Tangled in Power

Sabrina barely slept. The contract captivated her, and each word imprinted itself into her mind. She'd gone over it a dozen times, looking for flaws, hidden hazards, and anything that may cause Knight Industries to lose leverage. Nathaniel expected results, and she had no intention of disappointing him.

By morning, she was relying solely on black coffee and sheer determination. She entered the office, her shoes clicking on the pristine marble floors.

Nathaniel was waiting.

She found him in his office, his back turned to her as he looked out the floor-to-ceiling window. The morning light cast sharp shadows across the room.

"You're early," he said, without turning around.

"You expected me to fail," she replied, stepping forward and placing the folder on his desk.

Nathaniel finally turned, his dark gaze scanning her. Then, without a word, he flipped open the folder. Silence stretched between them as he read.

Sabrina kept her posture straight, but inside, her pulse was erratic. Every second felt like an eternity.

Then, something unexpected happened.

Nathaniel's lips curved slightly—almost imperceptibly—but it was there. A hint of approval.

"You caught the discrepancy," he murmured.

"It was subtle," she admitted. "But if we signed without renegotiating, we would've lost control over key assets in the long run."

Nathaniel closed the folder and leaned back in his chair. "Most people wouldn't have caught that. Even some of my senior executives."

"I'm not most people."

Nathaniel's eyes darkened, something unreadable flickering in them. He stood, walking around the desk until he was inches from her.

"You're playing a dangerous game, Sabrina."

Her breath hitched, but she didn't step back. "So are you."

The air between them was thick—tense, charged.

For a moment, she thought he might say something else, something that crossed the invisible line between them. But instead, he smirked, stepping back.

"Let's see if you can keep up," he said. "Your next task is bigger. I have a meeting with an investor tonight, and you're coming with me."

Sabrina blinked. "Why?"

Nathaniel tilted his head. "Because I need to see how you handle pressure. If you want to survive in my world, you need to prove you can stand beside me when it matters."

His words sent a thrill down her spine—part challenge, part warning.

This wasn't just business anymore.

This was a game.

And the stakes had never been higher.