FAZER LOGINThe final week before the wedding passed in a joyful, productive blur.The Obsidian estate underwent a magnificent transformation. The private gardens were manicured to absolute perfection. A beautiful wooden archway was erected beneath the ancient willow trees, draped in lush white roses and vivid yellow orchids. Strings of soft, warm lights were woven through the branches to illuminate the reception area.It was the day before the wedding.I sat at my desk in my new architectural studio on the top floor. The morning sun poured through the windows. I held a digital tablet, reviewing the final structural reports for the corporate pavilion. The steel frame was currently going up in the Vanguard district. The construction crews were working efficiently, and the public green spaces were already taking shape.I swiped across the screen, verifying the weight distribution on the subterranean pillars. Everything was flawless. I felt a deep sense of professional pride. I was about to become a
"Keep your eyes closed," Dominic instructed gently. His deep voice carried a hint of playful amusement."I am trying," I laughed softly. I kept my hands over my eyes as we walked over the uneven ground.We had driven to the far eastern edge of the Obsidian property. It was early in the morning, and the air smelled like pine needles and fresh dew. Dominic held my elbow, guiding me carefully through the dense trees."Just a few more steps," Dominic promised. The crunching of dry leaves under our boots echoed in the quiet woods. "Alright. Stop here. You can open your eyes."I lowered my hands and opened my eyes.We stood in a vast, open clearing surrounded by ancient, towering trees. A gentle stream flowed quietly along the edge of the space, sparkling in the morning sunlight. But the most striking feature of the clearing was the bright orange string stretched across the grass, held in place by dozens of wooden stakes.My architectural mind instantly recognized the geometric layout. It w
The grand dining room of the Obsidian estate smelled like spun sugar and fresh lemons.I sat at the polished dining table with a silver fork in my hand. Three different slices of cake sat on delicate porcelain plates in front of me. Dominic sat right beside me. He rested his arm across the back of my chair and watched me with a soft, amused smile. My mother and Mrs. Higgins stood on the opposite side of the table. They watched my face with eager anticipation."Try the one on the left first," Mrs. Higgins urged gently. She tapped her digital tablet with her stylus. "It is a vanilla sponge with a toasted almond cream. The chef spent three hours perfecting the texture."I cut a small piece of the vanilla cake and tasted it. It was rich and sweet. It melted on my tongue instantly. I nodded and gave Mrs. Higgins a bright smile."It is delicious," I told her honestly. "But it might be a bit too sweet after a full reception dinner.""I agree," Dominic murmured. He leaned over and tasted a sm
The Obsidian estate was in a state of beautiful and organized chaos.When Dominic and I walked through the grand foyer doors we were immediately greeted by the sight of dozens of white and yellow floral arrangements. They were stunning. Vibrant yellow orchids were mixed with soft white roses and draped elegantly across the marble entry tables.Mrs. Higgins stood in the center of the room with a digital tablet in one hand and a clipboard in the other. She was directing three delivery workers with the precision of a military general."No no no," Mrs. Higgins instructed loudly. She pointed to a tall floral archway near the stairs. "The orchids need to face the doorway. We want the guests to see the yellow accents the moment they walk inside. Turn it slightly to the left."My mother sat on a velvet sofa nearby with a cup of tea. She looked highly amused by the entire situation."You are doing a wonderful job Mrs. Higgins," my mother praised softly."Thank you dear," Mrs. Higgins replied w
The drive to the Vanguard district took less than twenty minutes.We rode in a sleek dark sedan. Dominic kept his hand resting securely on my knee the entire time. His thumb traced soft circles on my skin and sent wonderful little thrills through my body. We did not need an escort of tactical guards anymore. The city was safe and the streets were calm.We pulled up to the edge of the construction site. The towering steel structures of Julian's old empire were currently surrounded by scaffolding. The demolition crews had already started taking down the restrictive outer walls.We stepped out of the vehicle and walked onto the dusty pavement. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the broken concrete."It feels strange to be back here," I admitted quietly. I looked up at the towering glass building where I spent so many years typing useless memos. "I used to walk through these gates every morning and feel like I was entering a prison."Dominic stopped walking. He turned to me and to
It was morning and we were at the obsidian boardroom. I stood at the head of the polished mahogany table and smoothed out the final structural schematics for the new corporate pavilion. My heart beat with a steady and confident rhythm. I wore a tailored navy blue blazer over a crisp white blouse. The silver ring on my left hand caught the sunlight and cast tiny rainbows across the paper.Dominic sat to my right. He wore a sharp charcoal suit and looked as handsome as ever. His icy blue eyes watched me with deep pride. He did not say a word because he knew this was my project. He gave me the floor and trusted my vision thoroughly.The double doors opened and Mr. Sterling walked into the room. The older trade investor did not look happy. He was followed by a younger man I had never seen before.The new man wore a sleek beige suit. He had sandy blonde hair and a very charming smile that did not quite reach his eyes. He walked with an air of casual arrogance. He took a seat next to Sterli







