The Game Begins

The stack of papers on Brie’s desk towered like a monument to corporate suffering. The weight of expectations, deadlines, and sheer monotony loomed over her, threatening to bury her alive. 

But Brie Gorgonzola wasn’t the kind of woman who let work drown her, she was the tide that pulled others under instead.

With a slow stretch, she leaned back in her chair, the movement accentuating the lush curve of her chest beneath her crisp white blouse. Her top button was already teasingly undone, not enough to be unprofessional, but enough to remind everyone in the office that Brie was a force of nature, both ruthless and alluring.She clicked her pen against the desk, her crimson lips curling into a small smirk as she eyed the unfortunate souls around her. The monsters in the office all hulking, grotesque, or sleekly predatory, were just pieces on her board, pawns waiting to be played. And she had the perfect move in mind.

“Hey, darling,” she cooed at the nearest unfortunate target Rik, the minotaur intern who always reeked of cheap cologne and desperation. He stiffened under her gaze, his broad shoulders twitching as if anticipating a blow.

“Yes, Brie?” His voice was cautious. Good.

She leaned forward, her toned arms resting on the desk, pressing just enough to enhance the view. “I need you to handle this for me. It’s urgent.” She slid a thick folder toward him, tapping the cover with manicured fingers. “The Bullhorn Project. Upper management wants it finished ASAP, and I know you’re the only one who can make it perfect.”

Rik’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, but Brie’s voice was honeyed persuasion. “You’d really trust me with this?”

She tilted her head, red waves cascading over her shoulder. “Of course, babe. I believe in you.”That was all it took. With a nervous nod, Rik grabbed the file and hurried back to his desk, already sweating over the numbers he’d have to crunch. Brie bit back a laugh. That was one less problem on her plate. One down, three to go.

By the time she was finished, she had successfully pawned off nearly all of her workload, spreading it across her unsuspecting colleagues like a contagion of misery. She lounged back in her chair, sipping on a perfectly brewed coffee, enjoying the sight of frantic typing, sweating foreheads, and silent cursing as the fools drowned in her responsibilities.

Then, as if fate wanted to remind her that she wasn’t the only player in the game, she walked in.A hush rippled through the office like an unspoken command. Heads turned. Stares lingered. Even Brie’s breath hitched for a fraction of a second before she masked it with a lazy, assessing smirk.

The woman was pure temptation, carved from the most sinful dreams. Her body was sculpted perfection tall, sleek, and powerful. Obliques sharp enough to cut glass curved into an impossibly narrow waist, only to explode outward into hips that swayed like a predator on the prowl. Her skin shimmered faintly under the fluorescent lights, the deep obsidian hue marked with golden, tiger-like stripes that glowed softly with her every movement.A succubus? No, something more dangerous. A chimera, maybe? Whatever she was, she was sex and destruction wrapped in silk and sin.Her lips dark, glossy, and wickedly full curved into a knowing smile as she approached. The scent of something dark and sweet, like spiced honey and danger, filled Brie’s lungs.

“Brie Gorgonzola,” the woman purred, her voice a silk ribbon wrapping around Brie’s senses. “I’ve heard about you.”

Brie’s pulse quickened. Not with fear, but with something far more intoxicating. Competition.She didn’t stand up. She didn’t need to. Instead, she crossed one long leg over the other, her skirt riding up just enough to draw attention without seeming deliberate. Her smirk remained in place as she tilted her head. “Oh? And who exactly do I have the pleasure of being scrutinized by?”The woman stepped closer, close enough that Brie could see the sharp glint in her golden, slitted eyes. “Violeta. Head of External Monster Affairs. I’ll be working closely with you from now on.” The way she said it made it clear: this wasn’t just about work.

Brie felt a shiver of anticipation crawl up her spine.
Then, before Brie could fully savor the moment, the atmosphere shifted once more. A heavy silence settled over the office like a suffocating blanket. The low murmur of whispers died, keyboards stilled, and even the monsters some of the most fearsome creatures in existence seemed to shrink back slightly in their chairs.

He had arrived.

The door to the main office creaked open, and a single man stepped through. He was human technically. But there was something about him, something unreadable, something terrifyingly composed. His presence alone commanded respect, demanded silence. Unlike the monsters around him, he had no obvious physical power, no towering frame or razor-sharp claws.And yet, he was the most dangerous thing in the room. Dressed in a crisp, dark suit, his lean frame carried an effortless grace, like a predator who never needed to bare its fangs to prove it could kill. His face was deceptively calm, smooth, unreadable, his sharp, almost delicate features betraying nothing. His eyes cold, calculating moved over the office with disinterest, as though everything before him was beneath his notice.

Brie stiffened slightly, despite herself. Even Violeta, as untamed and powerful as she appeared, seemed to acknowledge his silent dominance.

The man, Briston, said nothing. He simply took in the room, his expression unreadable, before turning on his heel and heading toward his private office at the far end of the floor. The door clicked shut behind him, sealing in whatever dangerous thoughts lurked in his mind.

Brie exhaled slowly. The game had just become more interesting.Violeta smirked, leaning in slightly. "Still think you're the queen of this little kingdom?"Brie met her gaze head-on, tilting her chin up defiantly. "Oh, sweetheart... I don’t think. I know."