Burning Desire
Hannah has finally landed the journalism internship of her dreams—a chance to prove herself at one of the city’s top media firms. But her excitement is short-lived when she’s forced to work under Nathaniel "Nate" Rhodes, the arrogant and untouchable head intern who treats her like she doesn’t exist. He has connections, power, and an air of mystery that both frustrates and intrigues her.
When Hannah stumbles upon a mysterious pattern of arson cases, she breaks a major story, earning her place in the firm. But there's a catch—Nate is assigned to work on it with her. While she’s determined to uncover the truth, he’s just as determined to avoid it. As they dig deeper, secrets begin to surface, and Hannah finds herself entangled in a past neither of them can escape.
Because years ago, fire changed both of their lives. A fire took someone she loved, a fire took someone he loved.
As the tension between them grows, so does the undeniable pull drawing them together. But can love survive when the truth is written in the ashes?
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Chapter: Chapter 10 – The Unfinished PuzzleThe sound of my keyboard filled the quiet space around me, a rhythmic tapping that matched the beat of my thoughts. Notes, timelines, theories—I had everything in front of me, yet the pieces still didn’t fit. The fires weren’t random. I could feel it. But without solid proof, it was just a gut feeling. I sighed, rubbing my temples. The newsroom bustled with activity, but at my little desk, it felt like I was working alone. Well, almost alone. I looked over at the other interns, I never really knew what they were up to. Nathaniel never really gave us what to do aside from a few reports to write here and there. If I hadn't been doing this fire case with him, I'd be almost jobless. I glanced toward Nathaniel’s office. He sat at his desk, sleeves rolled up, fingers lazily spinning a pen between them as he stared at his screen. His expression was unreadable, but I had been around him long enough to know when someone was just pretending to work. He had barely contributed to the investiga
Last Updated: 2025-03-06
Chapter: Chapter 9 – Unspoken Truths The offices of Montgomery & Chase were exactly what I expected—polished, intimidating, and completely impersonal. The air smelled of expensive coffee and fresh ink, and the walls were lined with framed case victories, as if reminding visitors that this firm didn’t lose. Nathaniel and I stepped through the glass doors, and I adjusted my blazer, trying to look more confident than I felt. This was my first real field assignment, and while I wasn’t about to admit it, I was nervous. Nathaniel, on the other hand, looked completely at ease—bored, even. He barely glanced around as he approached the receptionist. “Nathaniel Rhodes. We’re here to see one of your senior partners regarding an ongoing investigation.” The receptionist, a sharp-eyed woman with dark-rimmed glasses, barely looked impressed. “Do you have an appointment?” Nathaniel exhaled, clearly expecting this. “Tell Mr. Ashford that it concerns recent fire-related incidents.” Her gaze flickered with something- Recognition? Ei
Last Updated: 2025-03-06
Chapter: Chapter 8 I had barely settled into my seat when a familiar voice made me freeze. “The report on last night’s fire.” Nathaniel. I looked up just as he dropped a folder on my desk without so much as a glance my way. I barely had time to respond before he was already walking off toward his own desk, sleeves rolled up, posture rigid. I exhaled sharply. Of course. No “good morning,” no instructions. Just another case dumped on me while he pretended I didn’t exist. But I wasn’t going to let him keep dismissing me. I grabbed the file and followed him to his desk. “Sir, what exactly am I looking for?” I asked, keeping my voice professional but firm. Nathaniel finally looked at me, his cold gray eyes scanning me like I was an annoying pop-up ad on his screen. “Patterns,” he said simply. “If you’re going to be working on this case, you should be able to find them yourself.” I clenched my jaw, refusing to let his indifference get to me. “And if I do find something?” “Then we’ll talk.” I stared
Last Updated: 2025-02-18
Chapter: chapter 7- Following the ashes (Hannah’s POV) The smell of burnt wood and ash still lingered in the air as I stepped over the caution tape. The building had been nothing more than a quiet corner bookstore—one I’d passed dozens of times without much thought. Now, it was a skeleton of charred beams and shattered glass. I swallowed hard. Standing here, in the middle of what was once a thriving business, made everything feel more real. This wasn’t just a story; it was someone’s life in ruins. Nathaniel walked a few steps ahead of me, his hands shoved in his pockets as he studied the wreckage. The morning sun reflected off the broken windows, casting sharp shadows across his face. He looked… distant. I clutched my notepad tighter. “The fire report said it started in the storage room,” I said, scanning the area. “The owner, Mr. Langston, barely made it out in time. If he hadn’t smelled the smoke…” I let the sentence hang, the implication clear. Nathaniel didn’t respond. I glanced at him, waiting for some kind
Last Updated: 2025-02-12
Chapter: Chapter 6: The First Lead I had spent the past few days buried in case files, my fingers stained with highlighter marks as I sifted through endless reports. At first, the details felt like noise—just a collection of random fires scattered around the city. But the more I looked, the more I started to see a pattern. The first fire had been at a small business owned by an elderly couple. The second one, a local community center. Each incident seemed isolated at first, but I realized there was more to this than I had thought. I was close to something. I didn't know what it was but I could feel it. I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair, and then my phone buzzed. It was a message from Nathaniel. "Meet me in the break room in 10." I didn’t even have to ask why. Nathaniel and I had been working together on the case, but I had started doing most of the legwork. He’d show up when necessary, but mostly, he just seemed… distracted. I didn’t understand it. He had the experience, he was the head of i
Last Updated: 2025-02-12
Chapter: Chapter 5 – Chasing the Smoke(Hannah’s POV) Nathaniel walked ahead, his long strides making it difficult for me to keep up. He didn’t look back, didn’t check if I was following—just assumed I would. “Sir, where exactly are we going?” I asked, adjusting the strap of my bag. “To do real journalism,” he said, not glancing back. I sighed, why was he like this Still, I pushed the thought aside and adjusted my bag, my notebook tucked under my arm as I followed him down the street towards his car. He unlocked it without ceremony and slid into the driver’s seat. “Get in.” I hesitated for a brief second before obeying, smoothing my skirt as I sat. “Sir, I was under the impression that uhm interns usually-". "Interns don't get handed real stories, you want to prove yourself?, then sit down and take notes" he cut in. Well, when he puts it like that. I adjusted my seatbelt and sat back in silence, s he drove out of the parking lot, the traffic noise filling the void. I waited for him to say something befo
Last Updated: 2025-02-12
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