The glass walls of the towering skyscraper glinted in the morning light, reflecting the ever-bustling city below. Morganne Celestine stood in her office, looking out at the view of a metropolis that never slept. It was her kingdom, her empire—one she had built from the ground up. Her sleek black suit shimmered under the soft glow of the sun, and her raven-black hair cascaded neatly over her shoulders. She had it all—wealth, power, and influence. Yet, there was still something missing.
She stared out at the horizon, lost in thought, when the chime of the elevator interrupted her musings. It was time.
Today was the day she would meet him—the man who was, unbeknownst to her, destined to change everything.
She smoothed her outfit and straightened her back, already feeling the weight of the meeting ahead. As the door to the elevator opened, she was greeted by her assistant, a flurry of professionalism in her demeanor. "Ms. Celestine, they're ready for you."
Morganne nodded, adjusting her posture. The meeting with Melric Allendor, a businessman with a reputation as elusive as it was impressive, was about to begin. She'd heard little about him—only whispers from the industry and scattered rumors of his untold wealth. She was curious but guarded, as always. There were few in this world who could match her intellect, and even fewer who could stir any real intrigue. But today... today might be different.
Melric Allendor wasn't what Morganne had imagined. Tall, with a quiet demeanor and sharp, calculating eyes, he walked with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. His tailored suit—dark and impossibly crisp—fit him perfectly, but it was the air of mystery that surrounded him that drew her in.
He stood at the far end of the conference table, watching her with an intensity that made her pause. The moment their eyes met, something stirred in the pit of her stomach. A strange, electric pulse rushed through her—a feeling she couldn't place. It was as though she had known him before, but that was impossible. They had never met.
"Ms. Celestine," his voice cut through the silence, rich and smooth, with an edge of authority. "It's an honor."
The words sounded rehearsed, yet there was something undeniably genuine in the way he said them. Morganne, ever the professional, offered a cool smile as she took her seat. But her mind was elsewhere.
The conversation started as any typical business negotiation would, filled with figures, strategies, and projections. Yet, through it all, her mind couldn't shake the strange feeling that lingered in the air. There was something hauntingly familiar about him, a ghost of a memory that danced on the edge of her consciousness, teasing her with its elusive nature.
The meeting ended without any real resolution, though she could tell Melric had come to propose something far grander than he had let on. As she rose to leave, their eyes met once again. That electric feeling surged through her veins, stronger this time. She hesitated, her hand still resting on the edge of the table.
"Perhaps we could discuss this further over dinner?" he suggested smoothly, his eyes holding hers in a way that made it hard for her to look away. "I think we have more to talk about than just business."
Morganne almost nodded instinctively, but something made her pause. It wasn't just the proposal he was offering—it was him. There was something undeniably magnetic about him, something that drew her to him against her better judgment.
"I'm not in the habit of mixing business with pleasure," she replied, her voice smooth, but there was a flicker of something else behind her words. The odd, inexplicable pull she felt towards him was beginning to gnaw at her, but she masked it well.
Melric didn't push her. Instead, he merely smiled, his eyes dark and knowing. "Understood," he said, "But I think you'll find that this partnership, however unconventional, might benefit both of us."
Later that evening, as Morganne was preparing to leave her office for the day, she found herself at the door to her car when something unexpected happened. The cool evening breeze swept through the streets as the sound of hurried footsteps drew near. She turned, and there he was again—Melric.
His eyes locked onto hers with a strange intensity, and for a split second, it felt like time slowed. Before she could react, he was there, right next to her, steadying her as her vision blurred.
She hadn't realized how dizzy she had become until the world around her tilted. Her head spun, and then everything went black.
When Morganne woke up, she found herself in the backseat of a sleek, black car. The cool leather beneath her fingers grounded her as she struggled to sit up. A moment later, she saw him—Melrick—watching her with a calm, almost predatory gaze.
"You fainted," he said softly, as though it were the most normal thing in the world. His voice had a strange warmth to it, one that sent a shiver down her spine.
She opened her mouth to respond but found herself at a loss for words. There was something undeniably unsettling about the situation, but also... comforting. Almost as if she had been here before, in some other time, in some other life.
The next few days unfolded in a blur. Melric, despite his stoic demeanor, seemed intent on keeping a distance, yet their paths crossed at every turn. Whether at meetings, or social gatherings, or even just brief encounters in the elevator—he was always there, watching her. Each time their eyes met, the feeling intensified, like a puzzle piece finally clicking into place.
There was something in the back of her mind, something nagging at her. Was this just a business deal? Or was it something more—something destined?
Morgane couldn't help but wonder if her encounter with Melrick was more than just a coincidence. There was something deeply familiar about him, something that called to her in a way she couldn't explain.
And just when she thought she might find an answer, the truth remained hidden in the shadows of her mind—waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.
End of Chapter 1