Neby Brohem was one of the youngest directors ever appointed at Olanda, one of the finest and largest companies in the country. With his sharp features, charming smile, and impeccable manners, he easily won over the hearts of every woman he met- except one. But beneath the polished exterior was a story of struggle few knew.
Orphaned at a young age, Neby had to fight through a tough teenage life, juggling odd jobs just to support himself. His dream was to study at AHW University—the world's top institution for business management and advanced technology. But money was scarce, and hope even scarcer.
Fate, however, had a plan.
Shortly after starting university, a wealthy family took notice of him. They were searching for their lost son—someone of Neby's age—and although he wasn't their biological child, they were impressed by his intelligence, kindness, and unwavering determination.
Supported by this new family, Neby flourished. His eloquence, genuine heart, and relentless work ethic made him popular among professors and peers alike. Girls lined up to ask him to the prom, yet he never dated or gave his heart away. His focus was on something bigger than fleeting affection.
Before graduation, Neby received a tempting offer from SNM Company, which he refused.
The day before his graduation, SNM made a new offer—one he could barely believe. They wanted to appoint him as director immediately, on the condition that he complete a one-year bond with them first.
The decision was agonizing. He hesitated, unsure if the corporate world was ready for someone with his background. But his foster father, a man who had stood by him through every trial, encouraged him firmly.
"Join them, Neby," he said. "This is your chance. It's the stepping stone you need to reach your dreams."
And so he accepted.
___
Now, here he stood—anointed the leader of one of the greatest projects ever launched at Olanda. Watching over it all with a quiet intensity, Neby carried the weight of his past with the steely resolve of a man who had fought too hard to ever lose again.
The door to Elna's office remained closed. Locked. Sealed from curious eyes.
James hadn't moved much since Neby entered. He kept telling himself it was none of his business—but the way her fingers trembled... the way Neby's smile had curled just a little too perfectly.
Behind that sleek charm and polished image, something felt wrong.
But James didn't know.
He didn't see the way Neby's eyes had lingered too long on Elna during the project board meeting.
Didn't know about the gifts that had gone unanswered. The midnight calls. Didn't hear the possessive tone beneath Neby's praise when he spoke of her brilliance.
No. James couldn't know that to Neby Brohem, Elna wasn't a colleague or a subordinate. She was his obsession.His only desire.The one thing he believed he had earned-deserved, after clawing his way to the top.
And now, with no one else in that room… no Aresy, no backup, no eyes… he was close.Closer than ever.
Elna, however, had known this feeling long before James ever stepped into the company.The stifling pressure of being watched.The silence after declining an offer.The cost of being perfect—and alone.
Inside the office, her body sat still, spine straight, eyes locked forward—but her hands, resting on her lap, were clenched tight enough to leave crescent moons in her palms.
"What do you want this time, Director?" she asked coldly.
Neby smiled, stepping around the desk as if it belonged to him.
"Still so formal, Elna. After all we've been through."
Elna's eyes didn't flinch, but her breath caught.
Outside, James shifted in his seat, jaw tense. Something in his gut told him this wasn't just a project review.
He couldn't hear the conversation. He couldn't see Neby's eyes as they flickered with something far too hungry.He didn't know-yet-that this wasn't about the project.
Not anymore..