Elena gripped her worn suitcase as she stepped onto the polished lobby floor of the Russo Corporation building. She had left everything behind to start over, but nothing in the city of New York came easy. Every glance from the suited strangers made her feel out of place, invisible, small.
Then she saw him. Matteo Russo— tall, commanding, impossibly handsome, and infuriatingly intimidating. The billionaire single dad who ran the city's most powerful company and apparently, didn't suffer fools.
He looked up from the reception desk, eyes narrowing the moment they landed on her. "You're late," he said, voice crisp, like a whip.
Elena lifted her chin. "I just got here. Maybe your watch is slow."
A flicker of surprise crossed his face before he masked it with a scowl. "I don't tolerate incompetence."
"And I don't tolerate arrogance," she shot back, heat rising. She had learned long ago that the world didn't hand her respect — she had to claim it.
For a moment, they stared at each other, tension crackling like electricity in the air.
Then Mattoe's little daughter toddled up, tugging his hand, and he softened instantly. Elena noticed, but quickly looked away. She couldn't let him see her melt — not yet.
This was just the beginning. Two worlds collided: a broken but determined woman and a man guarding his heart with everything he had. Neither wanted to admit it, but sparks were already flying.