d from Morgan Tower. The rush of people, the honking horns, the scent of roasted chestnuts from
irling in her chest. She replayed every second of the meeting in her mind, dissecting his questions, his reactions, the way his
her out of her thoughts. She glanced a
it go??? Deta
. Her fingers flew
lf. Yes, that Ryan Carter. Think
rter? The billionaire he
s...one way
everything. Lunch
itement. Even if she hadn't sealed the deal yet, this was the closest she'd ever
-
onder"-kept echoing in his mind. He hadn't expected to be moved by a pitch about table settings and
nding him. He could almost hear his sister's voice in his head
came at
n. "What do you t
the turmoil he fel
idy insisted. "She's differe
ys saw more than he wanted her
d smile. "You don't have to
ith a soft clink. "This is a
ted to argue, but she only
-
out at the choppy water. Maya and Talia sat at a table by the glass, the city skyline rising in the di
yes wide as she stirred her
eyes. "That's
d. "You've been a hermit since Trevor. I t
taste of betrayal. She'd caught him cheating with a mutual friend a month before
"This isn't about him. It's about my career. If I get this, I could fina
g her hand. "I know, M. And I'm proud of yo
Ryan. His eyes, his voice, the way he'd listened so inte
he couldn't aff
-
d her fingers over the images-snow-dusted archways, frosted crystal chandeliers, walls of silver branches and soft white roses. He
phone buzzed. It was a new email. Her heart
-
Morgan Ga
M
ove forward with developing a detailed proposal. Let's aim for a final pit
ard to seein
e
idy
-
. She'd done it. She had a chance. Tears prickled
ketching furiously. She'd been waiting he
-
ity lights. His home was modern and immaculate, every surface gleaming, every object perfectly placed. It felt
him. He found his thoughts drifting back to the look on Maya's face when she talked about c
the burn chase away t
sh that had taken his parents. Of the way he'd thrown himself into work
on the table. A t
ect for this, Ryan.
hovering over the screen. Then h
-
ecializing in delicate winter-themed desserts. She spent hours sourcing rare white peonies and silver-painted euc
arated. She spread her research across her bed, measuring swat
he second ring, b
It's Ca
ed. "Hi! Is ev
ith you again- tomorrow, 11 a.m. He has
ard. "Questions?
. "With Ryan, questions
rembling as she put the phone down. She too
as hap
-
stlessness in his chest. The day was cold but sunny, beams of
vans i
t sure why he felt so unsettled. It was just a meeting. A pro
d coat that made her brown eyes glow. She
ow his pul
ng, Ms. Eva
voice was steady, but he thoug
e her sketches were laid out.
hways, a ballroom transformed into an enchanted forest of silver and white. She talked about live music
passion was contagious, her ideas bold yet eleg
h a hopeful smile. "That's what I'd
etween them. Then h
you to mov
ught audibly.
once. "I
ge hanging between them. Maya's cheeks
her, caught between a longing he'd buried
-
r air, her heart soaring. She was in. She
ts gleaming windows, she wondered about the man who'd given her th
-