Chapter 1 --- Brielle clutched her sketchbook tightly as she stood in the grand lobby of Nathaniel Grey's headquarters. The building was a towering masterpiece of glass and steel, a testament to its owner's sharp precision and unyielding ambition. She felt small and out of place, her floral dress and messy bun starkly contrasting the sleek suits and polished shoes of everyone around her. She had dreamed of this moment for years-walking into Grey Enterprises with a shot at turning her designs into reality. But now, standing under the cold gaze of Nathaniel Grey himself, she wasn't so sure. His reputation preceded him: a man who had clawed his way out of the ashes of his past to build an empire, known for his ruthlessness as much as his brilliance. "Miss Bennett," he said, his voice as icy as his eyes. He gestured to the chair opposite his massive desk. "Have a seat." Brielle's heart pounded as she shuffled forward. She accidentally bumped into the edge of the chair and muttered an apology under her breath. Nathaniel's expression didn't change, but a flicker of something-amusement?-crossed his face. "You've applied for the junior designer position," he began, flipping through her portfolio. "Your designs are... unconventional." Brielle swallowed hard. "Unconventional in a good way, I hope." Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "That remains to be seen." Her palms were damp, but she found her voice. "I believe jewelry should tell a story. It should evoke emotion, not just look pretty. That's what I aim to create." Nathaniel closed the portfolio and leaned back, studying her. For a moment, the room was silent except for the faint hum of the city outside. Then he said, "We don't hire dreamers here, Miss Bennett. We hire doers." Brielle straightened her back. "I am a doer. Give me a chance, and I'll prove it." Nathaniel's lips curved into a smirk, though his eyes remained cold. "You'll start tomorrow. Report to the design department at 9 a.m." Brielle's breath caught in her throat. "Thank you, Mr. Grey. I won't let you down." As she left his office, Nathaniel watched her go. There was something about her-her clumsy determination, her ability to meet his gaze without fear-that stirred an old memory. Shaking his head, he returned to his work, determined to forget the look of fire in her eyes. ---
Chapter 1
---
Brielle clutched her sketchbook tightly as she stood in the grand lobby of Nathaniel Grey's headquarters. The building was a towering masterpiece of glass and steel, a testament to its owner's sharp precision and unyielding ambition. She felt small and out of place, her floral dress and messy bun starkly contrasting the sleek suits and polished shoes of everyone around her.
She had dreamed of this moment for years-walking into Grey Enterprises with a shot at turning her designs into reality. But now, standing under the cold gaze of Nathaniel Grey himself, she wasn't so sure. His reputation preceded him: a man who had clawed his way out of the ashes of his past to build an empire, known for his ruthlessness as much as his brilliance.
"Miss Bennett," he said, his voice as icy as his eyes. He gestured to the chair opposite his massive desk. "Have a seat."
Brielle's heart pounded as she shuffled forward. She accidentally bumped into the edge of the chair and muttered an apology under her breath. Nathaniel's expression didn't change, but a flicker of something-amusement?-crossed his face.
"You've applied for the junior designer position," he began, flipping through her portfolio. "Your designs are... unconventional."
Brielle swallowed hard. "Unconventional in a good way, I hope."
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "That remains to be seen."
Her palms were damp, but she found her voice. "I believe jewelry should tell a story. It should evoke emotion, not just look pretty. That's what I aim to create."
Nathaniel closed the portfolio and leaned back, studying her. For a moment, the room was silent except for the faint hum of the city outside. Then he said, "We don't hire dreamers here, Miss Bennett. We hire doers."
Brielle straightened her back. "I am a doer. Give me a chance, and I'll prove it."
Nathaniel's lips curved into a smirk, though his eyes remained cold. "You'll start tomorrow. Report to the design department at 9 a.m."
Brielle's breath caught in her throat. "Thank you, Mr. Grey. I won't let you down."
As she left his office, Nathaniel watched her go. There was something about her-her clumsy determination, her ability to meet his gaze without fear-that stirred an old memory. Shaking his head, he returned to his work, determined to forget the look of fire in her eyes.
---
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
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Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
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As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"