Hello readers😍😍😊😊

This is a new idea of mine. I will update it when I have free time, but I will also not forget to update the first novel, as I had already started with that one.

Don't forget to like and share your thoughts about it. Love you all 😘😘💫💫❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

The persona of Aria Song—a quiet, reserved young woman who worked as a freelance graphic designer—was a ghost she wore only when she had to interact with the world. Her real self was a chameleon, a vessel. Inside her small, cramped apartment, she was a hundred different people at once, a silent chorus of identities. She could slip into the mannerisms of a weary bus driver, a frantic stockbroker, or an elderly librarian with an almost supernatural ease. It wasn’t magic; it was a skill honed through years of isolation. She didn't want fame; she wanted to fund her true passion: building a prototype for The Empathic Archive, a library of human experiences she could curate and craft into art. To do that, she needed money, and Leo's "corporate intelligence" projects were her only way to get it.

Tonight, she was preparing to be a bored security guard. She felt a familiar mental pressure as she connected to his digital footprint, a constant flow of data she perceived as a dull, thrumming ache behind her eyes. His name was Mr. Park, a security guard at the corporate headquarters of "Nebula Entertainment," a rival to Starlight.

“You sure this is a good idea, Aria?” Leo’s voice, a familiar rumble, crackled through her headphones. Leo Song was a living whirlwind of chaos; a brilliant but high-strung hacker who saw the world in code. He was a disheveled figure, perpetually in an oversized hoodie, with a panicked energy that was both endearing and frustrating. "This is the CEO’s private server. You’re playing with fire.”

She ignored his warning, her fingers dancing across the keyboard. She could feel Mr. Park's routine, a data stream she could almost see: the coffee at 10 PM, the five taps on the desk, the frustrated rhythm of his password as he typed the anniversary he wished he could forget.

“He's predictable,” Aria said, her voice shifting to a low, gravelly timbre that perfectly matched Mr. Park's. “He chews gum on the left side of his mouth. It’s all in the data.”

“That’s not creepy at all,” Leo said dryly, a wave of digital gibberish filling Aria's vision as he initiated the hack. “Just be ready to bail if something goes wrong. This isn’t one of our usual jobs.”

Aria was about to respond when the sound of a doorbell, an irritating, high-pitched frequency that grated on her nerves, cut through the air. “Did you order something?” she said, her voice returning to her neutral, quiet tone.

“No,” Leo said, his voice now a tense line. “Get out of sight. Something’s wrong.”

Aria dove behind a pile of old soundboards just as the apartment door was flung open. Two hulking men in black suits stood in the doorway, their faces unreadable. Behind them, a third man stepped into the light, his presence a commanding stillness that silenced the frantic static in the room. He was Ethan Kwon, the CEO of Starlight Entertainment. He was impeccably dressed in a custom-tailored suit, with a face that was all sharp angles and a gaze that was as intense as it was captivating. His eyes, the color of a stormy sea, scanned the room with a focused intensity that missed nothing. He didn't speak. He simply walked to the monitor, his gaze falling on the image of Mr. Park. His eyes narrowed, and then a faint smile touched his lips.

“I’m not here about the data,” Ethan said, his voice a low, melodic bass that resonated in Aria’s chest, a perfect, steady frequency. “I’m here about the method.”

His gaze lifted from the screen to the pile of soundboards, a direct, knowing look. He walked toward her, and Aria felt a wave of icy cold fear. He knew she was there.

He knelt down, his eyes meeting hers. "I have a proposition for you, Ms. Song. My company needs a new face to save it from a hostile takeover. You, on the other hand, need a way to finance your dream. And I know what that dream is."

Aria's heart hammered against her ribs. No one knew about the Empathic Archive. She’d told no one. Her hands trembled, her fingers instinctively reaching for the keyboard.

"My offer is not a contract for an actress," he continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "It's a partnership. You give me the performance of a lifetime, and I will give you a studio, a crew, and all the resources you need to build your archive. I know what you can do, and I know why you do it."

