Buried lies, Broken hearts

Alina’s POV

"I didn't mean to kill him."

Even after three long years, those words still echoed in my mind, a relentless haunting that time refused to soften. Three years of sleepless nights, of my heart leaping into my throat every time the phone rang, and of constantly looking over my shoulder whenever a stranger’s gaze lingered just a second too long. I had spent every single day praying that the horrors of that night would stay buried forever. But some things refused to stay dead.

Outside, rain pounded violently against the windows of my apartment. It was the exact same sound, the same suffocating downpour that always brought the nightmare back.

I jerked awake with a sharp gasp, air scraping against my lungs as my shirt clung to my sweat-drenched skin. For a terrifying moment, I wasn't in my apartment; I was back in that pitch-black forest, trapped in the memory of the horrible night that ruined everything. I was back there with Ethan Blackwood.

"No..." I muttered, squeezing my eyes shut as I forced myself to breathe. I hated that dream because the ending never changed. It always left me staring at Ethan’s motionless body on the muddy ground, his blood mixing with the cold rainwater while his eyes stared blankly into nothingness. And then, the running. Always running until my lungs burned, fleeing from the phantom guilt of what I thought I had done.

A loud, aggressive knock on my front door shattered the memory, violently pulling me back to reality. I blinked at the bedside clock: 7:02 AM. “Who the hell on earth could be knocking at this hour?”

Before I could even get up from my bed, the knocking came again, followed by a familiar voice.

"Alina! Open the door before I break it down!"

Maya. I groaned aloud. Only Maya Carter could possess that much demanding energy so early in the morning. Dragging my exhausted body out of bed, I unlocked the door. My best friend practically barged past me, balancing two coffees in her hands. She took one look at my face and sighed.

"You look terrible."

"Good morning to you too," I mumbled taking the cup she extended toward me.

"I called you six times," she said, narrowing her eyes as I checked my phone to find twelve missed calls instead. "You had the nightmare again, didn't you?"

It wasn't a question, I looked away suddenly, that was answer enough. Maya’s defensive expression instantly softened into pity. "Ali..."

"I'm fine, Maya," I interrupted quickly, taking a sip of coffee. Talking about it wouldn't change history. The past was locked away, and nothing could bring Ethan back or erase the blood on my hands. Desperate to change the subject, I asked, "Why are you actually here this early?"

The excitement instantly returned to Maya’s face. "Because your life is about to change completely."

"What did you do?" I asked defensively. "Excuse me miss. Why do you automatically assume I did something?"

“Because every disaster in my life usually starts with that sentence."

Ignoring my sarcasm, she shoved her phone directly into my face. "Check your email. The one I sent you yesterday."

Frowning, I opened up my inbox, going through the usual clutter of bills, newsletters, and spams. But then my thumb froze over the screen. The sender’s name....: BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES.

Even after three years, just seeing that surname made my blood run cold.

"Why are you staring at it like it’s cursed?" Maya asked, leaning in.

Because maybe it was. With trembling fingers, I tapped the email open. As my eyes skimmed the text, my jaw dropped.

“No way this has to be fake."

"Its real babes."

I read the numbers next to the salary offer once, twice, and then a third time just to ensure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me. It was an insane, life-changing amount of money, far more than I could ever dream of making at my current job.

"They want to interview me?" I breathed, looking up in disbelief.

Maya was dancing with excitement.

"Not interview, Ali. Read the whole thing!"

My eyes moved back to the screen. My heart skipped a beat as I reached the final paragraph.

"What the hell? They’re offering me the position outright? No interview?"

We stared at each other in the quiet apartment. High-profile corporations like Blackwood Industries: one of the most powerful empires in the city…didn't just hand out luxury office jobs, with corporate housing options and private healthcare, to random applicants without so much as a background call.

"What's the catch?" I asked, my voice tightening.

"There isn't one."

“There’s always a catch."

Maya rolled her eyes, groaning. "Maybe you're actually talented and your resume speaks for itself?"

"Funny."

“I'm serious, Ali. You can't ignore this. Your current paycheck barely covers rent. This is your chance to finally breathe, to stop looking over your shoulder, and to actually start living instead of just surviving."

Her words hit a nerve. Three years was a long time to live in fear. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time to move forward. I looked at her, searching for reassurance. "What do you think?"

"I think you'd be an absolute idiot to say no," she stated bluntly.

I let out a long, defeated sigh. "Fine. I’ll accept it."

