The night after the gala, Rowan sat alone in his dimly lit apartment, a glass of whiskey untouched on the table before him. The image of Lila standing beside Nathan Harper played on a loop in his mind. Her laughter, her hand brushing against Nathan’s arm, the way they seemed so… connected. It gnawed at him.


    He reached for his phone and opened a search browser. Typing Nathan Harper into the search bar, he hit enter. The results were staggering. Articles and profiles described Nathan as one of the wealthiest investors in the city, a financial genius who had turned a modest inheritance into an empire.


    Rowan clicked through photo after photo of Nathan at charity events and galas, each one featuring a different stunning woman on his arm. But none of those women were Lila.


    “Rich, powerful, charming,” Rowan muttered bitterly, shutting the screen off. “Of course.”


    He leaned back on the couch, rubbing his temples. The jealousy burning in his chest was a mix of anger and self-loathing. He hated the way he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Hated the way the sight of her with another man—someone like Nathan—had gutted him.


    And yet, some part of him still couldn’t believe she’d moved on so quickly.


    ---


    At work the next day, Rowan’s distraction hadn’t gone unnoticed. Grant, his business partner, leaned against the doorframe of Rowan’s office, arms crossed.


    “You’re completely useless today,” Grant said with a half-smile.


    Rowan glared at him. “I’m fine.”


    “Sure you are. You’ve been staring at the same blueprint for an hour.” Grant stepped inside and dropped a file onto Rowan’s desk. “Anyway, thought you’d want to see this. Harper Investments is opening up bids for their latest project. Rumor has it they’re looking for something big.”


    Rowan frowned, flipping through the file. “Harper Investments?”


    Grant nodded. “Yeah, you know, Nathan Harper’s company. The guy’s a legend in the investment world. This project could be huge for us if we land it.”


    Rowan’s stomach twisted. Harper Investments. Nathan Harper. Lila’s Nathan Harper.


    He closed the file and leaned back in his chair. “I’m not sure it’s worth the trouble.”


    Grant raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about? This is the kind of opportunity that could put us on the map. You’d be crazy not to go for it.”Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Rowan hesitated. He knew Grant was right. Professionally, this project was exactly what his firm needed. But the thought of pitching his work to Nathan Harper—and possibly seeing Lila again—made his chest tighten.


    “I’ll think about it,” Rowan said finally.


    “You’d better do more than think,” Grant replied, heading for the door. “The deadline for proposals is next week. Don’t let your personal drama screw this up.”


    Rowan clenched his jaw, watching as Grant walked away.


    ---


    Meanwhile, at the Harper estate, Lila sat in the sunlit drawing room, a stack of papers spread out in front of her. Nathan leaned against the windowsill, scrolling through emails on his phone.


    “I don’t know why you’re dragging me into this,” Lila said, setting down one of the proposals.


    “Because you’re good at this,” Nathan replied without looking up.


    “That doesn’t mean I want to be,” she muttered.


    Nathan finally looked up, giving her a small smile. “You don’t have to make any big decisions. Just tell me what you think. You’ve got an eye for detail, Lila. It’d be stupid not to use it.”


    Lila sighed, picking up the next proposal. She’d agreed to help Nathan with his business dealings as a way to stay busy, but the truth was, it was starting to feel overwhelming.


    Nathan stepped closer, his tone softening. “You’re good at this because you care. That’s rare in our world.”


    She looked up at him, her expression softening. “Thanks.”


    Nathan grinned. “Anytime.”


    ---


    Rowan spent the next few days preparing his pitch for Harper Investments. Despite his reservations, he couldn’t ignore the potential impact the project could have on his career. He poured himself into perfecting every detail, determined to make an impression.


    When the day of the meeting arrived, Rowan stood outside the gates of the Harper estate, his nerves rattled by the grandeur of the place. The sleek black gates, manicured lawns, and sprawling mansion seemed overwhelming.


    A guard escorted him through the estate, leading him into a conference room with vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. Rowan set up his materials, carefully arranging his blueprints and sketches on the long mahogany table.


    He was reviewing his notes when the door opened, and Nathan Harper stepped inside.


    “Mr. Pierce,” Nathan said, offering a handshake. His tone was polite but distant.


    “Mr. Harper,” Rowan replied, shaking his hand.


    Nathan took a seat at the head of the table, flipping through Rowan’s portfolio. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”


    Rowan launched into his presentation, his voice steady as he outlined his vision for the project. He felt confident, his nerves fading as he focused on the work.


    Then the door opened again.


    Rowan’s words faltered as Lila walked in. She was dressed in a sleek navy suit, her hair pulled back into a loose bun. She carried a tablet and a leather portfolio, looking every bit like a high-powered executive. Her gaze met his briefly before she turned to Nathan.


    “Sorry I’m late,” she said, taking a seat beside him.


    Rowan’s stomach dropped. She wasn’t just attending the meeting; she was part of it.


    Nathan gestured for Rowan to continue, but the sight of Lila sitting beside Nathan—looking so composed, so at home—completely threw him off. He stumbled through the rest of his presentation, his confidence unraveling.


    When he finished, Nathan leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “You’ve got some interesting ideas,” he said finally. “We’ll be in touch.”


    Rowan nodded, gathering his materials with trembling hands.


    As he walked toward the door, he felt Lila’s eyes on him. But she didn’t say a word.