Aria stared at him, her mind racing. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "And how do you know about my dream?"

He gave her a small, knowing smile. "Let's just say I'm someone who can see the world in a way no one else can. Just like you."

He stood up and pulled a simple business card from his pocket, laying it on top of a discarded circuit board. "Think about it. I’ll be in touch."

As he turned to leave, he glanced over his shoulder. "Oh, and by the way, that security guard? You forgot to mimic his nervous tic."

And with that, he was gone, leaving Aria to wonder if the most dangerous person she had ever met was also the only person who truly understood her.

The silence that followed Ethan Kwon’s exit was a living thing, a heavy blanket that muffled the city outside. Aria remained curled behind the soundboards, her heart hammering against her ribs like a frantic bird. Her hands, usually so steady, were trembling, and she stared at the empty space where the elegant CEO had stood just moments before. He hadn't just found her; he had seen her. He knew about the method about the archive. He saw beyond the persona of the reclusive graphic designer and saw the weapon, the artist, the quantum star. The feeling was terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

Suddenly, the front door burst open, and a disheveled figure stumbled inside, scattering a pile of takeout containers and loose wires. Leo Song was a living whirlwind of chaos. His usually neat black hair was a tangled mess, his oversized hoodie was stained with coffee, and his face was a mixture of panic and exhaustion. He wasn’t a fighter; he was a brilliant but high-strung hacker who saw the world in code.

“Aria! Are you okay?” he demanded, his eyes wide and frantic as they scanned the room.

Aria slowly rose from her hiding spot. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice still shaky. “He’s gone.”

Leo’s eyes fell on the sleek business card resting on the circuit board. His face, already pale, went white. He snatched it up as if it were a live grenade. “Ethan Kwon,” he read, his voice a furious whisper. “The CEO of Starlight. He found us. I told you, Aria. I told you this was too dangerous.”

“He didn’t take anything,” Aria said softly, watching her brother’s reaction. “He offered me a job.”

Leo scoffed, tossing the card onto the table. “A job? This isn’t a job, Aria! This is a recruitment! He knows what you are. He’s going to use you.”

Aria walked to the table, her gaze fixed on the card. “Maybe,” she admitted. “But he also said he could help me build the archive.”

Leo’s posture softened slightly, but the fear remained in his eyes. He knew how much the Empathic Archive meant to his sister. Her project was her life’s work, a dream of giving people a taste of true human connection through her art. She had a rare talent to fully absorb and embody a person's life and secrets, and she wanted to use that gift to create something beautiful.

“We can’t trust him, Aria,” Leo pleaded, running a hand through his hair. “These people, they’re ruthless. You’ve seen what they do.”

Aria met his gaze, her dark eyes filled with a new, steel-like resolve. “We’ve been hiding for a long time, Leo. But he’s the first person who has seen my talent for what it is. Not a trick, not a party trick—but a method. A way to create something real.” She picked up the card, feeling its smooth, cold surface. It felt like a door, one that led out of the shadows and into the light.

“What if this is our only chance?” she asked, her voice steady now. “What if this is the only way to get the resources we need to build our own company? To build my archive so that my talent can be used for good, instead of just running from the bad guys?”

Leo stared at her, his lips pressed into a thin line. He knew he couldn’t talk her out of it. She was like a force of nature, driven by a dream that had consumed her since she was a little girl.

Aria looked at the phone in her hand. She thought of Ethan’s eyes, the color of a stormy sea, and the calm power she felt radiating from him. He wasn't a hero, she knew. He was a predator. But he was a predator who offered to hunt for her, not on her. With a deep breath, she made a decision that would change her life forever. She went to the contact list, found the number on the business card, and pressed a single button.

The single, metallic click of Aria’s thumb on the phone screen felt louder than a gunshot in the silent apartment. She stared at the screen, a small icon indicating the call was in progress. Leo, who had been pacing the room like a caged animal, stopped and stared at her, his face a mix of disbelief and resignation. The ringing felt endless, a digital metronome counting down the seconds to the end of her old life.

