Chapter 10 - The Queen of the Tower
One year later, the private elevator of Gallow Tower chimed on the forty-second floor.
The steel doors slid open smoothly.
Harper walked out, wearing a sharply tailored crimson suit and carrying a sleek leather briefcase.
She tossed her sunglasses onto the polished receptionist’s desk with practiced ease.
“Morning, Sarah,” Harper smiled warmly at her former coworker, who had been promoted to executive assistant.
“Good morning, Mrs. Gallow,” Sarah beamed, handing her a stack of financial reports.
“The board is waiting in conference room A.”
Harper walked confidently down the hallway, the sound of her expensive heels clicking rhythmically on the marble floor.
She was no longer the broke junior designer trembling in the rain.
She was the creative director of the entire legitimate branch of the Gallow Empire.
She pushed open the heavy glass doors of the conference room.
A dozen powerful executives immediately fell silent, turning their attention entirely to her.
At the head of the long table sat Victor.
He wore his signature charcoal suit, his dark eyes exuding absolute authority.
But as soon as Harper entered the room, his entire demeanor shifted subtly.
The dangerous edge vanished, replaced by a deep, unwavering adoration that he reserved only for her.
He stood up, offering his hand as she walked toward the empty chair beside him.
“You’re late,” he murmured softly, a playful glint in his eye as he pulled her chair out for her.
“The L train broke down again,” she lied smoothly, taking her seat and opening her briefcase.
“You haven't ridden the subway in a year, Harper,” Victor whispered, leaning close to her ear.
“I know, but old excuses are reliable,” she shot back, winking at him.
Victor chuckled softly, a sound that still terrified the executives who had only known him as a ruthless killer.
He kissed the top of her head in front of the entire room, unapologetically claiming her as his equal.
“Shall we begin?” Victor asked, addressing the terrified board members.
The meeting went smoothly, with Harper ruthlessly dismantling a terrible marketing pitch from a rival firm.
Victor watched her with overwhelming pride, loving the fire and brilliance she brought into his dark world.
He had built a silent, violent empire to survive, but she had taught him how to actually live in it.
After the meeting, they returned to his massive private office.
Victor immediately discarded his suit jacket and pulled Harper against his chest.
He kissed her deeply, savoring the taste of her lip gloss and the familiar scent of vanilla.
“You were terrifying in there today,” Victor murmured against her lips.
“I learned from the best,” she smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck.
She looked out the massive windows at the sprawling city below them.
It was no longer a place of fear and struggle for her.
It was their kingdom.
She had jammed her torn sneaker into the elevator door of a monster, and entirely by accident, she had found her soulmate.
Victor rested his chin on her head, holding her tight against his heart.
He knew there would always be threats, enemies, and darkness waiting in the shadows.
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But as long as Harper was standing by his side, he knew the light would never go out.
And the silence that used to follow him was gone forever, replaced by the beautiful, chaotic noise of the woman he loved.
