Isabella POV
The call came at 5:47 AM, jarring me from dreams of Forbes covers and boardroom conquests. I reached for my phone, noting how Damien's arm tightened around my waist even in sleep - six months of marriage hadn't diminished his possessive instincts, even unconsciously.
"Isabella Cross," I answered, my voice rough with sleep and irritation at being woken so early.
"Ms. Cross, this is Hiroshi Tanaka, CEO of Tanaka Industries," came a precise, accented voice that carried the kind of authority that made pre-dawn phone calls feel significant rather than intrusive. "I apologize for the early hour, but I am calling from Tokyo where it is evening."
Tanaka Industries. The name triggered recognition from our European expansion research - one of Japan's most successful manufacturing conglomerates, with operations spanning technology, automotive, and industrial equipment. Not the kind of company that called randomly.
