Amara Hayes rushed through Terminal B, her heels clacking against the polished floor, nerves simmering just beneath her skin. Her boss's voice still rang in her ears from the call this morning:
"Pick up the client. Be professional. This is important, Amara."
Important was an understatement. After two years of overworking herself in a foreign city where no one knew her name, this task was her shot at being taken seriously. Her promotion depended on today going right.
She clutched the name card in her hand: Mr. Aragon.
No photo. No description. Just a name and a flight number.
She reached Gate D14 just as passengers were pouring out. Her eyes scanned the crowd—and then she saw him. Tall, sharp-featured, hair tousled like he'd slept through turbulence. A duffel bag was slung over his shoulder. He looked lost, but confident—like someone who didn't care about looking lost.
She hesitated, then held up the card. "Mr. Aragon?"
He looked at her, amused. "That's me."
"You're late."
"You're early," he replied, eyes flicking down to her heels, then back up with a smirk. "Or eager."
Amara narrowed her eyes. "Just follow me."
---
Liam Aragon had no idea who this woman was or where they were going—but it was better than standing around at the airport looking clueless. Besides, she was interesting. Sharp-tongued, irritated, and yet somehow graceful in the way she barked orders at the driver like she was born to lead.
The car pulled away from the airport and into the heart of the city.
"Welcome to Sable Corporation," she said after a long silence. "We hope the meeting goes smoothly."
"What meeting?"
She turned her head slowly. "The brand relaunch strategy presentation?"
Liam blinked. "There's been a mistake. I'm not here for any meeting."
Her stomach dropped.
He wasn't the client.
He wasn't Mr. Aragon the investor.
He was just some guy—and she had dragged him into a corporate contract pitch without even verifying his identity.
She had just made the biggest mistake of her professional life.
And she had no idea that this man—the wrong man—was about to become the biggest disruption in her life, career, and heart.