The private jet hummed steadily as it cut through the clouds, its interior sleek and modern, a testament to the power and prestige of Devereaux Enterprises. Lila sat by the window, her tablet in hand, scrolling through last-minute details for the upcoming acquisition meeting.
Her father's voice still echoed in her mind, harsh and unyielding from the call they'd had before takeoff.
"This deal has to go perfectly, Lila. No excuses. No second chances. If you can't secure the merger, the board will lose confidence, and you can kiss the expansion goodbye."
He hadn't waited for her response before hanging up, leaving her staring at the phone as though the weight of his expectations had tripled in size.
Now, she tried to focus, but the tension coiled in her chest like a spring. The meeting with Kelridge Tech wasn't just a regular negotiation—it was a strategic move that could define the next five years of the company's trajectory. More importantly, it was her chance to prove to her father—and herself—that she was capable of taking Devereaux Enterprises to new heights.
"Can I get you anything, Ms. Devereaux?" the flight attendant asked, her tone polite but tentative.
Lila shook her head without looking up. "No, thank you."
From across the aisle, Ethan watched her with quiet concern. She hadn't spoken much since they boarded, her focus entirely consumed by the merger documents. He recognized the signs of stress—the tight set of her jaw, the way her fingers gripped the tablet just a little too hard.
"Lila," he said softly, leaning forward slightly.
Her gaze flicked to him, sharp and guarded. "What is it?"
"You've been staring at that same page for the past ten minutes," he pointed out.
She frowned, glancing down at the tablet as though realizing he was right. "I'm fine," she said curtly.
Ethan hesitated. He knew better than to push her when she was like this, but he also knew that ignoring the pressure she was under would only make it worse.
"Fine," he said, leaning back in his seat. "But if you want to talk strategy—or just need a break—you know where to find me."
Lila didn't respond, but her eyes lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary before she returned to her work.
---
The meeting in San Francisco took place in a glass-walled conference room overlooking the bay. The executives of Kelridge Tech were cordial but shrewd, their smiles carefully measured as they presented their terms.
Lila was in her element, her voice steady and commanding as she navigated the negotiation. Ethan watched her from his seat at the table, admiring the way she controlled the room with precision and confidence.
But as the hours wore on, he began to notice the subtle cracks in her armor—the way her fingers tapped against the table when she thought no one was looking, the brief pauses in her speech as though she were recalibrating under the weight of her father's expectations.
By the time the meeting adjourned, Lila had secured the terms she wanted, but the victory felt hollow. The Kelridge CEO had agreed to the merger, but not without a few pointed remarks about the risks of aligning with Devereaux Enterprises—remarks that hit closer to home than Lila cared to admit.
As they exited the building, the tension between her shoulders was palpable.
"Congratulations," Ethan said, falling into step beside her.
"Don't patronize me," she snapped, her tone sharper than she intended.
Ethan stopped walking, forcing her to turn back to face him. His expression was calm but firm. "I'm not patronizing you. You closed the deal, Lila. That's a win."
She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It doesn't feel like one," she admitted quietly.
"Why not?"
She hesitated, her gaze drifting to the bustling street beyond. "Because it's never enough," she said finally. "No matter how much I achieve, there's always something else—another hurdle, another demand. And if I don't deliver perfectly every time, it's like none of it matters."
Ethan stepped closer, his voice low and steady. "That's not true. You're building something incredible here, Lila. You don't have to prove yourself to anyone—not your father, not the board, not even Kelridge Tech. You've already earned your place."
She looked at him, her eyes searching his as though trying to decide whether or not to believe him. "That's easy for you to say," she murmured.
Ethan held her gaze, his expression unwavering. "Maybe it is," he said. "But that doesn't make it any less true."
For a moment, the noise of the city seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them standing on the sidewalk, the distance between them shrinking in ways neither of them fully understood.
Then Lila's phone buzzed, shattering the moment. She glanced at the screen and saw her father's name flashing across it.
"I have to take this," she said, her voice tight.
Ethan nodded, stepping back to give her space.
"Hello?" she said, pressing the phone to her ear.
"Did you secure the deal?" her father demanded without preamble.
"Yes," she replied, keeping her tone steady.
"Good. Now, make sure the transition is seamless. We can't afford any mistakes."
"Of course," she said, though her jaw tightened at his tone.
"And Lila," he added, his voice turning colder, "don't let your emotions get in the way. You've worked too hard to let something—or someone—distract you from what's important."
She froze, her grip tightening on the phone. "I know what's important," she said evenly.
"Do you?" he asked, the question cutting deeper than she expected. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're getting too close to one of your employees. Don't forget, this is business, not personal."
The line went dead before she could respond.
Lila lowered the phone slowly, her father's words replaying in her mind. She hated how easily he could make her doubt herself, how quickly he could remind her of the expectations that had been drilled into her since childhood.
When she turned back to Ethan, he was watching her carefully, his expression unreadable.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
Lila forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "It's fine," she said. "Let's get back to the hotel. We have work to do."
---
That night, as Lila sat in her hotel room, the weight of the day pressed down on her. She had won the deal, silenced the doubters, and met every expectation. But instead of satisfaction, all she felt was exhaustion.
Her father's words lingered in her mind, a constant reminder of the tightrope she walked every day.
"Don't let your emotions get in the way."
But what if her emotions were the only thing keeping her from falling?
Across the hall, Ethan sat in his own room, staring at the ceiling. He couldn't shake the image of Lila standing on the sidewalk, her expression guarded yet vulnerable.
He wanted to help her, to ease the weight she carried, but he knew she wouldn't let him. Not yet.
Still, he couldn't ignore the pull he felt toward her, the way she challenged and intrigued him in equal measure.
And as the city lights flickered outside their windows, both of them found themselves wondering the same thing:
What happens when the lines between business and personal blur beyond recognition?