And then, a click.

“Hello, Ms. Song,” Ethan’s voice was as smooth and unruffled as it had been moments ago. “I was expecting your call.

”Aria swallowed, her throat dry. “Mr. Kwon,” she managed, her voice shaky. “I… I’ve considered your offer. I want to know more.”

“Good,” he said simply. There was no triumph in his voice, only a quiet, unnerving confidence. “Meet me tomorrow at the Sky Lounge at the Grand Plaza Hotel. 10 AM. I will have a full contract ready for your review.

”He hung up without another word, leaving Aria holding a dead line and staring at her brother's horrified face.

The next morning, Aria stood in front of a full-length mirror, a rare occurrence. She wasn’t wearing her usual oversized hoodie and sweatpants. Leo had forced her to put on a simple black dress that was his idea of business casual. Her long, black hair was pulled back into a neat, high ponytail, and she wore no makeup, letting her sharp, intelligent eyes speak for themselves. She looked at the woman in the mirror, but she didn’t recognize her. She was a persona she had never had a need to wear before—a confident, professional woman who could meet a CEO on equal footing.

“You look like you’re going to a funeral,” Leo grumbled, shoving a packet of tissues into her purse. “A funeral for our quiet lives.”

“It’s just a meeting, Leo,” she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

“It’s a meeting with a man who knows our deepest secret! A man with a private security team that knows how to find us in our own home! Don’t sign anything unless I’m there to review it, you hear me?” he said, his voice laced with genuine panic.

Aria gave him a small, reassuring smile. “I hear you. I’ll be careful.

”The Sky Lounge was a testament to silent power. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city, and the hushed tones of a dozen business deals were the only sounds. Ethan Kwon was waiting for her, sitting at a corner table with two empty cups and a single, thick manila folder resting on the polished wood.

He was even more striking in the daylight. His suit was a deep charcoal gray that made him look like a statue carved from a block of granite. As he stood to greet her, he exuded a sense of controlled power that was magnetic.

“Ms. Song,” he said, his voice a smooth welcome. “Thank you for coming. Please, sit.

”Aria took the seat opposite him. She felt small and out of place in this glamorous setting, but she focused on the man in front of her. She studied his posture, the faint lines around his eyes, the almost imperceptible twitch of his thumb on the table. She felt her mind, that powerful, unconscious tool, begin to analyze him, to absorb him. He was tired but not weak. He was calm, but there was a storm brewing beneath the surface. He was a man with a target on his back.

He opened the folder and pushed it across the table. “This is a contract with Starlight Entertainment. It names you as our newest talent, a lead actress for our upcoming flagship drama. The pay is generous, the roles are a guaranteed spotlight, and the terms are all in your favor.

”Aria’s eyes scanned the document, but her mind was on the other promise he had made. “And the archive?” she asked, her voice low.

Ethan’s lips curved into a slow smile. “That’s what makes this a partnership, not a simple job. Tucked away in the back of this contract, you will find a clause that guarantees you access to our top-tier research and development labs. You will have a dedicated team of engineers and scientists to help you build your archive. I will fund it, protect it, and help you turn it into a reality.

”He leaned forward slightly, his eyes holding hers. "I am not offering you a career, Ms. Song. I am offering you a legacy. A chance to do something truly new and powerful with your talent. But in return, I need you to trust me. My company is in danger. And the reason you are so special is the exact reason I need you to save it.

"He didn’t need to say what that reason was. Aria felt the weight of his words, the unspoken truth that her talent was a weapon, and he was asking her to wield it. The contract lay on the table, a stark black-and-white choice. One life was laid out in its pages: fame, fortune, and the fulfillment of her deepest desire. The other was an unknown, a journey into a world where her life was the currency.

“What do you say, Ms. Song?” he asked, a subtle challenge in his tone. “Do we have a deal?”