1. Meeting

Author's POV:

A man in his early 20s was sitting in his mahogany desk, focused in his work, surrounded by different high-tech computers and surveillance equipment. Their faint sounds filling the silent office. The room was simple, with small paintings, minimal color with a touch of a mystery--describing the personality of a person sitting in a room. Each corner was filled with different types of screens, each one displaying streams of live data, satellite feeds, and encrypted communications. This was his world, Sebastain's world--information, precision and control. For the past 10 years he has been working in this corporation-the most successful spy corporation, which he has built from the ground up. Due to his perfect track record, he has earned the title of "the Ghost" among the people. He'd never failed a mission, never left a trace behind.

The door to his office opened, and the person who walked in excluded a powerful aura who demands attention. Even in the dim light of the room, the presence of Aurelia Kingsley, CEO of Rosewood Corporation, was undeniable. Her reputation had preceded her--powerful, cold, and ruthless in business. She was very powerful, and she had just stepped into Sebastian's world.

She didn't sit immediately, her sharp gaze sweeping across the room like a hawk sizing up its prey. Her tailored suit reflected the same meticulousness she put into her work. She knew this meeting would be crucial.

Sebastian didn't rise from his seat; he didn't need to. He was in control here. Instead, he swiveled his chair slightly to face her and was checking her. "I didn't expect you to come here in person, Miss Aurelia. What's this about?"

Her lips curled into a small smile, professional one, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. She had the same reputation for getting what she wanted, no matter the cost. "You're known for discretion, Sebastian. I'm hoping we can keep this conversation between us."

He leaned back in his chair, relaxing himself, fingers tapping on the armrest, eyes never leaving hers. "You know I don't take on just any job. I don't get involved in petty rivalries or corporate drama."

Aurelia's smile faded, and her gaze sharpened. "This isn't petty, Sebastian. This is bigger than anything you've ever dealt with."

She crossed the room and took a seat across from him, the weight of her words settling in the space between them. She didn't waste time with pleasantries.

"Arcadia Corporation is a behemoth, and its CEO, Alistar Blackwood, is a man I need taken down. But not in the way you might think. I don't want the destruction of his company—I want something far more valuable."

Sebastian's eyebrows lifted slightly. Alistar Blackwood. The name carried weight. Arcadia had remained untouchable for years, a fortress that no one had been able to penetrate. He knew exactly who she was talking about.

"I want you to infiltrate Arcadia," she continued, her voice steady. "Become their assistant. Work your way into Blackwood's inner circle. Learn everything. And when the time comes, I want the information you uncover to be handed directly to me. I'll handle the rest."

Sebastian let the silence stretch for a moment, his expression unreadable. He knew how dangerous this would be—being so close to Arcadia. Alistar Blackwood was no fool. If he had any inkling that someone was working from within, Arcadia's empire would collapse on them both.

"You're asking me to take on a role," he said slowly, tapping his fingers on the desk, "in a company whose CEO has a reputation for not trusting anyone. You want me to be his right-hand man. To live under his watch. You realize what you're asking, don't you?"

Aurelia's gaze never wavered. "You're the best, Sebastian. And you'll succeed. You always do. There's no one else who can get close enough to Blackwood. No one who could gather the kind of information I need. Arcadia is running a secretive, corrupt empire under the guise of a legitimate business. What's behind their operations could give me the leverage to crush them."

Sebastian steepled his fingers in front of him, his mind calculating the risks. He had no doubt he could pull this off—he was the best spy in the world. His reputation wasn't built on luck; it was built on precision, stealth, and strategy. But this... this was different. It would be a tightrope walk. He'd be in constant danger of exposure.

"You're asking me to put everything I've built on the line for this," he said, his voice low. "Not to mention Blackwood's circle is tight. The man's paranoid. If I make one wrong move, everything falls apart."

Aurelia leaned forward, her fingers resting on the edge of his desk. "I know the stakes, Sebastian. I wouldn't be here if I didn't. But I'm offering you something in return—a position of power, the means to strike back at Arcadia. You'll have everything you need. And when this is over, you'll not only have destroyed Blackwood's empire, but you'll also be in a position to take everything he's ever had. Including his secrets."

Sebastian thought for a moment. Everything Blackwood had. That was tempting. No one ever thought about the secrets behind Arcadia, only the power they projected to the outside world. This would give him the opportunity to dismantle it from within, piece by piece.

"And when you say everything," Sebastian asked, his voice laced with quiet calculation, "does that include a way out?"

Aurelia's smile returned, cold and knowing. "Everything. Freedom. Power. Revenge. The future. And when the time is right, you will walk away from it all—your past, your ties to me, and everything else. But only if you succeed."

Sebastian paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. He'd built his empire in the shadows, running a spy network that was untouchable. But this was more dangerous than anything he'd ever done. If he agreed, he'd be stepping into the lion's den. He'd have to become someone else—a loyal assistant to a man he wanted to destroy.

But that was the game. And he was good at it.

"I'll do it," he said, his voice firm, sealing the deal. "But don't forget—I play by my own rules. If I'm going in, you give me everything I need to bring Arcadia to its knees. No more, no less."

Aurelia's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "Of course. I'll arrange everything. Soon, you'll be part of Arcadia. And from there... we'll take it all."

ヾ(＠⌒ー⌒＠)ノ

word count: 1024

date: feb, 2025

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