: The Unexpec

posal to a complete stranger-seemed surreal. She had acted on impulse, driven by a mix of desperation and a desire to e

nce. She glanced at the screen: an u

, her voice tinged

iss Elizabeth Hastings?"

lizabeth replied, h

l assistant. He would like to meet with you at

miliar, and she couldn't recall any prior interactions. "I'm sorry, bu

eman you proposed to earlier today. He was quite taken aback b

d to was someone of significance? She had no idea. "I... I d

w at 10 AM. Will that wo

," Elizabeth agreed, still

shortly. We look forward to your visi

e fact that he was interested in meeting her piqued her curiosity. She glanced at th

morning sun. The address on the invitation matched the one on the building's plaque: Blackwood Enterpri

with a warm smile. "Good mor

Blackwood," Elizabeth replied

ickly masked her surprise. "Of course, Miss Hastings.

at felt like an eternity, a door opened, and a tall, impeccably dressed man stepped out. His presence

nquired, his voice smo

h replied, stand

d," he introduced him

of his grip. "It's a pleasure to meet you," s

estured toward the do

loor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city

oposal was unexpected," he began, his tone both amused and intr

ze if I overstepped," she said, her voice tinged with

"I find that intriguing," he remarked. "Not many have the

nd a man entered, holding a stack of papers. He pau

rts you requested," the ma

ord echoed in her mind, sending a jolt of recognition

le

x-boyf

attered her trust and left her broken. Seeing him here, in this context, was like a slap to the face. He was wo

led, and his hand trembled slightly as he placed the reports on Simeon's desk. H

Thank you, Alex," he replied, his voic

ed the papers down be

or Simeon? The implications were stagge

"Is something wrong?" he asked

t. "I know Alex," she said, her voice barely a

remained neutral. "I

Alex working for Simeon? The man she had once loved, now serving as an underlin

focus on the matter at hand," he suggested.

r nerves. "It was a moment of desperation," she co

and," he said. "But I must ask, what do

ing. "I don't know," she admitted. "Maybe a fre

he said. "And I believe we can help each other. But first, I need to understand you better.

and hope. This was unexpected, but perhaps it w

elf opening up more than she had anticipated. S