Chapter 1 — On the Brink

Victoria Lane

Victoria Lane adjusted the cuffs of her tailored charcoal blazer, her fingers brushing against the platinum watch that gleamed faintly under the cool fluorescent lights of the Gilded Pines Corporate Office. The conference room, a glass box perched high above the city, offered an expansive view of the skyline. Skyscrapers jutted into the gray clouds like jagged teeth, a relentless testament to the hunger and ambition that fueled this world. Once, that view had exhilarated her, a symbol of how far she’d climbed from her unstable beginnings. Now, it loomed over her like a reminder that the higher the climb, the steeper the fall. And she had no intention of falling.

The polished mahogany table stretched between her and the board members, a line she was accustomed to standing on the dominant side of. Her Onyx Fountain Pen rested beside a thick stack of documents, its sleek barrel catching the light. Her thumb absently traced the faint wolf motif engraved near its base, a detail so subtle that most wouldn’t notice. Graham Steele’s gift. Mentor turned rival. A reminder of both her rise to power and the tangled web of loyalty and betrayal she now navigated.

“The merger hinges on this,” Graham’s voice sliced through her thoughts, smooth as silk but sharp as a blade. He stood across from her, leaning slightly forward, his crimson tie a bold slash of color against his immaculate navy suit. His silver hair gleamed under the recessed lighting, and his expression exuded the calm authority of a man who never doubted his control. “Everpine Lodge is the last piece of the puzzle, Victoria. Without it, the entire deal collapses. You understand that, don’t you?”

Victoria met his gaze steadily, her hazel eyes cool and calculating behind her glasses. “I’m aware,” she replied, her tone clipped but polished. “Which is why I’ve already begun strategizing alternative approaches. Lucas Grey may be stubborn, but everyone has a price.”

Graham’s lips curved into a thin smile that didn’t touch his eyes. “Ah, but not everyone is motivated by money. Grey’s refusal to sell has nothing to do with figures on a balance sheet. He’s... different.”

Victoria tilted her head slightly, narrowing her gaze. “Different how?”

Graham shrugged, the movement languid, almost dismissive. “Rural types. They get attached to their land, their traditions. It’s sentimental nonsense. But sentimentality can be a powerful obstacle. I hope you’re prepared to handle this delicately.”

Her fingers tightened briefly around the pen. The faintest flicker of resentment stirred within her, a reminder of the countless times Graham had spoken to her with that same tone—patronizing, as if she were still the eager protégé desperate for his approval. “I don’t need a lecture on handling negotiations,” she said sharply, the faint edge in her voice carefully controlled. She reached for the pen, its familiar weight grounding her. “I’ll get it done.”

“Of course you will,” Graham said smoothly, though his tone carried an undercurrent of condescension. “Just remember, don’t let emotions cloud your judgment. You’ve come too far to falter now.”

Victoria’s jaw tightened imperceptibly as his words struck a nerve. Don’t let emotions cloud your judgment. It had been his mantra, the philosophy he’d drilled into her from the beginning. Once, she’d clung to those words like a lifeline. Now, they grated against her, a subtle reminder of the cost of her success.

She smoothed her expression into one of practiced composure. “I’m well aware of what’s at stake.”

“Good.” Graham straightened, his smile sharpening into something almost predatory. “Then I’ll leave it in your capable hands.”

The board members began to file out, their murmured conversations blending into the hum of the office. Victoria remained seated, her thumb absently tracing the edge of the pen as her mind cataloged the next steps in precise detail: flights to arrange, documents to prepare, conversations to rehearse. The pieces of the puzzle were already clicking into place.

And yet, Graham’s parting words lingered, needling at the edges of her thoughts. She glanced at the city skyline, its vastness a reflection of the world she had fought tooth and nail to conquer. The hum of the fluorescent lights overhead reminded her of another time, another place.

