A knock on my office door snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Come in."
It was Thomas, my secretary. "Ma'am, you have a meeting right now. The clients are in the conference room. They're already waiting."
I blinked, glancing at my clock. I'd lost an hour to the past.
"Right. Yes. I'll be right there."
No time to think. No time to process the memory of his lips on mine, the weight of Lucy's question, the ache that still lived somewhere beneath my ribs. I straightened my blouse, smoothed my skirt, grabbed a notepad I didn't need, and followed Thomas out the door.
The conference room door was half open. I could hear low voices inside. I took a breath, steeled myself, and stepped through.
A man stood as I entered.
Tall. Nicely built. Dark suit, sharp jaw, eyes that met mine with an unnerving steadiness. He looked at me for a beat too long before extending his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Laura ."
I froze.
Laura?
His expression shifted. A flicker of something—confusion? Recognition?—crossed his face.
"Forgive me," he said slowly, his voice lower now. "Miss Elara."
He said my name like he was tasting it. Like he already knew it.
Like he'd said it before.
I pushed the feeling aside as we shook hands. I will admit—he was a handsome man. Perfectly chiseled jaw, brown eyes that held mine a moment too long, short hair that fell softly across his forehead.
"Mr. Shaw," Thomas said, gesturing between us. "This is Elara May, our lead architect."
"Pleasure," Mr. Shaw said. His handshake was firm. Warm.
I nodded, retrieving my hand perhaps a beat too late. "Welcome to Phoenix Architects. I understand you're looking for a design?"
"Yes." He settled back into his chair, studying me with an intensity that felt personal, though we'd never met. "I'm the owner of Lotus hotels and suites.We have a new project coming up—a significant one—and we're interviewing architectural firms."
"I see."
"Your company came highly recommended." A pause. "You, specifically."
Something flickered in his eyes when he said it. Recognition? Or something else?
I couldn't quite name it.
But I felt it.
"Thank you, sir. I feel quite honored," I said, settling into the chair across from him. My secretary Thomas remained standing behind me.
Mr. Shaw gestured to the woman beside him. His own secretary, I assumed. She stepped forward and placed a tablet on the table, pulling up a design.
"So," Mr. Shaw began, "we're planning to launch our first hotel in this part of the country. As you may know, we're not a widely recognized brand here yet. Not like the international chains. Which is exactly why we need this project to make a statement."
I leaned forward, studying the designs on the tablet.
"We want something distinctive," he continued. "Something that puts us on the map. And we believe Phoenix Architects—you, specifically—can deliver that."
I glanced up. He was watching me again with that same steady gaze.
"What did you think?"
"Well, since you want something extraordinary, I suggest you go all out. People in this country appreciate that kind of luxury—the exquisite taste, the finer things. So here's what I'm thinking: a 25-story skyscraper. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Crystal chandeliers in the lobby. Imported stone, imported rugs and carpets. Exquisite tables in the restaurants. The structure itself should be steel—strong materials, ship-grade quality. Something that says we're here to stay."
I paused, glancing at his face for a reaction.
He was still watching me. Listening.
"What do you think?" I asked.
"I think it's marvelous," he said. "I have no objections. It's really, really good. But can you send me the drafts by tomorrow morning? On my email."
"Yes, of course. I'll do that," I replied.
Finally, they stood. We shook hands. His lingered a moment longer than necessary.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Elara," he said quietly. "Hope to see you next time."
I let my hand slip from his, bowed my head slightly in respect, and watched as he walked out with his secretary.
Once they finally left, I turned and headed back to my office.
"I think it's time to start drafting the plans," I told Thomas. "Gather the team. We're going to have a meeting about this hotel. We have to make it extraordinary."
"Yes, ma'am."
Within the hour, we assembled in the meeting room and started planning. Ideas flew around the table—suggestions from everyone. Some were good. Some were bold. Some were absolutely wild.
But that's what made this exciting.
We had a lot to figure out. And not much time to do it.
After hours of sketching, debating, erasing, and redrawing, we finally had something solid.
I stood at the head of the table, looking down at the draft sprawled before us. The team was exhausted but buzzing—that electric feeling when you know you've created something special.
"Alright," I said, pulling the main blueprint toward me. "Let's walk through it one more time."
The hotel would rise twenty-five stories above the city skyline—a sleek tower of glass and steel designed to catch the light at every hour of the day. The exterior would be floor-to-ceiling curved glass panels, each one angled slightly to reflect the sky like rippling water. At night, subtle LED lighting embedded in the wall would make the building glow warm amber, a beacon in the city darkness.
The lobby would be double-height, open and airy. A grand crystal chandelier—custom-designed, imported—would hang from the center like frozen light. The floors would be polished Italian marble, veins of gold running through cream stone. Reception desks crafted from dark walnut, backlit with soft illumination.
Each of the two hundred guest rooms would feature:
· Floor-to-ceiling windows with city or ocean views
· Private balconies with glass railings
· Custom furniture—exquisite tables, plush seating, imported fabrics
· Spa-inspired bathrooms with rainfall showers and deep soaking tubs
· Smart room technology controlled by touch panels
The top two floors would house the penthouse suites—private elevators, rooftop access, infinity-edge plunge pools overlooking the skyline.
The restaurants:
· A fine dining experience on the 23rd floor, rotating restaurant with 360-degree views
· A casual all-day cafe on the ground floor, opening to an outdoor terrace
· A rooftop bar and lounge, infinity pool extending toward the horizon, fire pits, live music stage
Conference facilities for business travelers. A full-service spa with treatment rooms, sauna, steam room. A state-of-the-art fitness center. A ballroom that could host weddings for five hundred guests.
"And the materials," I continued, pointing to the specifications. "Ship-grade steel for the structure. Imported stone cladding for the lower levels. Impact-resistant glass throughout. This building won't just be beautiful—it will stand for generations."
I paused, looking around the table at my team.
"What we're building here isn't just a hotel," I said quietly. "It's a destination. A statement. When people see this building, we want them to feel something. Wonder. Desire. The need to be inside it."
Thomas smiled. "Mr. Shaw is going to love this."
I looked back at the blueprints.
" I'm sure he would"