CRESTLINE PAVILION — 8:50 AM.
The final preparations buzzed through the Pavilion like electricity. Staff moved with a sense of orchestrated urgency — straightening tablecloths, adjusting lighting, mic-checking again and again.
EchoGrid's logo stood proud behind the press booth, flanked by subtle greenery and sleek architecture. Every detail of the venue had been curated to whisper excellence and scream innovation. This wasn't just an interview — it was a statement.
And all that remained... was him.
Nina Reyes adjusted her blazer for the fifth time, fingers twitching at the hem as she stole another glance through the tall glass panels flanking the entrance.
"He's two minutes out," someone whispered near the tech booth.
"More like thirty seconds," Nina muttered, double-checking the lighting grid on her tablet. Her heart wasn't racing from nerves — it was precision. This wasn't just PR,
This was Kaius Blackwood.
And with him, nothing could afford to be ordinary.
The Pavilion buzzed with an energy too tight for the walls to contain. Reporters shifted on their feet, trying to act casual, professional — but you could feel it. The barely suppressed electricity. The kind that prickled against your skin just before a storm broke.
Jasper from PR leaned closer, his tie already loose. "Do you think he'll smile today?"
"No," Nina replied without looking up.
Outside, reporters clustered near the glass entrance, their equipment poised like weapons, their eyes sharp and hungry. Cameramen adjusted lenses. Producers barked last-minute instructions. The tension in the air was tangible — something about Kaius Blackwood's presence always rewrote the atmosphere before he even arrived.
Then — the matte-black SUV pulled up.
The air snapped like a drawn bowstring.
The crowd shifted forward.
A low gasp passed through the assembly like wind through tall grass.
The doors opened.
Flash.
Flash.
Flash.
Cameras exploded with light the moment he stepped out, his security team moving swiftly to buffer the chaos.
Kaius Blackwood didn't flinch.
He moved like gravity had made a deal with him — unfazed, unhurried, entirely in control. His charcoal-gray suit hugged his frame with lethal precision, custom-fitted like a second skin. His dark tie sat sharp at the collar, not a wrinkle in sight. Every step he took was deliberate, clean, powerful.
Even with sunglasses on, it felt like he was seeing everything.
Owning it.
His eyes — cool, piercing, unreadable — swept across the crowd like a quiet challenge. The flashbulbs kept going. A woman near the barricade visibly shook. Someone else dropped their pen.
The whispers started immediately, urgent and reverent.
"He's taller than I thought—"
"God, is that custom Tom Ford?"
"Don't stare—don't stare—oh my God I'm staring—"
He didn't smile. He didn't wave.
He didn't need to.
His bodyguard leaned in, murmured something.
Kaius gave a single nod.
Then walked forward.
The doors to the Pavilion parted like they knew better than to keep him waiting.
And just like that, the man they hadn't seen in months — the man they only whispered about behind the scenes of power — was here.
Alive.
Unreachable.
Unforgettable.
-*-*-*
8:59 AM
Inside, the room stilled the moment the doors closed behind him.
No music. No murmurs. Just the sharp echo of Kaius Blackwood's footsteps against marble and glass.
Penelope Garcia stood center stage, framed by EchoGrid Media's clean white logo — co-branded below with Ocean Media Network in soft gray lettering. The LED panels pulsed behind her in measured tones of navy and silver. Every detail had been perfected.
She had hosted forums, international conferences, even global environmental summits.
But this?
This felt different.
Like hosting lightning.
Kaius approached the main table with deliberate calm, his presence so commanding it seemed to silence even the static of the cameras adjusting to him.
There was no need for a handshake.
Everyone knew by now—Kaius Blackwood avoided physical contact, especially with women. No public greetings, no photo-op embraces. Not even the obligatory corporate handclasps.
No one questioned it aloud.
But the whispers were everywhere.
"Maybe he's gay."
"Ever seen him with a woman?"
"He's too polished—it's eerie."
Nothing was ever confirmed. Nothing denied. Just… silence. Controlled. Intentional.
Penelope, ever the professional, didn't extend her hand either. She simply gave a small nod as he took his seat beside her—poised, unshaken, only shifting her weight slightly to adjust for the shift in the room's gravity.
Because when Kaius Blackwood entered a room, it adjusted for him.
