The boardroom brimmed with soft murmurs and the scent of fresh coffee. Aria sat near the end of the table, her expression neutral, her hands resting on her lap. She had no intention of drawing attention.
Marcus stood at the head of the table, composed as always, with a stack of documents before him. His tone was clear and commanding. "We've reviewed all the proposals, the candidate portfolios, and had discussions with Vaelora International. The representative for this campaign will be—Evie."
A gentle wave of applause followed as expected. Evie's eyes sparkled with triumph, her lips parting in a practiced smile. She offered a humble nod to the board, but her glance at Aria was quick and mocking.
Marcus continued, "As for the supporting team… Aria."
A few heads turned toward her.
"You will not be assisting Evie directly," Marcus said. "Instead, you'll be part of the scouting division. With the expansion of our campaign reach, we'll need new talent—fresh faces that reflect where our brand is heading. You'll help identify and evaluate them."
Aria gave a slight nod. "Of course."
No excitement. No visible reaction. Just simple compliance. Evie raised a brow as if unimpressed, but Aria didn't spare her a glance.
"This is not a high-profile task," Marcus added. "But it is necessary. Make sure to send your findings to the lead scouts and keep your reports consistent."
"Yes, sir."
The meeting soon wrapped up, and an internal memo confirmed Aria's new assignment. By the end of the day, she was scheduled to attend a smaller session with the talent management team to begin her quiet work.
No one noticed the flicker of something more in her eyes as she left the boardroom.
The next day
Aria stepped out of the car, dressed simply in a white blouse and casual beige pants, her hair gathered into a messy bun that framed her delicate features. She looked effortlessly elegant, yet there was nothing flashy about her appearance. Just purpose.
She walked through the grand gates of Damien Woods' estate, greeted only by a nod from the guards who had been informed of her arrival. This wasn't her first time sneaking around powerful people—only this time, she was invited.
Inside, the butler greeted her with a polite bow. "Mr. Woods is in the study… with his father."
Her brows twitched slightly. His father?
She hesitated only for a second before making her way down the hallway and stopping at the door. When it opened, the air inside was laced with old wood and quiet power.
Damien stood at the far end, flipping through a folder, while another man sat in the leather armchair—older, regal, and watching her with a cool, appraising gaze.
Damien looked up. "You're early."
Aria held up a neatly sealed envelope. "Figured I'd deliver this in person."
Damien took the file, but his father's voice interrupted the moment.
"And you are?"
Aria turned to him and nodded respectfully. "Aria Sterling."
"Sterling?" The man's tone was unreadable. "Marcus' daughter?"
"By blood only."
That answer made the older man smirk.
"She's blunt," he remarked, eyeing her more closely. "I like that."
Aria stood straight, her expression calm but unreadable. Damien scanned the documents silently, but his father—Ethan Woods—wasn't done yet.
"You're not the type to put on a show, are you?" Ethan asked, eyes sharp.
"No, sir. I prefer results to performance."
Ethan nodded slowly, clearly impressed. "Straightforward. Sharp. I see why my son keeps you around."
"She keeps herself around," Damien muttered, almost amused. "I didn't have a choice."
That earned a soft chuckle from Ethan. "Then I hope you're smart enough not to waste her."
He turned his gaze to Aria again, something warmer hiding behind his cool exterior. "Miss Sterling, if you ever find yourself surrounded by people too blind to recognize your worth, my door is always open."
Aria was stunned but didn't show it. "I'll remember that, sir."
As she turned to leave with Damien, he glanced down at her.
"You made quite an impression."
"I wasn't trying to."
"Exactly."
As they walked down the grand hallway, the sound of their footsteps echoed in the quiet mansion. Aria couldn't help but notice more details about Damien than before. She had always known he was striking, but now, with the space between them filled with a palpable tension, his features seemed even sharper. His jawline, sculpted with precision, his dark hair slightly tousled in a way that looked effortless, and his eyes—those eyes that had first caught her off guard—were now impossible to ignore. They were intense, yet guarded, like he was constantly measuring everything around him.
She shook her head slightly, as if pushing the thought aside. She couldn't afford to get distracted by anything or anyone, especially him.
Damien glanced at her sideways, noticing the shift in her demeanor. "What's on your mind?"
She smiled faintly. "Nothing. Just… thinking."
They reached the door, and she paused for a moment, feeling the weight of the conversation ahead. "Thank you for your time today," she said sincerely, her voice quiet but firm. "I know I don't have much to offer yet, but I'm doing what I can to make sure we all come out ahead."
Damien nodded, his gaze steady. "I don't doubt it. You've proven yourself already."
Aria tilted her head. "About that… there's something I've been meaning to say. I've been considering my next steps." She hesitated, the words coming out more difficult than she had imagined. "I can't stay at the Sterling mansion forever. Too many memories… too many complications."
Damien raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for her to continue.
"I'm planning to leave, eventually," she added, her voice soft but resolute. "I've already started looking into my own business. I want to build something separate from my mother's empire, something that's entirely my own." She paused, her eyes not meeting his. "I've been thinking of starting a fashion and modeling agency. A place where talent is nurtured, not controlled."
Damien's gaze lingered on her, his silence heavy with thought. "You're aiming to take control of your own future, then?"
"Yes," she answered firmly. "I don't want to depend on the Sterling legacy anymore. I need to build my own foundation."
"Then you're on the right track," he said, a hint of respect in his voice.
Aria nodded, feeling a strange sense of relief. She wasn't sure why, but something about sharing her plans with Damien felt... freeing. Like she had crossed a line, and there was no going back.
Damien met her eyes again, his expression unreadable. "I'll support you in whatever way I can," he said, almost unexpectedly.
Her chest tightened at the unexpected gesture, but she nodded, forcing a neutral smile. "Thank you."