C7 Flames Behind Close Doors

Cleopatra stepped out of the taxi, her heels clicking softly against the pavement as the towering headquarters of INK Model rose before her like a monument carved from ambition itself.

Her breath caught.

The skyscraper pierced the heavens, its sleek obsidian glass reflecting the golden sunlight in fractured waves. Silver lines curled along the structure like strokes of modern art, exotic and untouchable. Every inch of it screamed wealth. Power. Prestige.

For a long moment, Cleopatra simply stood there, frozen beneath its shadow.

This… was the world she had once dreamed of.

The world she had bled for.

Her fingers tightened around her phone before she finally dialed Katie.

After a brief exchange, the call ended.

Cleopatra inhaled deeply and stepped inside.

The lobby was breathtaking.

Crystal chandeliers shimmered overhead like falling stars. Marble floors gleamed beneath her heels, polished so perfectly they mirrored every movement. The scent of expensive perfume lingered in the air while soft instrumental music floated through the vast space, elegant and haunting.

People moved with purpose here.

Models.

Executives.

Designers.

Dreamers.

And the moment Cleopatra entered, the atmosphere shifted.

Heads turned instinctively.

Conversations faltered.

“She’s gorgeous…”

“Wait… who is she?”

“Is she debuting under INK?”

“Her proportions are insane.”

“That face—”

Whispers spread through the atrium like wildfire.

Cleopatra tried to ignore them, but her pulse quickened beneath the attention.

Then suddenly—

“CLEO!”

Katie hurried across the lobby in designer heels, her smile radiant as she threw her arms around her.

“Look at you!” Katie gasped dramatically, holding her at arm’s length. “Oh my God, you’re absolutely lethal today.”

Cleopatra laughed softly, though her eyes wandered around the magnificent building once more.

“I still can’t believe this place is real,” she admitted quietly. “INK Model is even more beautiful in person.”

Katie smirked knowingly. “Careful. Fall too hard for this place and it’ll consume you alive.”

The teasing in her tone couldn’t hide the truth beneath it.

Together, they walked toward the executive elevators while curious gazes continued to follow Cleopatra from every corner.

Inside Katie’s office, luxury wrapped around the room like silk. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city skyline while black-and-gold décor radiated sophistication.

Katie settled behind her desk and pressed the intercom.

“Two coffees.”

“Yes, Director.”

Moments later, Katie slid a contract file across the desk toward Cleopatra.

Her playful demeanor faded.

“This,” Katie said softly, “is the contract we discussed.”

Cleopatra stared at the papers.

Katie leaned forward, her expression suddenly serious.

“I know I could’ve easily announced you as someone connected to me,” she continued. “But I don’t want people calling you a nepo baby before you’ve even started.”

Her hand reached across the desk, squeezing Cleopatra’s gently.

“I want you to stand on your own. I want people to respect your talent… not your connections.”

Emotion flickered across Cleopatra’s face.

“You’ve always wanted the best for me,” she whispered. “I’m lucky to have you.”

Katie smiled warmly.

“Damn right you are.”

A shaky laugh escaped Cleopatra before she picked up the pen.

But the second the tip hovered over the paper—

Pain stabbed through her chest.

Sharp.

Violent.

Her breathing faltered instantly.

“Haa… haa…”

The pen trembled violently between her fingers.

Why did this feel wrong?

Why did it feel like betrayal?

Like she was abandoning someone.

Like she was driving a knife into a heart that had once loved her completely.

Katie’s expression changed immediately.

“Cleopatra?”

Her voice softened.

“Hey… look at me.”

Katie held her hand tighter.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” she asked carefully. “After everything that happened… after your parents died…”

The room fell silent.

A shadow crossed Cleopatra’s beautiful face.

Pain lingered in her eyes like a wound that had never closed.

But then—

Slowly—

Her fingers tightened around the pen.

“I don’t have a choice,” she whispered hoarsely. “I need to survive.”

And with trembling determination—

She signed.

At that exact moment, the secretary entered quietly with the coffee.

The tension eased slightly.

Cleopatra reached for her cup before hesitating.

“…Is Calvin around?”

Katie blinked.

Then a grin exploded across her face.

“Aha.”

Cleopatra narrowed her eyes immediately. “Don’t start.”

“Oh, I’m absolutely starting.” Katie leaned forward mischievously. “So THIS is why you came dressed like a heartbreaker.”

“Hahaha—no.”

“Liar.”

Katie pointed dramatically at her outfit.

“Girl, if Calvin sees you dressed like this, that man’s blood pressure is finished.”

A faint blush crept onto Cleopatra’s cheeks.

Katie’s eyes widened in mock horror.

“OH MY GOD.”

She slammed her desk lightly.

“You really dressed for him?!”

Cleopatra instantly looked away.

Her fingers pressed together shyly like a guilty child being caught.

