn't know it yet, but that golden ring — and the man who wore it — would soon change her life forever.
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