13

It was as though Clara wasn’t even present in the room anymore.

Her mother’s voice continued, firm and filled with concern, but Clara’s mind had already wandered far away, far beyond the small walls of their modest apartment, far beyond the weight of reality pressing down on them.

All she could think about was him.

Alexander Harrington. The name alone carried power, influence, wealth—everything their life had never been. In her mind, he wasn’t just her sister’s husband; he was an opportunity. A door. A solution to every struggle she had ever known.

What would it feel like to stand in front of him?

To speak to him? To tell him everything—the sleepless nights, the exhausting shifts at the club, the constant worry about bills, about survival?

Would he listen? Would he help? Her thoughts spun endlessly, building fantasies faster than logic could tear them down.

“Clara.”

Her mother’s voice cut through again, this time sharper.

“Talk to your sister. Tell her to come back home. We’re fine. She has a job, along with the money I make at the club, we’ll manage it and live a good life.”

Clara blinked, snapping back to reality, though only partially.

“Mother…” she said, her tone softer, almost dismissive. “Trust me. Elara will be fine. You’re just worried.”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed instantly, a glare forming as she studied her daughter’s face.

Clara forced a smile, one that showed all her teeth, bright, convincing, almost too perfect.

“Yes, mother. She said she’d come see us anytime soon.”

There was a pause.

A beat of silence that stretched just enough to make the tension heavier.

Then she said “You fool!”

“Get dressed! We’ve got a lot of work to do!”

Clara flinched slightly but didn’t argue. She simply sighed, dragging herself off the bed with slow reluctance. Her body still ached with fatigue, but her mind?

Her mind was elsewhere.

Still lingering on a man she hadn’t even met.

—

(HOUSE OF HARRINGTON)

Elara stood still for a moment, her fingers tightening slightly around the file in her hand as she took in her surroundings.

The building alone was enough to overwhelm her.

It wasn’t just big, it was intimidating. Polished marble floors reflected the overhead lights like glass. The walls were adorned with subtle, expensive designs that spoke of wealth without needing to announce it. Even the air felt different, cleaner, colder, heavier with authority.

She had never worked in a place like this before.

Never even imagined she would.

Her heart beat faster than usual, a mix of anxiety and something else she couldn’t quite name.

Was it excitement? Or fear? Probably both.

She inhaled slowly, steadying herself before walking toward the office the manager had instructed her to stay in.

As if one wrong move might expose her, might reveal that she didn’t belong here.

She reached the door, hesitated for a second, then pushed it open.

The soft click of the door closing behind her echoed faintly in the quiet space.

But before she could even settle the door opened again.

Elara turned.

Two women walked in like they owned the place.

“Good morning.” The first spoke with a casual confidence, dressed in a short skirt that hugged her figure, a stack of files balanced neatly in her hands.

Elara felt so uncomfortable.

“Morning,” Elara replied, her voice slower, cautious.

She studied them briefly.

They didn’t look like regular employees.

There was something off.

“I’m Beauty,” the first one said with a small smile.

“And she’s Angel,” the second added, gesturing to herself. Her short gown swayed slightly as she moved, her expression just as unreadable.

Elara nodded once.

Still confused.

Who are they?

“Welcome to the company,” Angel said smoothly.

“Thank you,” Elara replied, her tone flat, guarded.

Both women exchanged a glance.

Then they smiled mysteriously.

Angel stepped forward and dropped the file she had been holding onto the desk with a soft thud.

Neither of them explained anything.

Neither of them lingered.

They simply turned and walked out.

Just like that.

Elara stood there for a moment, staring at the door after they left.

A frown crept onto her face.

“How stupid,” she muttered under her breath.

She exhaled lightly and walked over to the desk, placing her own file down before opening the one they had left behind.

The manager had said her work started immediately.

Elara paused.

Her fingers stilled on the edge of the file.

She didn’t want to start anything yet, not before meeting the boss.

“Wait but what's Alex doing here? Is he related to the owner since he's also Harrington?” She scoffed.

“He's not my boss, he can’t be.” She sighed and closed the file again. If he's the boss, this company won't contain the both of them. And she wouldn’t be able to concentrate, she might even lose her job.

She looked around for some time and led out a quiet sigh.

Then she turned and walked out of the office.

—

At that same moment the atmosphere in the building shifted.

Alex stepped into the company, his presence alone enough to draw attention without effort.

Heads turned.

Whispers followed.

“The boss is here…”

“He’s so handsome…”

“I swear, I wouldn’t mind giving him my virginity…”

The murmurs spread like wildfire among the female staff, low but filled with excitement, admiration, desire.

But Alex didn’t react, didn’t acknowledge them.

His hands rested casually in his pockets as he walked forward, his expression calm, unreadable, almost bored.

Behind him, about ten bodyguards followed in perfect formation, their presence only amplifying the authority that surrounded him.

There was something about him, something magnetic, dangerous.

Alexander is the kind of man people noticed without trying.The kind of man people fell for without thinking.

He walked like he owned everything.

Because he did.

Elara stepped out into the hallway at the same time, her attention fully focused on the file she was arranging neatly into a folder.

Her eyes weren’t on where she was going.

Her steps weren’t careful.

And the moment she looked up, she bumped into him, before she could even react, before her body could register what was happening, her balance slipped. The file tilted, papers shifted.

She was about to fall but she didn’t.

Alex’s hand caught her, pulled her back holding her waist.

Elara’s breath hitched as she looked up and her eyes widened in shock.