Chapter 1 — Arrival at VeilTech

Lucy Carter

The towering structure of VeilTech Headquarters loomed over the city like a dark monolith, its sleek glass facade reflecting the bustling chaos of the streets below. The morning sunlight glinted off its surface, creating shifting prisms of light that momentarily dazzled Lucy Carter as she stood on the pavement, craning her neck to take in the scale of the building. Her heart thudded in her chest—not from nerves, but from eager anticipation that she rarely allowed herself to feel.

This was it. The beginning of something new.

Adjusting the strap of her leather satchel, she felt the familiar weight of her sketchpad and tablet, grounding her thoughts. She stepped through the revolving glass doors into the pristine lobby, where the air was cool and carried a faint undertone of fresh coffee mingling with the sharper scent of industrial-grade clean.

A massive digital display stretched across one wall, streaming promotional videos of VeilTech’s latest innovations: sleek wearable devices that promised seamless integration into daily life, renewable energy solutions that bordered on miraculous, and a polished vision of technology at the heart of human progress.

Lucy’s eyes lingered on the display, captivated by the flawless, futuristic visuals. Yet, the longer she watched, the more something nagged at her—everything was so pristine, so perfect, that it felt almost... sterile. Behind the smiling faces and glowing graphics, there was an odd hollowness, a sense that this utopian promise was too good to be true.

She shook off the thought and approached the front desk, her heels clicking softly on the polished marble floor.

“Welcome to VeilTech,” the receptionist greeted her with a polished smile, every word as crisp and efficient as the building itself. Dressed impeccably, the woman radiated corporate perfection. “You must be Lucy Carter.”

“That’s me,” Lucy replied, returning the smile as she handed over her ID.

The receptionist scanned it quickly and handed her a sleek black badge embossed with the VeilTech logo. “Your team is on the twenty-third floor. Marcus Hayes will be meeting you shortly to show you around. Take the elevators to your left. Welcome aboard.”

Lucy clipped the badge to her blazer, murmuring a polite thanks as she headed toward the elevators. Her eyes flicked around the lobby, taking in every detail—the way the textured walls seemed to shift subtly under the interplay of light and shadow, the quiet efficiency of the employees gliding across the space. But there was something else, too—a pair of employees standing off to one side, speaking in hushed tones. Their conversation silenced abruptly when they noticed her glance their way. One turned, walking briskly toward a door marked "Authorized Personnel Only," which clicked shut behind him with an audible lock.

She blinked, unsure why the moment stood out to her. Filing it away in the back of her mind, she stepped into the elevator.

The doors slid shut with a soft hum, and Lucy pressed the button for the twenty-third floor. As the elevator began its smooth ascent, she caught her reflection in the polished metal walls. Her sharp brown blazer was a perfect match for the tailored pencil skirt she wore, but her hair—a wavy chestnut brown—had rebelled slightly against her morning efforts to tame it. Tucking an errant strand behind her ear, she allowed herself a brief moment of reflection.

Her parents would have been proud, she thought. For a fleeting second, their faces flickered in her memory, her father’s steady hands sketching designs on graph paper, her mother’s voice encouraging her to dream bigger, to push further. They had left her with the drive to seize opportunities like this one, and she vowed not to waste it.

The elevator chimed, pulling her from her thoughts, and the doors opened to reveal a bright, open workspace flooded with natural light streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows. Rows of desks were arranged with precision, each outfitted with cutting-edge monitors and sleek tech. The air buzzed with quiet activity—keyboard clicks, low voices, and the occasional burst of laughter.

As Lucy stepped out, a man with sandy brown hair and wire-rimmed glasses broke away from a nearby group and approached her with an easy smile.

“Lucy Carter?” he asked, extending a hand. “Marcus Hayes. Welcome to VeilTech.”

“Hi, Marcus,” Lucy replied, shaking his hand. His grip was warm and steady, putting her at ease immediately.

“Let me guess,” he said, gesturing for her to follow him. “You’re already analyzing the space, figuring out how to make it better.”

Lucy laughed, a genuine sound. “Guilty. Occupational hazard.”

“Good,” Marcus said with a grin. “It’s about time we had some fresh ideas around here. Come on, let me show you the ropes.”

As he led her through the workspace, Marcus pointed out the key areas: the design stations near the windows, the engineering section tucked further back, and the collaborative zones equipped with interactive screens. Lucy took it all in, her mind already racing with questions about the projects they were working on.

The environment struck a balance between professionalism and friendliness. Several colleagues greeted her warmly as they were introduced, but Lucy couldn’t help noticing the occasional glance exchanged between employees, as if unspoken tensions simmered beneath the surface.

“So,” she asked as they circled back to her assigned desk, “what’s the dynamic like here?”

Marcus hesitated, just for an instant. His smile didn’t falter, but Lucy caught the faint dart of his eyes—an almost imperceptible flicker of hesitation.

“It’s... fast-paced,” he said finally, leaning slightly against the desk. “People here take their work seriously. But you’ve got the right energy for it.”

It was a diplomatic answer, and while Lucy nodded, she wasn’t entirely convinced. There was something beneath his words, a hint of something unsaid.

Before she could press further, a younger employee arrived to notify Marcus about their team meeting. Lucy gathered her things and followed him to a sleek conference room with glass walls and a commanding view of the city skyline.

The meeting began with a flurry of introductions and discussions about ongoing projects. Lucy listened intently, jotting down notes while keeping an eye on her colleagues’ dynamics. Most were polite and professional, but a subtle tension seemed to ripple under the surface whenever upcoming deadlines or high-level decisions were mentioned.

And then he walked in.

The room shifted as if a current of energy had swept through it. Julian Veyr entered like a shadow slicing through sunlight, his presence commanding and magnetic. Every head turned, conversations halting mid-sentence.

He was tall, his tailored three-piece suit fitting impeccably, the dark fabric catching the faintest sheen of light. His piercing gray eyes scanned the room with precision, landing briefly on each person before moving on. There was an air about him, an unspoken authority that demanded attention without effort.

Lucy’s pulse quickened. She wasn’t sure if it was fascination, intimidation, or something deeper, more instinctive. The room felt heavier, the air pressing against her skin.

“Apologies for the interruption,” Julian said, his voice calm, deliberate—a melody of control with an undertone of something timeless, something ancient. “I thought I’d take a moment to formally welcome our newest designer.”

His gaze found her, and for a brief moment, the rest of the room seemed to dissolve. Lucy met his eyes, her breath catching at the sharp intensity behind them—but she refused to flinch.

“Lucy Carter,” he said, a faint smile curving his lips. “I’ve heard promising things about you. I look forward to seeing your perspective shape our work.”

“Thank you,” Lucy replied, her voice steady despite the slight flutter in her chest. “I’m eager to contribute.”

Julian nodded, his smile remaining elusive, before turning his attention to the rest of the team. He offered a few succinct comments on their projects, his words measured and thoughtful, before excusing himself with the same quiet elegance with which he had entered.

The room hummed with renewed energy once he was gone, though no one remarked on it directly.

Lucy leaned toward Marcus, keeping her voice low. “Is it always that dramatic when he enters a room?”

Marcus smirked, flipping through his notes. “You’ll get used to it.”

As the meeting wrapped up and the team dispersed, Lucy couldn’t help but replay the encounter in her mind. Julian Veyr was unlike anyone she’d ever met—a blend of charisma and enigma, with an aura that seemed to draw people into his orbit.

But there was something else, too, something she couldn’t quite name. A shadow beneath his surface.

And Lucy Carter had always been good at finding shadows.