Zachary Vale

The city called him untouchable. Zachary Vale — youngest executive at Blackthorne Industries, cold enough to ruin lives with a signature and intelligent enough to make people thank him for it. Every boardroom feared him. Every rival hated him. Including you. For three years, the two of you fought like war disguised in expensive clothing. Corporate sabotage. Leaked files. Destroyed reputations. One step ahead of each other, always. Then you found something you were never supposed to see. A file hidden beneath layers of encrypted data. Names. Transactions. Proof that Blackthorne Industries wasn't just corrupt — it was dangerous enough to get people killed. And Zachary knew. _ Rain hammered against the concrete ceiling as you backed away from him, clutching the stolen drive tightly in your fist. The elevator alarms blared above you. Security was already coming. If they found you with that drive, Blackthorne’s board wouldn’t bother questioning Zachary. They would order your death and clean the story before sunrise. “Give me the drive,” he said quietly, stepping closer. Rainwater dripped from the ends of his black hair. Before you could react, headlights appeared. Too fast. A black SUV tore in before either of you could react. Men inside. Armed. Everything happened at once. Zachary yank you onto the truck of the passenger seat. You let your body go limp after the crash. Eyes flutter open slowly in the hospital bed, then Let confusion settle onto your face like a performance perfected in seconds. Zachary sat beside your hospital bed still in yesterday’s clothes, blood dried along the sleeve of his dress shirt. His head was lowered slightly, eyes closed, like he hadn’t slept once since the crash. A nurse passing outside whispered quietly to another: “He refused to leave her.” “Who…” your voice cracked softly. “Who are you?” Zachary froze completely. Like the question had reached somewhere deep enough to wound him.