Chapter 1 : The first encounter
Cassian sat swirling the wine glass in his hand, irritation etched across his face. He was truly bored, as if nothing in this world was worthy of catching the attention of Cassian Sterling.
Music blasted. Lights flickered. Girls danced suggestively. Laughter burst everywhere.
But everything felt empty.
Until he heard that voice.
A sharp scream followed by a loud slap.
“You bastard! I hate you!”
Cassian turned. A woman was slapping a man who was clearly cheating. Classic betrayal. Cheap drama. The one thing he hated the most, happening right inside his own establishment.
With a cold expression, Cassian stood up and walked toward them.
“Enough,” he said firmly.
The music stopped. The crowd froze. Everyone recognized Cassian Sterling and the consequences of causing trouble in his place.
Everyone… except the woman.
Instead of stopping, she dragged the cheating man and the other woman toward the exit.
Cassian grabbed her arm.
“Stop. I already warned you.”
She swatted his hand away—hard.
“Who the hell are you! Don’t interfere!”
The club fell even more silent. Cassian’s face didn’t react, but his jaw tightened.
No one in his life had ever dared to touch him like that. Much less yell at him.
He could’ve dragged the woman out. He could’ve shown her what happens to anyone who openly challenges Cassian Sterling.
But she got lucky.
He restrained himself.
He wouldn’t deal with this in public.
Not in front of the people already trembling.
His pride stung, but his ego remained eerily calm.
He looked away after she left and gave a short command to his staff:
“Close the bar. Now. I’ll take care of this.”
His orders were law. His men nodded and the crowd dispersed instantly.
Because everyone knew the city’s unwritten rule:
Whoever crosses Cassian… does not survive intact.
Once the bar was closed, Cassian returned to his penthouse. He yanked his tie off, threw his jacket aside, then in one harsh motion ripped his shirt open, the buttons scattering like broken thoughts. His emotions were unstable, and he despised himself for it.
He sat, stood, paced in circles.
Then he finally grabbed his phone.
“Lorenzo. Find everything about that girl. Everything. Before seven AM, all the information better be on my phone.”
He didn’t wait for a response before hanging up.
“You little girl…” he muttered.
“You’ll pay for this.”
He tossed his whiskey glass to the floor, satisfied only when it shattered.
Morning came, and Cassian was back to the polished figure the business world admired. He walked out of his penthouse in a tailored black suit.
He was Cassian Sterling.
Owner of Sterling Development Group.
King of premium real estate, luxury architecture, and international urban planning.
Everyone knew his company was powerful.
Only a few knew he was far more dangerous.
He stepped into his car just as his phone buzzed—7:00 AM sharp.
Lorenzo had sent the file.
Cassian opened it immediately.
Cassandra Casano. 27. First daughter. Young architect at Casano Group, a family company established five years ago. Recently returned to the city.
“Cassandra…”
The moment he said her name, something strange shot through him.
Annoying. Disruptive.
Agitating his blood in a way he didn’t like.
Ah. No wonder she was bold.
She had no idea who he was.
Cassian wasted no time and called his secretary.
“Cynthia, do we have any partnership with Casano Group?”
“No, sir.”
He smiled thinly.
“Good. Starting today, make sure we do. Deadline is two PM. And Cassandra Casano must be present in the meeting.”
Short, sharp orders—terrifyingly efficient.
Hours passed until exactly 2:00 PM.
Cassandra arrived with supervisors and investors. Her eyes widened when she saw Cassian already seated.
He rarely attended minor meetings.
If he was here… something was up.
And indeed, Cassian was waiting for her.
“Welcome,” he greeted with a thin smile. “Let’s begin.”
The meeting went smoothly.
Until Cassandra’s turn.
“Next session… Cassandra Casano, lead architect for the Riverside District project.”
Cassandra stood, ready to present.
Cassian leaned forward slightly.
His gaze pierced straight into her.
She began her presentation.
Ten seconds in—Cassian cut her off.
“What is the total foundation cost for a mixed-use structure of that height if the land is semi-marsh?”
Cassandra froze for a split second.
Supervisors exchanged glances. That was a senior engineering question.
But she still answered.
“Initial estimate is five point two million dollars, if we use steel piling—”
Cassian cut again.
“So you didn’t calculate the annual land shift?”
The room turned cold.
“I did, sir,” Cassandra replied. “The shift is two to three centimeters—”
“Three is the average. This year it increased. Do you know the number?”
“One point eight centimeters, sir.”
Cassian tapped the table slowly.
Purposefully.
Prying at her composure.
“So why is your design still using a standard column structure? Why not a hybrid support system?”
Supervisors lowered their heads.
Investors tensed.
The atmosphere was suffocating.
Yet Cassandra kept her posture.
“I prioritized cost efficiency. Hybrid support increases expenses by thirty percent. But I have a second alternative—”
“Why didn’t you present it first?” he interrupted again.
“Is this project too big for you?”
Cassandra looked him straight in the eye.
Unshaken.
“No, sir. I presented the most efficient design first. And this project is not too big for me because I’ve calculated everything.”
Silence followed.
Cassian leaned back.
His fingers stopped tapping.
He watched her for a long time—too long—because he enjoyed her confusion and courage all at once.
But since the room was growing too tense, he finally closed his laptop.
“Fine. Send your alternative design today.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Sit.”
The meeting continued like nothing happened.
But Cassian never took his eyes off Cassandra.
When everyone finally left, a tiny smile appeared on his lips.
“Interesting,” he murmured.
“Very interesting.”
“Let’s see… just how long you’ll survive, Cassandra Casano.”
To be continued…
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interesting