Gina sat in the kitchen, her elbow resting on the table, the mysterious business card between her fingers.
She'd been staring at it for the past ten minutes, rereading the words like they might rearrange themselves into something more logical.
Opportunities require boldness and silence.
Discretion?
Why would discretion be written on the card?
Her gut twisted slightly.
Was this something dangerous?
Someone important?
And why her?
She was just a recent med school graduate with no real job, no status, and no power. What could she possibly offer that was worth "high pay" and required silence?
Unless… it wasn't really about work.
Her mind spiraled… maybe it was something illegal. Or worse, some secret underground society where she'd be expected to…
Riiing.
Her phone buzzed on the counter, pulling her out of her thoughts. She answered without checking the caller ID, still deep in her mental spiral.
"Hello?"
"Gina."
That voice. She knew it instantly.
Marcus.
Her spine went stiff.
"Where are you?" he demanded. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you say anything?"
She stayed quiet.
"I would've never married Jessica if I knew you were pregnant. Jesus, Gina, you think I wouldn't have wanted to be there? To… "
She cut him off with the press of a button.
Call ended.
The phone trembled slightly in her hand.
It was too much. Too loud. Too late.
Before she could let herself spiral from that, her eyes fell back to the card.
Almost on autopilot, she reached for her phone again and dialed the number.
It rang once.
Then a voice answered, a female. Calm. Crisp. Detached.
"By calling this line, it means you have accepted our offer. Someone will be there to see you shortly."
Then the line went dead.
Gina blinked, stunned. "Wait, hello?"
She checked the screen and tried calling back.
This number is no longer in service.
Her stomach dropped.
That wasn't what she'd meant. She was just calling to ask about the job. To find out what they meant by discretion and who the hell they were. She hadn't even said hello, hadn't agreed to anything… at least not intentionally.
Her thoughts were starting to race, heart pounding.
And then…
Knock knock.
She froze.
Another knock followed. Louder. Quicker.
Her chest tightened as the words replayed in her mind.
"Someone will be there to see you shortly."
Her legs moved before her brain could catch up. She walked to the door, pulse thudding in her ears.
"Who is it?" she called out.
No answer.
A chill crawled up her spine, but she knew.
She knew.
She reached for the handle, hesitated for just a second… and opened the door.
There he was.
The man from the backseat of the car.
Even more devastating up close. Dark, almost unruly curls fell slightly over his forehead. His jaw was sharp, stubble dusting the edges. And his suit was sleek, dark, expensive… hugged his tall frame like it had been stitched directly onto him.
He didn't say a word at first. He just looked at her, his green eyes locked onto hers like he was studying her expression, reading her thoughts.
"Are you going to let me in?" he asked finally, his voice deep and commanding.
It wasn't a question.
It sounded like an order. Like he could've just as easily said get on your knees or take your panties off and she'd be halfway to obeying before her brain caught up.
She shook her head quickly, snapping herself out of it. Focus.
She looked up, way up until their eyes met again. Then stepped back, silently giving him space to enter.
He didn't thank her.
He just walked in.
And just like that, the strange offer… the card… the mystery…
It was all standing in her kitchen.
And he smelled really good.
She hadn't even found her voice yet when her phone started ringing again on the table.
The screen lit up: Marcus.
The man… this beautiful, serious, very much not-to-be-fucked-with man glanced at the phone, then at her, one dark brow lifting in a silent question.
Gina gave a tired shake of her head and flipped the phone over so the screen faced down.
The ringing stopped.
Then started again.
She sighed and sat down across from him, trying to keep her breath steady. The man was watching her now, his expression unreadable, but curious.
Then, to her complete shock, he picked up the phone.
And answered.
"Gina is a little busy right now, Marcus," he said coolly, placing the phone to his ear like it was his. "I'll have her call you back when I'm done with her."
He ended the call without waiting for a response and set the phone down gently.
Then slid it across the table toward her.
Gina stared at him, stunned speechless.
He didn't even blink.
"My name is Adrian Huntley," he said, his voice steady, rich, deliberate.
And just like that, everything around her… the walls, the past, even Marcus faded into a blur.
She had just stepped into something she didn't understand.
And Adrian Huntley…
was the beginning of it