A memory surfaced unbidden: her mother’s hands, calloused and cracked, counting crumpled bills at their tiny kitchen table. The fluorescent light overhead had flickered, casting shadows that made the peeling wallpaper seem like it was crawling. The air had been heavy with the scent of burned coffee and desperation. Victoria remembered the way her mother’s hands trembled as she smoothed the bills flat, trying to make them stretch further than they ever could.

Victoria’s grip on her pen tightened, the polished exterior of her corporate persona unyielding even as the memory clawed at her composure. That life was behind her. She had built her success on the promise that she would never return to such instability. And yet, the memory lingered, a ghost she couldn’t quite banish.

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The following morning, Victoria arrived at the private terminal, her sharp heels clicking against the polished floor. Sophie Hart stood waiting, her green eyes bright despite the early hour. She adjusted the multicolored scarf around her neck—a vibrant, almost whimsical contrast to her otherwise professional attire.

“Good morning, Ms. Lane,” Sophie said, falling into step beside her. “The car is ready to take us to the lodge once we land. I’ve also arranged a meeting with the town council for later this week. They seem... hesitant.”

Victoria arched a brow. “Hesitant?”

“They’re protective of the area,” Sophie explained. “It’s not just Lucas Grey. The whole town seems wary of outsiders.”

Victoria’s lips pressed into a thin line. “That’s irrelevant. I’m not here to win a popularity contest. I’m here to close a deal. Let’s focus on that.”

“Of course,” Sophie said quickly, though a flicker of unease crossed her face. “But I thought you might want to know.”

As the jet ascended, the cityscape fell away, replaced by a patchwork of green and brown that stretched to the horizon. Victoria scrolled through financial reports and property assessments on her tablet, Everpine Lodge’s profile glowing on the screen. A lucrative business with untapped potential, yet its owner refused to sell.

Lucas Grey. His photo from the dossier lingered in her mind: broad shoulders, sharp jawline, and eyes that seemed to hold a challenge. He was an obstacle, nothing more. And obstacles were meant to be overcome.

Yet, as the plane descended and the sprawling urban landscape gave way to dense forests and jagged mountains, a strange unease settled over her. The wilderness felt alive, its presence pressing against the edges of her carefully constructed world. She glanced out the window, the dense canopy of trees below seeming to shift and ripple like a living entity. Beautiful, yes, but there was something untamed about it, something that defied her logic and control.

She dismissed it.

The car ride from the regional airport to Blackthorn Ridge was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of papers as Victoria reviewed her notes. The forest seemed to close in around them, the towering trees forming a canopy that fragmented the sunlight into shifting patterns. The air grew heavier, tinged with the earthy scent of moss and pine. Victoria found herself shifting in her seat, glancing out the window at the dense wilderness. Unfamiliar. Unpredictable. Unsettling.

When the car finally stopped, Victoria stepped out and took in the sight before her. Everpine Lodge stood at the forest’s edge, its rustic charm at odds with the sleek modernity she was accustomed to. The smell of woodsmoke lingered in the crisp air, disorienting in its unfamiliarity.

Lucas Grey emerged from the lodge, his presence commanding even from a distance. He approached with a measured stride, his amber eyes locking onto hers. Something about him felt unyielding, like the wilderness itself.

“Ms. Lane, I presume,” he said, his voice deep and unhurried.

“Mr. Grey,” she replied, extending a hand.

He glanced at it but didn’t take it. Instead, he crossed his arms, his posture relaxed yet undeniably firm. “You’re wasting your time.”

Victoria’s smile didn’t falter. “I don’t believe in wasted time. Only opportunities.”

Lucas’s lips quirked into something resembling a smirk. “Is that what you call trying to buy something that isn’t for sale?”

“It’s negotiation,” she said smoothly. “And I’m very good at it.”

“Well, good luck with that.” He turned and walked back toward the lodge, leaving her standing there, her hand still extended.

Victoria lowered it slowly, her jaw tightening. This was going to be more difficult than she’d anticipated.

And yet, as she watched Lucas disappear into the lodge, a strange sensation settled over her—not frustration, not anger.

Unsettled.