“…Maybe.”

Katie gasped like she’d just uncovered state secrets.

“No way.”

A tiny smile appeared on Cleopatra’s lips as she finally surrendered.

“Okay fine,” she admitted softly. “I wanted him to notice me.”

Katie stared at her dramatically.

“Our Cleopatra is about to unleash this level of beauty on Calvin?” she whispered. “You’re wicked.”

Then her teasing expression faded slightly.

“But…” Katie leaned back slowly. “Calvin isn’t the same anymore.”

Cleopatra’s smile weakened.

“He changed after you left.”

The words landed heavily.

“He’s colder now,” Katie continued quietly. “Sometimes even toward me.”

Cleopatra’s eyes darkened slightly.

“We met last week,” she murmured. “And yeah… he felt distant.”

A pause.

“…Is he dating someone?”

Katie laughed immediately.

“Relax, psycho.”

“I’m serious.”

“As far as I know? No.” Katie shrugged casually. “That man barely has time to breathe, let alone date.”

A dangerous little smile curved across Cleopatra’s lips.

“Good.”

Hope flickered inside her chest again.

She lifted her coffee—

—but suddenly the cup slipped.

Coffee splashed violently across her dress.

“Oh my God!”

Katie shot up instantly.

“Are you burned?!”

“No, I’m okay—”

“Turn around!”

Katie grabbed her hand anxiously, inspecting her with panic written all over her face.

Cleopatra laughed softly despite herself.

“It’s fine,” she assured her. “It’s not that hot.”

Katie still looked unconvinced.

“Jesus Christ, don’t scare me like that.”

She immediately led Cleopatra toward the private dressing room connected to her office.

Once inside, Katie carefully helped unzip the gown, checking her skin for burns.

Thankfully—

Nothing.

Katie exhaled in relief.

“Thank God.” She pressed a hand to her chest dramatically. “Your body is literally company property now.”

Cleopatra burst into laughter.

Katie handed the stained gown to the secretary outside before turning back.

“There are clothes in the wardrobe,” she said. “Wear whatever you want until your dress comes back.”

Then she stepped out.

Unfortunately—

The moment she closed the door—

Calvin arrived.

Tall.

Sharp.

Devastatingly handsome.

His mere presence seemed to dominate the entire hallway.

“Hey, little kitty,” Calvin drawled lazily as he approached Katie. “What crime did I commit for you to ignore me this long?”

Without warning, he ruffled her hair roughly.

Katie smacked his arm instantly.

“Stop touching my hair!”

Calvin laughed deeply.

God, even his laugh sounded expensive.

“I’ve been busy,” Katie huffed dramatically.

“Busy avoiding me?”

“Exactly.”

Calvin placed a hand over his heart. “Cruel.”

Katie rolled her eyes before sticking her tongue out at him.

“At this rate,” she teased, “you’ll need to book appointments just to see me.”

Calvin snorted.

“Quit being a director and come model instead.”

“Hah?”

“You’d make millions.”

Before Katie could reply, one of her staff members hurried over with reports regarding the welfare project she was supervising.

Katie sighed.

“Wait inside my office,” she told Calvin quickly. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

Calvin nodded casually and pushed open the office door.

At the exact same moment—

Cleopatra stepped out from the dressing room.

Still wearing nothing but delicate orchid-colored lingerie.

Silence.

Everything stopped.

Their eyes locked.

And suddenly the air became unbearably hot.

Calvin froze mid-step.

For the first time in years—

True shock crossed his face.

His dark eyes swept over her instinctively.

The smooth curve of her shoulders.

The elegance of her waist.

The endless length of her legs.

The lace clinging to her skin like temptation itself.

His breathing changed.

Just slightly.

But Cleopatra noticed.

And that tiny reaction alone sent victory surging through her veins.

Finally.

He was looking at her.

Really looking at her.

Not as a childhood friend.

Not as a nuisance.

Not as someone insignificant.

But as a woman.

A dangerous silence stretched between them.

Electric.

Explosive.

Calvin’s gaze darkened further as Cleopatra slowly stepped closer.

One step.

Then another.

Every movement graceful.

Intentional.

Seductive without trying.

Her heartbeat thundered violently beneath her ribs, but she refused to retreat.

Not now.

Not after waiting this long.

Not after losing him once already.

Then—

KNOCK.

The spell shattered instantly.

The office door swung open.

Smith walked in.

And Calvin moved instantly.

Before Smith could fully register the scene, Calvin grabbed Cleopatra and pulled her tightly against his chest, shielding her body completely from view.

The movement was fast.

Possessive.

Instinctive.

His arm locked firmly around her waist while his icy gaze sliced toward Smith like a blade.

The temperature in the room plummeted.

“Get out.”

Two words.

Cold enough to terrify anyone alive.

Smith froze immediately under the crushing weight of Calvin’s stare.