Shibuya, Tokyo.
Blaine Jackson emerged from the airport, his sharp eyes scanning the riotous streets ahead. The sheer energy of the city hit him like a tidal wave—neon lights flashing, music pouring out from every corner, and a sea of people weaving through the chaos with practiced ease. For some, this might have felt exhilarating, but to Blaine, it was suffocating.
He had always loathed Japan. The bustling crowds, the endless stream of tourists, and the overly polite culture grated on his nerves. Even worse, his mother's insistence that he take up this new assignment had left him brimming with resentment.
Yet, here he was, dragging his luggage across the pavement with a scowl so fierce it could have frozen fire.
Despite his visible disdain, Blaine's chiseled features turned heads. His tall frame and piercing gaze exuded an aura of unattainable perfection—one that drew attention but also sent a clear message: stay away.
"Taxi," he muttered under his breath, raising a hand. But just as he took a step forward, a face appeared so abruptly in his path that he nearly stumbled.
Startled, Blaine blinked, his eyes locking onto the woman in front of him. Her delicate features framed by jet-black hair tied in a ponytail were striking. Dressed in a navy-blue blazer and jeans, she seemed casual yet poised. But what caught him off guard was the strange familiarity of her face—a familiarity he couldn't quite place.
"Do you need a tour guide?" she asked in flawless Mandarin, her voice smooth and confident.
Blaine stiffened. Tourists often approached him, but this felt different. She not only knew his nationality but seemed oddly comfortable standing mere inches from him.
"I'm talking to you, sir," she added, waving a slim finger in front of his face.
Blaine's response was as cold as his expression. Without a word, he turned on his heel, gripping his luggage tighter as he headed toward the street.
"Hey!" Her voice rang out behind him, tinged with irritation. "How can you just walk away? I'm trying to help!"
Help? Blaine scoffed internally. If he needed help, it certainly wouldn't be from some overly confident stranger.
"I know you can hear me!" she pressed, quickly matching his pace. "Ignoring a beautiful woman like me? Unbelievable."
He finally stopped, his patience wearing thin. Turning to face her, he said flatly, "If you're trying to get my attention because you're interested in me, let me save you the trouble—I'm not interested in you."
To his surprise, she didn't flinch. Instead, a sly smile spread across her lips. "That's fine. As long as I'm interested in you, that's all that matters."
Her boldness left Blaine momentarily speechless. Most people would have been intimidated by his icy demeanor, but this woman seemed undeterred, even amused.
"Don't I look familiar to you?" she asked, tilting her head as if to study his reaction.
"No," he replied curtly.
"Really?" Her eyes narrowed slightly, a playful glint dancing in them. "I thought you'd recognize me immediately. Isn't this the part where you sweep me off my feet and declare we were destined to meet?"
Blaine raised a brow, unimpressed. "Do I look like the type to fall for clichés?"
She laughed softly, her confidence unwavering. "No, you look like the type to overthink everything. But don't worry—I can work with that."
Without giving him a chance to respond, she stepped closer, her tone dropping to a mock whisper. "Do you really not know who I am? Or are you just pretending?"
Blaine's patience snapped. "Miss, I don't know who you are, and I don't care. Now, if you'll excuse me—"
Before he could finish, the same maddening woman slipped in front of him, blocking his path.
"Alright, alright, don't get so worked up!" she said, holding her hands up in mock surrender. "I'll cut to the chase. My name is Chloe Grace. Does that ring a bell?"
The name made Blaine pause, though his expression remained guarded. Chloe Grace. It sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place it.
"Still nothing?" she teased, her grin widening. "Fine. How about this: Lily Grace is my sister."
The mention of Lily's name was like a thunderclap in his mind. Suddenly, the familiarity of Chloe's face made sense.
"You're Lily's younger sister?" Blaine asked, his tone laced with skepticism.
"Ding ding! Took you long enough." Chloe crossed her arms, looking both triumphant and amused. "Honestly, I thought you'd figure it out sooner. Lily told me you were sharp, but maybe she gave you too much credit."
Blaine pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly. This woman—this whirlwind of audacity and chaos—was nothing like her sister.
"What do you want?" he asked, his voice edged with weariness.
"Oh, you'll find out soon enough," Chloe said cryptically, her mischievous smile never wavering.
As Blaine watched her stride confidently toward the nearest cab, he couldn't shake the feeling that his life had just taken a very unexpected turn.
And judging by the glint in Chloe's eyes, she wasn't done turning it upside down.