The next morning, Harper stepped into the lobby of her office building, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. She glanced at her phone, where a slew of emails awaited her attention, all marked urgent.
"Back to reality," she muttered under her breath, tightening her grip on her coffee cup as if the caffeine might fortify her against the chaos.
But her mind wasn't entirely on work. Images of Elliot and their conversation from the night before played on a loop in her head. There was something about him—his openness, his quiet intensity—that she couldn't shake.
She barely had time to indulge the thought before her boss, Philip, appeared in the hallway, his presence as imposing as always.
"Williams, in my office. Now," he barked, his tone sharp.
Harper nodded, quickening her pace. Inside the corner office, Philip gestured for her to sit, not bothering with pleasantries.
"I'm assigning you to the Ashcroft deal," he said, sliding a thick folder across the desk.
"The Ashcroft deal?" Harper asked, her eyebrows rising. She'd heard whispers about the acquisition—a billion-dollar merger between two tech giants.
Philip nodded. "The final negotiations are happening this weekend in Ridgeport. You'll be our lead."
"Ridgeport?" Harper repeated, her stomach sinking. She knew the coastal town—it was where Elliot had mentioned he lived.
"Yes, Ridgeport," Philip said impatiently. "I need you there by tomorrow morning. You're the best we've got, Williams. Don't let me down."
She swallowed her protest, nodding as she took the folder. "I'll handle it."
---
The drive to Ridgeport the next day felt surreal. The city skyline gave way to rolling hills, and soon the sparkling expanse of the ocean came into view. Harper rolled down her window, letting the salty breeze wash over her.
As she pulled into the quaint seaside town, memories of Elliot's stories about his home filtered through her mind. He'd spoken about the charm of the place, the way it felt like time moved slower there.
Her hotel was nestled near the waterfront, with a view of the lighthouse standing proudly on the edge of the cliff. After checking in, she decided to take a walk before diving into the mountain of documents waiting for her.
The cobblestone streets were lined with small shops and cafes, their signs swinging gently in the ocean breeze. She wandered aimlessly, letting the atmosphere soothe her frayed nerves.
And then she heard it—the familiar strum of a guitar.
Her heart quickened as she followed the sound, rounding a corner to find a small market square. A handful of people had gathered around a makeshift stage, where Elliot sat on a stool, his guitar resting against his thigh.
He hadn't noticed her yet, his focus entirely on the music.
*"In the quiet of the morning,
When the world feels wide and small,
I'm chasing after shadows,
But I can't escape them all…"*
The melody was different from the night before, but the raw emotion in his voice was the same. Harper stood at the edge of the crowd, transfixed, as his voice wrapped around her like a warm embrace.
When the song ended, the small crowd erupted into applause. Elliot smiled briefly, his expression softening in the way she was starting to recognize as genuine.
She waited until he was packing up his guitar before stepping forward.
"Elliot," she said, her voice cutting through the hum of the market.
He looked up, startled, his green eyes widening as they landed on her. "Harper?"
"What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone a mixture of surprise and curiosity.
"I could ask you the same thing," she said, unable to hide her smile.
Elliot chuckled, slinging his guitar case over his shoulder. "I live here, remember?"
"Right," Harper said, feeling a little foolish. "I'm here for work. A client meeting."
"Small world," he said, his gaze lingering on her.
"Yeah," she replied, suddenly aware of how close they were standing. "I didn't expect to run into you again."
"Neither did I," he said softly, his eyes searching hers.
For a moment, the noise of the market faded into the background. Harper felt a strange sense of calm, like the universe had aligned in this small, unexpected moment.
Elliot broke the silence first. "Do you have time to grab a coffee? Or are you drowning in legal stuff?"
Harper hesitated, glancing at the folder tucked under her arm. Work beckoned, but something about Elliot's quiet intensity made her want to say yes.
"I could use a break," she said finally.
He smiled, the tension in his face easing. "Come on, then. I know a place."
As they walked side by side, Harper couldn't help but wonder if this meeting was another twist of fate—one she wasn't ready to ignore.
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