Chapter Two: In the Present Day

The year was 1980, and the sun hung low over the sprawling city, casting long shadows over the polished glass buildings that towered like giants in the heart of the business district. The air was thick with the hum of traffic, the murmur of people as they went about their daily lives. The pace of the world had quickened, yet for Ellie Sivian, time had always seemed to move at a different rate—slower, more deliberate. She had seen decades pass in the blink of an eye, watched entire generations come and go, yet here she was, still the same, walking through a world that had changed so much since her own time.

As Ellie stepped into the sleek, modern building that housed her brother’s office, she couldn’t help but feel a small pang of nostalgia. The glass doors slid open before her, and she walked into the reception area with the same grace and quiet authority that had always defined her.

Her presence was unmistakable, drawing the eyes of everyone in the room. It was the way she carried herself, her aura of power and beauty, the calm assurance that came from years of surviving, of knowing the weight of time. Ellie stood at just five feet tall, but the way she moved—fluid, purposeful—made her seem taller. Her figure was the kind that demanded attention, curvaceous yet graceful, a combination of strength and femininity that never failed to captivate. Her natural soft curls, dark as midnight, cascaded down her back in loose waves, a stark contrast to the rigid, clean lines of the corporate world around her. She wore a deep green dress, tailored to fit her form perfectly, the color bringing out the subtle warmth of her complexion.

Ellie’s gaze, cold and calculating, swept the room as she moved. The receptionist, a young woman with wide eyes, stood up a little straighter as Ellie passed, her heart racing with the unspoken recognition of who Ellie was. The employees whispered as Ellie walked past, their murmurs not lost on her keen ears.

"That's her," one of the office workers said quietly, barely daring to look at the tall woman walking through the room. "Ellie Sivian. I heard she's an artist now... after handing the business over to her brother."

"She’s more than that," another voice replied, almost reverently. "Her brother might run the company, but everyone knows she built it. It’s why the whole city knows her name. She’s been a legend in the business world. And her art... it’s extraordinary. She’s a woman of many talents."

Ellie’s eyes briefly flickered to the source of the voices, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. She didn’t need to hear them speak to know what they were saying. She had spent enough time in the world to understand the gossip, the way people viewed her—both the admiration and the distance they kept from her. In this world, where time was fleeting, Ellie had learned to become something of a ghost.

But she had never been invisible.

Joshua Sivian, her brother, sat in his office at the top of the building, watching his sister as she made her way down the hallway. At seven feet tall, Joshua was a towering figure in comparison to Ellie, though he too shared the same striking features—the dark hair, the strong jawline, the sharp, penetrating gaze. While Ellie’s beauty was delicate and almost ethereal, Joshua’s was commanding, like that of a statue carved from marble. He had the sort of presence that made people step aside in his path. His body was lean and strong, his movements fluid, but it was his eyes that spoke the most. They were the eyes of someone who had seen too much and felt too deeply. He was a man who had carried the weight of immortality, like Ellie, for as long as he could remember.

Joshua had never once faltered in his love for his sister, and now, as the years had passed and their shared burden had only grown heavier, he stood at the helm of the empire she had built with her own hands. Despite his physical strength, it was Ellie’s resilience and intellect that had carried them both through the centuries. She had built an empire, not just through business, but through her art, using her creativity to shape a world that was her own.

"Ellie’s here," Joshua muttered under his breath, his voice a deep baritone that echoed in the quiet of the office.

His assistant, a sharp-eyed woman named Sarah, glanced up from her desk, her lips pressed into a thin line. "She’s early, as usual," Sarah remarked. "Should I let her in?"

Joshua nodded, though there was something in his eyes that seemed far away, as though his mind was not entirely in the present. "Yes. And send the others in. We’ve got decisions to make."

Ellie arrived at Joshua’s office just as the door slid open. The young receptionist gave a polite smile, but Ellie’s gaze was already on her brother as she stepped into the spacious room. The walls were lined with polished wood, and the soft hum of city noise filtered in through the tall windows. Joshua’s desk was immaculate, organized to the point of obsession, with neatly stacked papers and a single glass of water by his side.

"Ellie," Joshua greeted her with a brief smile. "I didn’t expect you so early. What’s the rush?"

Ellie closed the door behind her with a soft click. She leaned against it for a moment, allowing herself to soak in the space—the quiet, the familiar warmth of her brother’s presence. Despite the decades that had passed, she could always find peace here.

"You know how it is," she said with a shrug, her voice smooth and steady, betraying nothing of the centuries of loss that weighed her down. "I just wanted to see how things were going. I’ve been busy with the new collection."

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "The art business. You’re still drawing, then?"

Ellie’s lips curved into a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Always. Art is the only thing that keeps me sane in this world." She paused, her fingers running along the edge of his desk, the coolness of the surface grounding her. "How is the company? Is everything running smoothly?"

Joshua sighed, leaning back in his chair. "You know the usual. There’s always something. But the real work is on the horizon. A merger is coming up. I’ll need you to sign off on a few things."

Ellie nodded, her expression thoughtful. Her brother had taken over the reins of the business years ago, but she still had her fingerprints all over it. The empire she’d built with her own hands now ran under Joshua’s careful direction, and Ellie had stepped back, choosing to focus on her art. But every now and then, she would offer advice, making sure things were on track. She had never fully let go.

As they spoke, the door to the office opened again, and a group of employees filed in, ready for their meeting. The group consisted mostly of men, dressed in sharp suits, each of them trying to present an air of authority. They greeted Joshua with the deference expected of them, but their eyes occasionally flicked to Ellie as she stood in the corner, watching with quiet interest.

Joshua cleared his throat and stood to address the group. "Alright, let’s get started. Ellie, do you mind sitting in on this? We’ll need your perspective."

Ellie waved a hand dismissively, her fingers brushing against the cool fabric of her dress. "I’m just here for the meeting, not the details," she replied, settling into one of the chairs.

As the meeting began, the employees continued to glance at Ellie from time to time. They knew who she was—her reputation in both the business world and the art world was legendary. While Joshua ran the empire now, Ellie’s influence still lingered in the air like an invisible force, shaping every decision, every action that was taken. Her art had become a symbol of grace and complexity, and it was said that the world’s wealthiest collectors would pay anything to possess one of her pieces.

The discussion turned toward a new venture, one that would require careful maneuvering and subtle influence. Ellie’s name came up again and again, a shadow over the entire conversation. Her legacy, her work, and the business she had built were part of the plan, even if she no longer played an active role.

Finally, the meeting ended, and Ellie excused herself. As she walked toward the door, she felt the eyes of the employees on her again. Some with admiration, some with curiosity. But she paid them no mind. She had learned long ago to ignore the whispers.

Stepping out into the hallway, Ellie walked past the elevator, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. She could feel the weight of their gazes on her, but she was used to it. She stepped outside into the bustling street, the cool wind tugging at her hair. She had planned to stop by the bakery nearby—a place she often visited for a moment of quiet.

As she passed by the window of the small shop, she caught a glimpse of something—a flash of movement. She turned, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw a boy. A child, perhaps. His eyes were wide, filled with an innocent curiosity. He was staring at her, his gaze unwavering, and something in his look caught her off guard.

Before she could turn away, the boy began to follow her, matching her pace, his small steps quickening as he trailed behind her. It was strange, the way he followed her. She didn’t know why, but the way he moved, the way he looked at her—it felt familiar, as if she had seen those eyes

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