New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 381 New Recruit

The bag was yanked off Cindy's head, and the sudden burst of light made her squint and blink rapidly. As her eyes adjusted, her first instinct was pure irritation.

"What the hell?" she snapped, rubbing her wrists where the ropes had left red marks. The room was dingy, and old, and smelled like mildew. Definitely not the glamorous photoshoot she'd been expecting.

She shifted in her chair, trying to get a better sense of her surroundings, and that's when she noticed a shadowy figure standing by the window. His face was hidden in the dark, just a silhouette against the fading sunlight. Definitely a man, but who? And why did he drag her here? "Hey! Who are you? Why am I here?" Cindy demanded, her voice echoing in the empty room. "I was promised a shoot with the biggest magazine in the city, and instead, I'm stuck in some abandoned dump with-what, some creepy stranger?"

The figure didn't move, just stood there quietly, his posture unnervingly calm. Finally, a voice, deep and smooth, filled the room. "Cindy Marshal."

Cindy froze. The way he said her name sent a chill down her spine. "You're here because of Claire Peterson."

The mention of Claire's name immediately soured Cindy's mood further. She clenched her fists, her lip curling in frustration. "Don't mention her name," she spat. "That woman ruined my life."

The figure in the shadows-Eligos, though Cindy didn't know it yet-chuckled darkly. "Claire Peterson didn't ruin your life. You did. No brand wants to touch you now. No magazine. No photoshoots. You're untouchable. Damaged goods." Cindy's patience snapped. "That's enough!" she shouted, but his words hit a little too close to home. Ever since Claire came into the picture, her career had taken a nosedive. But hearing it from this mystery man? That was too much.

Eligos shifted his weight, still staying in the shadows, leaning casually against the wall now. "But I can change that. I can give you back everything you've lost. Your career. The spotlight. The fame. Everything."

Cindy's eyes narrowed, glaring at his silhouette. "Impossible. Alexander Harrus ruined me for Claire. No one can fix that not my father, not anyone."

Eligos' voice was calm but carried a sharp edge. "You don't know who you're dealing with, Cindy. I can give you your career back, but on one condition."

Cindy's annoyance reached new heights, and she scoffed. "Oh, this is a joke, right? This whole setup, it's some kind of prank. Where's the hidden camera?" She leaned forward, scanning the room, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What is this? Some reality show where you kidnap washed-up models for fun?"

Eligos shook his head slowly, his patience seemingly endless. "You're more stubborn than I thought. No wonder your career fell apart."

snap back, but Eligos cut her off smoothly. "Do you want your old life back or not? You need

of his promises. Who was he, anyway? Some nobody hiding in the dark, claiming he had the power to fix everything? It was too good to be true, and Cindy had learned the

stared at the shadowy figure, her brow furrowed in disbelief. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice quieter

something chilling in the sound. "You don't need to know me, Cindy. And the world doesn't need to know

"If you're nobody, how are you supposed to restore my career?" she asked, her voice sharp with mockery. "Because I'm not seeing any

Cindy couldn't see it. "Power isn't always visible. But it's

real photoshoot. Show me you can actually deliver." Eligos didn't move for a moment, but then his tone shifted, becoming darker, more serious.

finality in his

spine. For the first time since she'd been dragged into this weird situation,

unnerved. There was something.

way he

more dangerous. Still, Cindy wasn't one to show fear easily. She tried to brush off the chill

see it," she muttered, leaning back in her chair

tilted his

if

soon enough,"

soft but full

"But understand this, Cindy-when

my hand,

just get

you

something more."

what, exactly? A pawn in