In Toronto, at 5 am, a woman slept peacefully in her bedroom. But her dreams were haunted by a disturbing scene. An 8-year-old girl, crying behind bushes in a remote area, watched in horror as her mother was brutally stabbed to death by a group of 10-12 men. As they went from scenes, the girl ran towards her mother, screaming.
While she was dreaming, the alarm clock rang, and the woman jolted awake, her face etched with tension, anger, and sadness. But she swiftly composed herself, taking a deep breath. She began her morning routine - exercises, cooking, and a refreshing bath. Just as she was about to leave the flat, her phone rang. Recognizing the caller's name, she answered and said in one go.
"Stop bothering me with silly issues. If I'm paying you, it's to handle things, not trouble me. Find a solution instead of calling me."
With that, she hung up, not waiting for a response.
She went down. And as she waited for her taxi near the apartment entrance, she noticed a family of three, a widowed mother and her two children, moving in that day. She observed their close bond, feeling a pang of longing.
The son, eager to start his first day at the main branch office, instructed his mother, "Mom, these men will help you and Blakely with the luggage and settling in. I have to leave for work."
As he walked away, he caught the woman's gaze. He smiled, but she quickly turned away, her expression unreadable. He felt a twinge of remorse, sensing he had somehow disturbed her.
With that, they parted ways - she into her taxi, he to his office.
In Thornfield Industries and Holdings
The company is located in Toronto, Ontario .This company's 28-floor office building houses a diverse range of departments, starting with Communication and Customer Service on the first floor, followed by Administrative, Research and Development, Fashion Designing, and Food Industry on floors 2-5. Industry-specific departments occupy floors 6-15, including Hospital Management, Research and Development , Operational, Jewelry, Education, Airlines, Motor, Construction, Architecture and Interior Design, and Event and Wedding planning. Floors 16-20 host Heavy Industries and Services such as Mining, Chemical, IT, Banking and Finance, and Entertainment and Media. Support and Executive Spaces are on floors 21-25, featuring Hospitality, Transportation and Logistics, CEOs' Floor, Party Hall and Convention Hall, and Meeting Rooms. Finally, the top floors, 26-28, are reserved for Leadership and Governance, comprising Board Members' Cabins, the Vice Chairman's Office, and the Chairwoman's Office, facilitating efficient collaboration, innovation, and leadership across the organization.
Alex's eyes widened as he stood before the Thornfield Industries and Holdings building, a huge smile spreading across his face. His dream had finally come true. With a spring in his step, he entered the company and made his way to the meeting hall.
Inside, he was introduced to the team, and his eyes met Elara's once more. The manager's words echoed, "Mr. Alex, this is Ms.Elara , our HR representative in the Interior Department and the country's top interior designer."
Axel Extended a warm greeting, "Hello, Ms. Elara." But she merely nodded.
"Nice to work with you, Ms. Elara," Axel added, attempting to break the ice.
Elara's response was a fleeting smirk before she excused herself, leaving Axel Wondering.
The manager noticed Alex's curiosity and said, "Don't overthink it . Elara is reserved, calculative, and assertive. Her silence speaks more than her words."
After a while, they all left. Axel saw his cabin, the whole building, leaving the top 4 floors.
He left the office and headed home. In the parking area, he spotted Elara again, this time she was engaged in a quiet conversation with a mysterious person. They stood close, their faces lit by warm smiles.
Axel wondered, then shook off the thought, and went towards the left area and started to wait for the lift.
As Elara entered, he followed, greeting her with, "Hi, nice to see you again! What a coincidence, running into you all day."
Elara's response dripped with arrogance, "Everyone who works in this branch lives here, including the CEOs."
The lift stopped on the 9th floor, and Axel chuckled, "Another coincidence!"
As they exited, he asked, "Was that your boyfriend in the parking lot?"
Elara's glare was scary and questioning.
Axel clarified, "The guy you were talking to."
Elara remained silent, exiting the lift and disappearing into her flat.
Axelcalled after her, "I'll take that as a yes."
Elara , warning, "Mind your business, Mr."
She slammed the door shut.
Axel smiled wryly, "I live across from your flat, not inside it. Oh, God, please bless this poor woman."
Just then, his sister's voice interrupted, "Let God bless us first; come inside before I close the door!"
Axel entered, chuckling.
His sister asked, "What's got you smiling?"
Axel replied, "Just my lovely neighbor."
She raised an eyebrow.
Axel whispered, "Long story."
As he said, his mother asked what story he immediately started to tell about his day.
On the other hand, Elara got a call and she received it and said yes tell me
A man said “ ma'am, we have caught him. Come quickly.”
Elara, with a devilish smile, said “in 2 hours”.
