Chapter 5: The mysterious man

In the very heart of the city, at the top of the tallest skyscraper, sat a man who seemed to carry a storm with him. He was the head of the largest company in the country, a multinational magnate. His office was cold, modern, and quiet, just like him. He gave off a powerful feeling, a very extraordinary aura that kept everyone away. His whole body seemed to be covered in a murderous aura, a sense of danger that made even the bravest people nervous.

But even with this chill around him, his looks were something else. Everyone in the country knew it. He was the best-looking man around. He had a face that could make anyone weak in the knees just by looking at him. His sharp jaw and thick eyebrows gave him a strong, chiseled look. And his eyes, azure eyes as deep and blue as the ocean, held a charm that could pull anyone in. He looked like a Greek god, utterly handsome, a masterpiece of nature.

This man, 27 years old, was known for having no interest in women. He had never been seen with a woman, never gossiped about. His focus was always on his empire, on making more money, gaining more power. Women were just… not on his radar. Or so everyone thought.

Today, however, was different.

His assistant, a nervous man named Mr. Sam, stood stiffly before him, holding a tablet. Mr. Sam was used to reporting numbers, market trends, and rival company movements. He was not used to seeing his boss, show anything other than cold focus. But today, his boss was listening with a new, strange interest .

“Sir,” Mr. Sam began, his voice a little shaky, “the Chambers family… the heiress, Viola Chambers, has returned to the country.”

The man didn’t move. His face was still, his blue eyes fixed on the distant city skyline. But something shifted in those eyes. A flicker. A glint that was hard to place. It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t surprise. It was… something deeper, something unreadable.

“Viola Chambers,” he repeated, his voice low, a soft rumble in the quiet office. The name sounded almost like a question.

Mr. Sam swallowed hard. He had been told to report all important news, and the return of the Chambers heiress, especially after her two-year disappearance, was big news in their world. The Chambers family, though facing troubles now, was still one of the top three wealthiest families in the country, deeply connected to his boss’s business circles.

“Yes, sir,” Mr. Sam confirmed, trying to keep his voice steady. “She arrived about a week ago. She’s already taken over managing the family company, as her father, Mr. Chambers, is gravely ill. There are… rumors, sir. About her sudden disappearance before, and her mental state.”

Mr. Sam watched his boss carefully. He had seen him make enemies vanish, seen him crush rivals without batting an eye. The ones whispered in hushed tones about his ruthlessness, his cold, calculating mind. He was a ruthless monster, a force of nature that destroyed anything in its path.

The man leaned back in his expensive leather chair. He placed his fingertips together, forming a steeple. The faint glint in his azure eyes grew, like a distant star. His assistant didn’t know what was going on in his mind. His boss was a closed book, a puzzle no one dared to solve.

“Rumors?” the man finally reacted, his voice showing no emotion. “Elaborate.”

Mr. Sam quickly read from his tablet. “Whispers about a breakdown after her… personal issues. Questions about her capability to lead the Chambers corporation, especially now. There are even talks about a secret medical record being leaked, suggesting emotional instability.”

The man listened. He didn’t react. But the air around him seemed to grow even colder.

“And the ‘personal issues’?” he asked.

Mr. Sam hesitated. This was gossip, not business. But he knew better than to hold back information from his boss. “Her husband, sir. Harris Thorne. He was… found to be having an affair with her cousin, Clara Hayes. It was quite a scandal at the time. Miss Chambers simply vanished afterward.”

A flicker. A stronger glint in the man’s eyes. Almost… interest. A strange, almost unholy interest.

He paused, then waved a hand, dismissing the details of the scandal. “Forget the gossip. Focus on the Chambers Corporation. What are her plans there? Has she made any moves yet?”

Mr. Sam quickly switched to business news. “Yes, sir. She just announced a new, very aggressive venture. A massive investment in a new technology firm, a risky move that could either save their company or completely sink it. It’s a huge gamble, sir. Unprecedented for the Chambers family, especially in their current state.”

The man finally turned his head, his gaze settling on Mr. Sam. The intensity in his blue eyes made Mr. Sam's breath catch. He dared not question. Everyone knew how dangerous his boss was.

“A gamble,” he mused, a faint, almost invisible smile touching his lips. “Interesting.”

He stood up and walked to the huge window, looking down at the city. Buildings sparkled like diamonds. He was at the very top, looking down on a world he controlled.

“Find out everything.” the man ordered, his voice suddenly sharp, cutting through the silence. “Everything about this new venture. Every detail. And everything about Viola Chambers. Her movements. Her schedule. Her every step.”

Mr. Sam blinkedl. His boss rarely took a personal interest in anything outside of direct business threats. But when he did… it meant something big.

Mr. Sam had almost asked why. But he knew. Who didn’t know what kind of ruthless monster the man was? When he commanded, you obeyed. No questions.

“Yes, sir,” Mr. Sam said, bowing slightly.

He turned to leave, but the man’s voice stopped him.

“And Mr. Sam,” he said, without turning from the window. His voice was low, almost a whisper, but it sent a shiver down Mr. Sam’s spine. “Be discreet. No one is to know I’m looking into this. Not a soul.”

“Understood, sir,” Mr. Sam replied, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

He stood by the window for a long time. The setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and purple. His eyes, those incredible azure eyes, were no longer cold. An inexplicable glint. It wasn’t about business, not entirely. It wasn’t about the Chambers fortune.

He thought of the name. Viola. And then, he thought of the words Mr. Sam had used: “lost her uterus.” “betrayal.” “disappeared.”

A memory, old and distant, flickered in his mind. A memory of a small, frightened girl in a hospital, long ago. A connection that no one knew. A secret.

He picked up a small, silver frame from his desk. It was a picture of a little boy, no older than five, with wide, terrified blue eyes. The boy was looking at something just outside the frame, something terrible. His own eyes, filled with fear.

He slowly put the frame back down. His lips, those perfect lips, curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. But it wasn’t a happy smile. It was a dark, knowing smile. A smile that promised storms.