Breach of Boundaries

Prologue

The glass skyscraper housing the headquarters of SERVAL cut through the city's skyline like a blade. Sleek, with polished windows that reflected a pale morning light, the building was designed to be as unapproachable as its CEO. Inside, floors of bustling employees moved around with purpose, caught up in the pace that SERVAL demanded of them. But today, at precisely nine o'clock, Maria's world would change—and she had no idea.

Maria adjusted her hijab in her office mirror, smoothing the soft fabric. She glanced over at the large, unassuming leather armchair sitting across from her desk, freshly tidied and prepared. It wasn't every day she had the CEO, Leonard Damarias, sitting in her office, especially when he didn't make it a habit to engage with employees. But protocol was protocol, and as the head of the company's mental wellness division, Maria knew that she'd eventually have to meet the elusive 'Boss.'

She felt a slight pang of nervousness as she arranged a few notepads and pens, careful to keep everything meticulously in place. Though she was known around the office for her warm smile and helpful demeanour, today there was a small but distinct undercurrent of apprehension in her usually composed presence. After all, Leonard Damarias was more than just the head of SERVAL. To most employees, he was a legend—a wealthy, brilliant young man with a reserved and aloof reputation that matched his sharp suits and perfected demeanour.

Maria had heard snippets about him over her time here. About how he had transformed the company into the country's top luxury car brand in record time, about his cold precision in the boardroom, his infrequent but stern instructions, and, of course, about how he rarely spoke to anyone unless he had to. She had also heard the rumours, as the typical storybook young CEO is, of him being a playboy, switching girls as if playing a card game. She could count on one hand the number of times she'd even seen him in the halls. And yet here she was, preparing to sit across from him in a closed room, where his guarded exterior would be impossible to ignore.

The door clicked, and Maria's heart did a quiet flip. She composed herself, managing a small, polite smile as she saw Leonard Damarias step inside.

He was every bit as intimidating as she'd imagined, tall and impeccably dressed, with dark hair that was slicked back, as sharp as the structure of his face. His gaze was unwavering, cold yet piercing. One thing was certain, he was exactly as beautiful as everyone said him to be. Maria felt the intensity of his presence immediately, as though the air in the room had grown denser. He walked in with calm precision, and though he barely offered her a nod, his gaze landed on her with an assessing quality that felt both detached and unnervingly attentive.

"Ms. Khan?" he asked, his voice low and even. He didn't sound quite as dismissive as she had expected, but his expression remained unreadable.

"Yes, Mr. Damarias," she replied, the hint of a smile still present in her voice. She gestured toward the chair across from her desk. "Thank you for making time for this session."

He lowered himself into the seat, eyes briefly scanning the room before settling on her again. For a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of curiosity, quickly concealed as he adjusted his sleeve, as though maintaining his calm and composed exterior were as natural to him as breathing.

Maria pulled out her notepad, pretending not to notice the silence between them. She was used to listening more than speaking, but this kind of quiet felt charged, making her acutely aware of her own presence in the room. She opened with a professional smile, holding onto the calm she'd carefully cultivated.

"So, Mr. Damarias, I know we're both busy," she began, choosing her words carefully, "but these sessions are required as part of SERVAL's new employee wellness protocol." She paused, almost hesitantly, noticing the faint arch of his eyebrow. "It's not an evaluation. Just a chance to discuss anything that might be on your mind, professionally or otherwise."

His face softened, barely, and he exhaled, a flicker of mild surprise visible before he quickly masked it. "I'm aware," he replied, voice clipped yet polite. "I suppose I'm here to respect the process."

He looked at her, but it was the kind of gaze that didn't fully meet hers, more a cursory glance, detached but thorough. Still, beneath his cold exterior, there was something unmistakably intriguing about him—an intensity, a sense of purpose she found difficult to ignore.

As they began to discuss his work and stressors, Leonard's reserved mask slipped, just a bit. He was used to controlling everything around him, to molding his world as he pleased. But here, for reasons he couldn't explain, he felt a pull. It wasn't her words or even her profession, though both were admirable. It was her presence—quiet, steady, and open. In her eyes, there was no expectation, no judgment, only understanding.

By the end of their session, he realized that he wasn't quite as indifferent to her as he had hoped to be. And as he left her office, he found himself glancing back at the young woman with the gentle smile, the only employee in his company who looked at him as if he were simply another person.

Maria watched him go, feeling a strange sense of fulfilment, as though she had learned something unexpected about him in their brief exchange. But she reminded herself it was just a part of her job, nothing more. Little did she know, she had left an impression on him that he, too, would struggle to forget.