Morning sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the penthouse bedroom. Elara stirred slightly, her head resting against Axel’s bare chest, the rise and fall of his breath steady beneath her ear. For the first time in weeks, sleep had come without nightmares.But peace never lasted long in Elara Thornfield’s world.Axel’s phone buzzed sharply against the nightstand. He groaned softly, reaching for it without shifting too much.“Hello?” His voice was husky from sleep.Elara blinked awake when she felt his entire body go rigid beneath her.“What? When did this happen?” A pause. “I’m coming right now.”Axel sat up in a rush, already swinging his legs out of bed.“Axel?” Elara reached for his hand, concern instantly clouding her expression. “What’s wrong?”He looked over his shoulder, shaken. “Something’s gone wrong. A project… they said there’s been a scandal. Construction fra
The city lights shimmered through the penthouse windows, casting soft shadows across the sleek marble floor. The air carried a faint hint of jasmine—Elara’s signature scent—mingling with the crisp night breeze slipping through the slightly open balcony doors.Elara stood by the window, a glass of wine in her hand, staring at the skyline. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—Victor’s visit, the hidden threats within Thornfield Industries, and the war she was waging both in the corporate world and the underworld.She barely noticed when the door clicked open behind her.“Elara,” Axel’s deep voice cut through the quiet.She turned, watching as he stepped inside, his tie already loosened and his sleeves rolled up. He looked tired, but his eyes softened the moment they met hers.“You should be asleep,” he murmured as he walked closer.She smirked, swirling the wine in her glass. “So should you.”Axel sighed, stopping just inc
Elara sat in her office, the city skyline stretching beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. The aftermath of Sandy’s capture lingered in her mind, his words playing on repeat: *They’re already inside your walls.* Thornfield Industries had been compromised, but by whom?A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.“Come in,” she called.The door opened, and a familiar presence filled the room—Victor Lancaster, her late aunt’s husband. Though not a blood relative, Victor had always been like an uncle to her. His warm, steady presence was a rarity in her world of shadows and deception.“Elara,” he greeted, his voice smooth and comforting. “It’s been too long.”She allowed herself a small smile as she stood to embrace him. “Victor. It has.”He stepped back, studying her with knowing eyes. “You look exhausted. And before you deny it, remember I’ve known you since you were a child.”Elara smirked. “I suppose lying to you wo
The office was silent except for the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall. The storm outside cast flickering shadows through the vast glass windows, mirroring the chaos brewing in Elara’s mind.Sandy’s words echoed relentlessly—“They’re already inside your walls.”Someone inside Thornfield Industries was betraying her.Her fingers tapped against the mahogany desk as she scanned the file in front of her. A list of everyone who had access to restricted company data stared back at her. Too many names. Too many possibilities. Too many cracks forming in the empire she built.Sophia stood across from her, arms crossed. “We checked security logs. No unauthorized access, no external breach.” She hesitated before adding, “That means the leak is someone close.”Elara exhaled slowly. The weight of betrayal was heavier than any threat from the outside. Thornfield Industries was impenetrable by design. If someone had managed to slip ins
The dim glow of a single bulb illuminated the warehouse’s cold interior. Chains clanked as Sandy groaned, his wrists bound to a steel chair. Blood dripped from a cut on his temple, a grim reminder of Elara’s earlier fury.She stood before him, arms crossed, her gaze like a blade slicing through the tension in the room. Sophia leaned against the metal table nearby, her sharp eyes scanning Sandy’s every move.“Elara,” Sandy spat, his voice hoarse. “You think this changes anything?” He let out a bitter chuckle. “You have no idea what you’re up against.”Elara’s lips curled into a smirk. “I know exactly what I’m up against. What I don’t know is who you’ve been working with.” She stepped closer, her heels clicking against the concrete. “And that’s the only thing keeping you alive right now.”Sandy scoffed but flinched when she grabbed his jaw, forcing him to meet her cold gaze. “I don’t have time for your games,” she murmured. “So, I’ll ask once—who’s feeding you information about Thornfie
As Elara stepped into the hotel, a hush fell over the room. The dimly lit bar area, buzzing with murmured conversations, suddenly turned its attention to the woman who had just entered. The soft click of her heels echoed through the space, her coat draping elegantly around her shoulders. Eyes followed her, admiration and curiosity mixing in their gazes. But Elara wasn’t here to impress; she had one target—Sandy.Sitting in a secluded booth at the back, the town’s most wanted criminal, Sandy, leaned lazily against the plush seat, a smirk playing on his lips. His dark, piercing eyes locked onto her the moment she walked in. The interest in his expression was unmistakable.“Well, well,” he drawled, swirling the drink in his glass. “What brings such a beauty to my humble den?”Elara approached, keeping her expression cool, calculated. “I was looking for you,” she said smoothly, sliding into the seat opposite him.Sandy chuckled, his eyes roaming over her shamelessly. “Lucky me.” He leaned