Chapter 3 - The Betrayal of Desire

The newsroom buzzed with its usual hum of activity, but for Seraphina, the air felt heavier, charged with tension. She sat at her desk, staring blankly at her computer screen. Her thoughts swirled around Lucian Castell’s piercing gaze during the meeting. His intensity lingered in her mind, an unwelcome guest she couldn’t quite shake.

Edward’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Seraphina, can I see you in my office?”

She glanced up, startled, and nodded, grabbing her notebook to follow him. Inside his office, Edward was pacing, his usual composure cracking under the weight of unspoken concerns.

“Close the door,” he said softly.

She complied, and as the door clicked shut, he turned to her, his eyes searching hers. “I’ve been meaning to ask… Are you all right?”

Her brow furrowed. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Edward hesitated, running a hand through his dark hair. “That meeting with Lucian. The way he looks at you—it’s... unsettling. He’s not just interested in this company, Seraphina. He’s interested in you.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “I know,” she admitted, her voice tinged with frustration. “But what am I supposed to do? He’s an investor now. He has influence here.”

Edward stepped closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “I don’t trust him. There’s something... unhinged about the way he behaves around you.”

Before she could respond, a knock at the door interrupted them. Lucian entered without waiting for an invitation, his presence commanding the room.

“Am I interrupting something?” he asked, his tone polite but laced with a quiet dominance.

Edward straightened, his jaw tightening. “We were discussing the next issue’s editorial strategy.

Lucian’s gaze shifted to Seraphina, his lips curving into a slow, deliberate smile. “How fascinating. I’d love to hear your thoughts on that, Seraphina.”

She stood her ground, meeting his gaze with defiance. “I’m sure you’ll find the editorial direction is already well-structured. We don’t need interference.”

Lucian chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent a shiver down her spine. “Interference? No. Insight, perhaps.”

Edward cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the tension. “If you’ll excuse us, Mr. Castell, we were in the middle of something.”

Lucian’s eyes flicked to Edward, his expression unreadable but dangerously calm. “Of course. Don’t let me keep you from... whatever it is you were discussing.”

As he turned to leave, he paused, glancing over his shoulder at Seraphina. “Seraphina, a word when you’re free?”

She nodded stiffly, and he left, his presence lingering like the scent of smoke after a fire.

—

Later that afternoon, Seraphina found herself walking toward the private meeting room Lucian had commandeered. Her heels clicked against the polished floor, each step echoing her apprehension.

Inside, Lucian stood by the window, his silhouette framed by the city skyline. He turned as she entered, his dark eyes locking onto hers.

“You wanted to speak with me?” she asked, keeping her voice steady.

He gestured to the chair opposite him. “Sit.”

She remained standing. “I’m fine here.”

Lucian smirked, as if amused by her defiance. “As you wish.”

The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words. Finally, he spoke, his voice soft but loaded with intent. “Edward cares for you.”

She blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“I see the way he looks at you,” Lucian continued, stepping closer. “Like a man who’s afraid of losing something he’s never had the courage to claim.”

Her breath hitched, but she forced herself to stand tall. “Whatever feelings Edward has—or doesn’t have—are none of your concern.”

Lucian’s smile faded, replaced by something darker, more primal. “Everything about you is my concern.”

His words sent a jolt of anger through her. “You don’t own me, Lucian. You can’t manipulate your way into my life and expect me to fall in line.”

He tilted his head, studying her like a predator sizing up its prey. “I don’t expect you to fall in line, Seraphina. I expect you to resist. That’s what makes this... thrilling.”

She stepped closer, her anger flaring. “You think this is a game? That you can just... control people because you have power and money?”

Lucian’s gaze burned into hers. “It’s not about money or power. It’s about you. Your fire. Your strength. You intrigue me, Seraphina. And I always get what I want."

Her laugh was sharp, cutting through the tension. “Then you’re in for a rude awakening. I’m not something you can conquer, Lucian. If you want a challenge, you’ve got one.”

For a moment, they stood mere inches apart, the air between them crackling with tension. Lucian’s lips parted as if to speak, but he hesitated, his expression shifting to something almost vulnerable.

“You don’t see it yet,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. “But you will.”

---

As Seraphina left the meeting room, her heart pounded in her chest. Lucian’s words clung to her, a mix of warning and promise. She wanted to hate him, to dismiss him as a manipulative egomaniac. But part of her—a part she didn’t want to acknowledge—was drawn to his intensity.

Back at her desk, Edward approached her, concern etched across his face. “What did he want?”

She shook her head. “Nothing important.”

Edward frowned, his hand brushing hers briefly. “You don’t have to deal with him alone, you know.”

She met his gaze, seeing the sincerity there, but also the hesitation. “I can handle myself, Edward.”

Before he could respond, a message notification lit up her phone. It was from Lucian: This isn’t over.

Her grip tightened on the phone, a mix of frustration and anticipation swirling within her.

---

That evening, Seraphina stood in her apartment, staring out at the city lights. The day’s events replayed in her mind, each interaction with Lucian leaving her more unsettled.

But as much as she wanted to push him out of her thoughts, she couldn’t deny the pull he had on her. His obsession was dangerous, but it mirrored something buried deep within her—a craving for power, for control, for something she couldn’t quite name.

In the distance, thunder rumbled, a storm brewing on the horizon. Seraphina closed her eyes, letting the sound wash over her. She wasn’t sure what the future held, but one thing was certain: she wasn’t going to back down.