The Thorne Heiress Unveiling Shadow novel Chapter 45

The "interview" was held in a private, soundproof conference room on the top floor of the Blackwood Industries tower. The room was a masterpiece of minimalist power. It contained only a single, massive table made of polished black marble and two chairs. One entire wall was a floor-to-ceiling window offering a breathtaking, god-like view of all of Manhattan.

When Evelyn was shown in by a silent assistant, Kaelen was already there, standing by the window, his back to her. He was a silhouette against the city, an imposing figure of absolute command.

"Miss Thorne," he said, his voice a low baritone that seemed to resonate with the room itself. He turned, and his eyes, the color of a stormy sea, met hers. "Thank you for coming."

"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Blackwood," Evelyn replied, her voice cool and even. She walked to the table and took a seat, her posture relaxed but poised. She did not seem intimidated by him or by the room. She placed her simple canvas bag on the floor beside her, a subtle reminder of her origins, a deliberate contrast to the opulence around them.

He sat down opposite her, the vast expanse of marble between them feeling like a chessboard.

He began with the expected formalities. "Your academic record is, of course, impeccable. Professor Albright speaks of you in terms I have never heard him use for another student." He paused. "I was also... impressed by your performance in the recent competition. Your approach was... unconventional."

"Thank you," Evelyn said, her expression unchanging.

He continued with a few standard, pointless questions about her academic interests, her five-year plan, her thoughts on the future of encryption. It was a script, a dance they were both expected to perform. Evelyn let him lead for a few minutes, observing him, analyzing his micro-expressions, the cadence of his voice. She saw the impatience behind his cool facade, the hunger for real information. He wasn't interested in her as a student; he was interested in her as a puzzle he couldn't solve.

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