Then — calm, composed, utterly in control — she turned to the audience and spoke.
---
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen."
The hum of tension softened. Heads turned. Phones lowered.
"I'm Penelope Garcia, Lead Communications Officer for EchoGrid Media — in collaboration with Ocean Media — and it is my pleasure to welcome you to this exclusive interview session here at Crestline Pavilion."
The energy held steady. Every word mattered now.
"Today's conversation will center on the role of clean innovation, urban integration, and the cost of unchecked expansion in modern development. And yes," she added with a slight smile, "we'll take a few questions the public's been eager to ask."
A ripple of polite chuckles softened the tension, just enough to humanise he moment.
Beside her, Kaius sat unmoved. No fidgeting. No posture correction. Just presence.
"With us this morning," Penelope continued, her voice sharp yet smooth, "is the CEO of Blackwood Industries — strategist, innovator, and one of the key minds guiding the future of sustainable city planning."
A subtle pause.
"Mr. Kaius Blackwood."
Respectful applause followed. Cameras clicked in rhythm, like the room had been waiting to exhale.
Kaius nodded once — removing his sunglasses.
Pale green eyes. Sharp. Watchful. Alive with calculation.
He didn't smile.
He didn't need to.
Penelope turned slightly toward him with effortless professionalism.
"Let's begin."
-*-*-*-*
INTERVIEW SEGMENT — CRESTLINE PAVILION
Penelope adjusted slightly in her seat, posture straight, tone crisp.
PENELOPE:
"Mr. Blackwood, let's start with something foundational. Your company, Blackwood Industries, has long maintained a reputation for precision and discretion. Yet, today we're seeing you here—public, visible, and speaking on innovation. What shifted?"
KAIUS:
(pauses)
"Innovation without visibility becomes obsolete. We're at a point in human development where clean energy and sustainable design must not only exist but be seen. The world can't afford to wait for quiet excellence anymore."
Penelope nodded, eyes gleaming.
PENELOPE:
"And speaking of visibility—urban integration is a term thrown around a lot in the media, but rarely broken down. In your words, what does it mean, practically and personally?"
KAIUS:
"It means designing systems that work with people—not around them. Energy grids that understand consumption patterns. Transit systems that reduce chaos. Architecture that adapts to climate, culture, and cost. It's about cities that serve their citizens without devouring their futures."
A beat of silence. One reporter visibly mouthed "Damn."
Penelope smiled, eyes scanning the crowd before shifting the tone slightly.
PENELOPE:
"That brings us to the next point—unchecked expansion. We've seen countless projects rise and fall because scale overtook sustainability. Where does Blackwood Industries draw the line?"
KAIUS:
"We don't draw a line. We build within one. Boundaries aren't limitations—they're blueprints. When you respect them, you create longevity. When you don't... you create headlines."
Another round of soft applause.
Penelope held the silence for a beat, then eased into the next phase.
PENELOPE:
"Let's talk about you—personally, not professionally, if we may."
Kaius didn't answer immediately. But he didn't object.
PENELOPE:
"You rarely grant interviews. You've never confirmed or denied any personal relationships, and yet the public remains deeply interested. So let me ask—"
The crowd held its breath.
PENELOPE:
"Are you currently in a relationship?"
A beat.
KAIUS:
"No."
Another beat.
PENELOPE:
"And do you believe in relationships? Marriage, even?"
Kaius leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing—not in irritation, but calculation.
KAIUS:
"I believe in connection. In depth. But marriage… that's not something I'm planning for anytime soon."
PENELOPE:
"But has anyone… caught your interest?"
He didn't speak at first.
Then, the corner of his mouth lifted in a flicker of something almost human.
A smile.
Brief. Vanishing.
KAIUS:
"Yes."
That was all he gave.
It was enough to ignite every camera in the room.
Penelope kept her expression smooth, barely blinking.
PENELOPE:
"Interesting."
A pause, and then—
PENELOPE:
"One final question, Mr. Blackwood. There have been whispers—completely unofficial, of course—that certain private sector figures have taken an interest in a site known as Green Border. Would you care to confirm or deny any involvement?"
He turned to her slowly. Not cold. Not cornered.
Just… calculating.
KAIUS:
"Let's just say… I'm very interested in seeing how that story plays out."
And just like that, the interview had its headline.