Serah was still twirling around trying to show me her dress. I blinked, and everything made sense.
She dressed and went through all that effort cos of the interview today. The dress. The hair. The careful makeup.
She wasn't just trying to look good for fun.
The person we were interviewing later today was the Alpha at the top of Finnor Group.
In Sunshine City, Finnor Group wasn't just a company; it was the force that ran this city and all other surrounding packs and their businesses.
Three years ago, the company and family name Arop read out of nowhere. They rely on a shadow that stretched across the financial world overnight.
No slow rise or soft landing, they pushed forward very hard and fast. Swallowing competitors without any hesitation z
Within three short years, the donor group had stood shoulder to shoulder with the pack's strongest families.
They had the kind of power that did not need to announce itself. But what really fascinated people the most with the company was not the company itself, but the man behind everything.
No one knew his name, his face, or anything about him.
No leaked pictures, public appearances, or runouts that could be confirmed.
It was as if he never existed. People called him the ghost of the family, watching everything and everyone without ever stepping fully into view.
That mystery alone made him more dangerous
And more desirable to the female folks.
And my dear Serah was a living proof of that.
The moment Serah learned that we would be interviewing him, she transformed into someone ready to be noticed. I could not help the small smile that curved my lips.
"Serah," I teased lightly. "Are you sure you want to impress him that badly? What if he is a half-old man with a horrible temper?"
"No!" She stomped her foot, clearly offended and in disbelief. " I do not believe that one bit. People say he's young. Really, really young." She said, her eyes sparkled with hope.
Beside us, Jenny didn't even smile.
"This interview is rare," she said seriously. "Once in a lifetime, honestly. This is the first time the president of Finnor Group has ever agreed to speak with the media. If we get a photo of him, our sales will explode."
I nodded slowly. She was right. She wasn't exaggerating.
Finnor Group had turned down every single interview request in the past. Glamour Magazine included. When we sent the invitation, we fully expected rejection again, and we got it as expected.
Then yesterday, out of nowhere, the response changed.
He had agreed to be interviewed.
No explanation or conditions up front.
It felt so unreal and strange.
The news hit the editorial floor like a massive shockwave. Everybody was stunned.
After running through the interview questions one last time with my colleagues, Sarah, Jenny, and I left for Finnor Group with a photographer in tow.
None of us spoke much on the way there; we were all excited and anxious. We were the first to see and know what this mysterious man looks like.
The closer we got to the building, the heavier the air felt.
It felt like stepping into territory ruled by a different wolf force.
Finnor Group sat in the heart of Sunshine City's financial district, towering and silent.
We checked in with the receptionist and stated our purpose, showing our company's ID card to her for confirmation.
After that, we were escorted straight to the elevator. No waiting or questioning.
The doors slid shut, and the ride upward felt longer than it should have.
When the elevator opened on the top floor, a woman in a fitted suit approached us immediately.
"You're from Glamour Magazine?" she asked politely. "Mr. Norton is already waiting."
Mr. Norton?
The name made me pause.
My heart skipped a bit.
Norton!
The same surname as the man I had gotten married to a few hours ago?
Was he part of this family? Or is it just a mere coincidence?
I reached for my bag to text him, and that is when I realized I did not get his phone number.
How did I even forget that? Getting married and not exchanging numbers with your new mate?
How do I know my answers now?
What if it was him?
My mate is "this" Mr. Norton.
Before I could think further, Serah grabbed my sleeve, her voice and fingers shaking slightly.
"Vivian, what does my hair look like? Is it okay? Is it not messy, right? Oh no… what if it got ruined in the elevator? Do you have any mirrors?"
I smiled faintly and leaned in closer. "You are fine. Not a single hair is out of place."
My voice died in my throat.
Through the slightly opened door, I saw a figure standing close to the floor-to-ceiling windows.
No
The person was sitting.
He looked like my Norton.
My entire body went rigid.
The light streaming in from behind him carved sharp shadows across his face, showing the hard lines of his jaw. They looked like jaws I knew far too well.
His posture was calm and controlled.
The room itself seemed to bend subtly around his
presence.
Sarah followed my gaze.
"Oh my god..." she whispered loudly. "The president of Finnor Group... he is in a wheelchair?"
I was starting to panic. Everything aligned with the man I married this morning.
Before I could respond, the chair turned slowly towards us at the entrance.
The moment his face came fully into view, Sarah gasped.
"Whoa-- he's insanely handsome! So handsome," she said excitedly, " He is even more good-looking than most celebrities!"
Her voice sounded distant, like she was daydreaming about him already.
I did not hear anything else she said.
My mind went blank. I tried forming my thoughts properly, but everything seems to pause in time.
Those cold, familiar eyes met mine.
He looked at me intensely, trying to see my reaction.
He is the one
Finnick.
Norton
Mr. Norton
The head of the Finnor pack. The mysterious Alpha nobody knew about.
The man I had married this morning.
The man who now stood- no, ruled at the very top of Finnor Group.