had retreated from the limelight following a tragic accident that left him blind. Despite this life-altering event, Judas is now poise

peculated that the accident was not just a simple mishap but may have involved corporate espionage or foul play, given the

eyes were glued to the book in front of me, but my e

y mind around the fact,

as's picture was showing with him wearing an expensive pair of shades his hunter eyes hidden, his lips set in a thin line, jaw-

m the man I encountered today. His scary tattoos were veiled behind his rich black suit. I wo

ina

zooming on his face. She had been doing that for the last two hours now. I didn't know this Russ

ll, at least the cat died kn

red on the screen. Judas Romanovski-son of Ralph Romano, Killian Schmidt, Alexei Volkov. I

couch, dressed in a beige chiffon dress, her smile gentle and serene. The men behind her looked nothing short of pillars of ethereal beauty. One o

r colours differed-one had jet-black hair, and the other was light brown. The

ding to his imposing presence. His piercing hunter's eyes seemed to stare directly at the soul of the cameraman, sending shivers

the heavens. Every muscle and fibre in his body seemed to mould with hell's fire, made from Pandemonium soil. One look at him, and I wanted to run fo

with almost supernatural precision as if a master sculptor had carved him out of pure darkness. His skin, though flawless, had an unnatural pallor,

f he carried the essence of Satan in him, a walking embodiment of sin and despair. His presence alone made my blood run cold and my i

gment. It was the kind of beauty that was both mesmerising and deadly, like an evil flower in full bloom. His every movement was a blen

like him could be blind.

These weak words didn't even feel

money, not for me, but for my mother, and my family. If I refused this job offer, there was no guarantee I'd find

y left shoulder nudged

I get myself

e safe. It wasn't like he was a killer or anything. Maybe I was readi

ng me to turn away, to find solace in the ordinary and predictable. Stay away, stay saf

re of the unknown. What if you're wrong? it purred, the voice smooth and intoxicating.

ht between

safe. But safety felt suffocating, like a cage built from my own apprehensions. And if he wasn't the Satan I

arn enough to support your mother. If things go south, just quit and become

at hand, more important than that blind man. If I fail, he woul

**

ying to be dramatic, but when Ivan's friends called him over, he ditched them and plopped down in front of me, digging into his lunch like it

to keep losing today. My hands were clumpy and all sweaty in this cold weather. I hope he didn't find me awkward or weird. Moreover, I could feel piercing gazes slicing thro

ing an introverted nerd to no

r..." I shook my head mu

room with a

rl?" He rai

. "Alina, she is a busines

mouth, and it irked me. Ticked me. "Are you free this Friday? You can join me for, you know, brunch or whatever you Americ

assment? Ivan raised his brow when I didn't answer and point

wiped the wrong

r as he grinned, a dimple forming on his cheek. And I felt my breath hitching. He was perfect. Too perfect. It was like someone had chiselled him out of a marble statue and

bered something and my smile faltered. "Um, but..." My brain was desperately trying to reboot from the glitch of seeing him up close and

in my ears. What was happening? There was no way I was attracted to him. I mean, he had that whole charming, charismatic thing going on, with ey

frown, I pulled it out of

e there

5

t damn hideous place was like 4

His brow furrowed, clearly puzzled by my sudden rush. Before he could ask any question

I reached the door, someone grabbed my wrist, pulling me back. Startled, I yelped, stumbling slightly

rist was gentle yet firm. Ivan's face held an apologetic expression, and he smiled sheep

shifting his weight from one foot to the other and fished out his phone, my chee

mber, my heart pounding. Ivan let go of my wrist and waved his

ed belongings. Ivan knelt beside me, helping to pick up my b

smiled shyly. "Don't

ayful salute as he started to walk back. "Se

ist. The bustling surroundings seemed distant as I stood there, my

I murmured to myself, stra

**