Maya's face lit up, she started screaming so loudly that made me nearly drop my coffee, “Oh my God!” on loop until I had to physically cover her mouth. In that moment of chaotic celebration, I pushed my doubts aside, hoping desperately that this was the fresh start I needed.

*****

Two weeks later.

My first day. I stood outside the Blackwood Industries headquarters, and suddenly couldn't breathe. The building was enormous, sheer scale of the glass-and-steel skyscraper, practically everything about it screamed money and power. People in tailored suits carrying expensive briefcases rushed past me, exuding a confidence that I severely lacked. I felt entirely out of place.

"First day?" an older security guard asked kindly, noticing my frozen posture near the entrance.

I nodded. He smiled reassuringly. "You'll be fine, kiddo."

I wished I shared his optimism. The moment I stepped into the grand lobby, I felt watched. It followed me through reception, into the elevator, and all the way up to the twenty-third floor where a woman greeted me there.

"Miss Hayes?"

"Yes."

"I'm Claire. I'll be showing you around."

To my relief, the day passed in a blur of onboarding paperwork, standard introductions, and training modules. Everyone was welcoming, and everything looked almost too perfect. By 5:30 PM, my nerves had finally started to calm down. I was reprimanding myself for being overly paranoid for overthinking, maybe this was actually a fresh start, then my phone buzzed on the desk…

It was an unknown number. Hesitating for a moment, I pressed the phone to my ear. "Hello?"

There was nothing but dead silence on the line.

"Hello?" I repeated, my grip tightening on the phone.

Then, a voice cut through. It was a man’s voice, low, terrifyingly calm, and freezing cold.

“You shouldn't have come here."

The line went dead before I could even gasp. I stared at the blank screen, every single hair on my arms standing. Was it a prank? A wrong number? I tried to convince myself it was just a coincidence, a random glitch in the universe, but suddenly I didn't feel safe anymore. I quickly shoved the phone away.

By six o'clock, most employees had left. I was hurriedly packing my bag, desperate to get back to the safety of my apartment, when Claire suddenly appeared. "Miss Hayes?"

"Yes?" I asked, trying to hide the tremor in my voice.

"The CEO wants to meet you."

My stomach dropped. "The CEO? Today?"

"Right now," she smiled, gesturing toward the executive elevators.

Panic flared in my chest. Why would a billionaire CEO want to meet a low-level, entry-level hire on her very first day?

The elevator ride to the top floor felt endless. When the doors opened, the executive floor was silent.

Claire led me to a set of massive double doors, knocking softly. "Sir? Miss Hayes is here."

"Send her in," a deep voice echoed from inside. Something about that voice made my skin crawl with an inexplicable familiarity.

Claire closed the doors behind me. The office was huge, lined with floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased a sweeping view of the city skyline. Near the glass stood a tall man with broad shoulders, clad in a flawless dark suit, one hand in his pocket, his back turned to me.

The air in the room felt freezing. I couldn't move at all.

Slowly, the man turned around. And the world stopped.

No. No. No. No.... This wasn't possible.

I knew that face. I had seen those exact sharp features and cold, calculating eyes three years ago, standing amidst a crowd of mourners in the pouring rain. I had watched this exact man stand beside a grave, bidding farewell to his brother.

It was Damien Blackwood.

My blood turned to ice as his gaze locked onto mine. There was no surprise in his expression, no confusion at seeing a new face. He looked at me as if he had been expecting me all along, as if he had been patiently waiting for this exact moment for a very long time.

A slow, humorless smile appeared on his face. It wasn't friendly; it was the predatory smirk of a hunter who had finally caught his prey.

"Welcome to Blackwood Industries, Miss Hayes."

As my hands began to visibly shake, a horrifying realization washed over me. Getting this job hadn't been a stroke of good luck. It was a trap. And Damien Blackwood knew exactly who I was.

Alina’s POV

My heart stopped completely.

Damien Blackwood.

Of all the people in this city, of all the companies and endless job listings, why did it have to be him? For three years, I had deliberately avoided anything and everything connected to the Blackwood family. I turned off the TV during their interviews, scrolled past their news articles, and blocked their names on social media. I had turned my entire life upside down just to stay away from them. And now, here I was, standing in the lion's den, looking directly into the eyes of the man whose brother I believed I had killed.

"Miss Hayes?"

His deep voice violently pulling me back to reality. I blinked, suddenly realizing I had been frozen to the spot. I hadn't answered, hadn't moved, and had barely even breathed.

"Y-yes," I managed to answer, my voice sounding incredibly small.

Damien’s piercing gaze lingered on my face. It wasn't a passing glance