Me and my father built our empire out of nothing. Back then I was still a soldier, restless, hungry for something greater than the uniform allowed. He had vision; I had discipline. Together we carved a path into the world of large-scale security, one contract at a time. Now our company works with the government and the biggest names in politics—powerful people who like to keep other powerful people safe.

That evening was one of those ceremonies the Defence Department loves—an anniversary, a commemoration, or simply an excuse to pour expensive wine into crystal glasses. The ballroom was filled with uniforms, medals, and the kind of laughter that grows louder with every toast.

Jack spotted me before I could slip away. He’s one of the government’s key voices, the man who negotiates half our contracts. He greeted me with the usual handshake, firm and rehearsed, then asked the standard questions—How’s the team? How’s your father? Any issues on last month’s operation?

And then his eyes lit with something else.

“I want to introduce you to someone,” he said, before disappearing into the crowd. When he came back, he wasn’t alone.

He brought a girl—no, a young woman, but younger than me by several years. She carried herself with a mixture of confidence and uncertainty, the kind you see in people who know they’re being watched but haven’t yet learned how to pretend not to notice.

I wasn’t sure why Jack thought I needed to meet her. Usually he had one of two reasons: either some personal scheme, believing she might suit my tastes, or because she was somebody important, someone worth knowing.

“She’s our new star, really,” Jack said, placing a hand on her shoulder. But before I could ask what that meant, someone called his name from across the room. “Sorry, I have to go.”

And just like that, he vanished again, leaving me alone with her in the middle of the noise, the lights, and the strange sense that I was about to learn exactly why she mattered.