The city buzzed below Evan's penthouse, but inside, all was calm. The only sounds were the soft clicks of his keyboard as he reviewed documents and the occasional murmur from Ava as she worked nearby. It had been hours since he'd last left the office. The clock on the wall had long passed six in the evening, and yet, the weight of the day's tasks seemed to settle heavier on his shoulders.
But that wasn't what caught his attention.
There was a subtle shift in the atmosphere. A knock echoed at the door, and a figure appeared in the doorway. Her name was Isabelle Hayes, and she was unlike anyone Evan had ever met. She didn't belong in his world of business and boardrooms, yet somehow, there she was.
Isabelle was a consultant his company had hired to help navigate the public relations aspect of one of their high-profile mergers. She was beautiful—of course, everyone in his circle was—but it wasn't just her looks that made her stand out. There was something about the way she carried herself, the way she spoke, and most importantly, the way she didn't seem intimidated by him.
"Mr. Caulfield," she greeted, her voice smooth but confident, though there was an underlying warmth to it that surprised him. "I hope I'm not interrupting."
Evan stood from his desk, immediately adjusting his posture, wiping away any trace of weariness. "Not at all," he replied, his tone neutral but polite. "How can I help you, Miss Hayes?"
She smiled, and it was genuine—a rarity in a world where smiles often felt like calculated gestures. "I wanted to go over the proposal again, and I figured it'd be easier to discuss it face-to-face. You know, no emails, no formalities."
Evan nodded, gesturing toward the seat in front of his desk. He knew this was part of her charm—getting him to lower his guard without him even realizing it. Isabelle wasn't here for a sales pitch or to bow at his feet. She was here to do her job, and she did it well.
As she sat down, their eyes met, and for a moment, Evan was taken aback. There was no awe in her gaze, no admiration for his wealth or power. She was just... looking at him. Really looking at him. It was unsettling, but also refreshing.
"How's the project going?" he asked, more out of habit than genuine curiosity. He wasn't used to people speaking to him without some ulterior motive, but with Isabelle, that was hard to gauge.
She pulled out a folder from her bag, flipping through it with ease. "It's moving forward. We're getting the right responses, and everything seems on track, but I do think there are a few points we might want to adjust to avoid any backlash."
Evan couldn't help but be impressed with how at ease she was, even discussing something that could potentially impact his empire. The way she spoke—confident yet not overbearing—was a skill most people, especially in his circle, didn't possess. It made him more interested in what she had to say.
"Tell me more," he urged, leaning forward slightly, his curiosity piqued.
She looked up, her eyes meeting his again, and there was a brief pause before she spoke. "Well, for one, your public image could use a bit more... humanization. Right now, you're viewed as the distant billionaire who has it all. But people want to relate. They want to see something real, not just a figurehead behind a pile of money."
Evan raised an eyebrow. "And how do you propose we do that?"
Her smile softened. "I think it's simple, actually. You need to be seen. Not just at galas or events, but doing things that show you care. Not because it's good for business, but because it's who you are."
He felt a small flicker of something inside. It was something he hadn't experienced in a long time—vulnerability. The thought that maybe, just maybe, she had a point.
Before he could respond, Ava walked into the room, her presence a sharp contrast to the quiet tension building between him and Isabelle.
"Mr. Caulfield, your flight to Brazil is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. There's a final report I need your signature on." Ava's eyes flicked to Isabelle, noting the change in the room's atmosphere, though she remained professional.
Evan nodded, standing up. "I'll take care of it shortly. Isabelle, thank you for your input. I'll have my team look into your suggestions."
Isabelle stood as well, her posture still graceful but with a certain determination about her. "Of course. I'll leave you to your work, Mr. Caulfield."
But as she turned to leave, Evan found himself hesitating. This wasn't normal for him. Usually, he dismissed people the moment their tasks were done, but there was something about Isabelle that made him want to keep the conversation going. It was an unfamiliar feeling, one he wasn't sure he liked.
"Miss Hayes," he said before she could reach the door. She paused, turning to face him. "Would you like to have dinner tomorrow? We can discuss the project further."
Her expression didn't change immediately, but there was a small glint of surprise in her eyes. After a beat, she replied, "I'd be happy to."
And just like that, without the usual business masks or calculated gestures, the first spark of something more than professional had ignited between them.