Chapter 1: Arrogance

Emily POV

The shrill ring of my alarm jolted me awake. Still groggy from too little sleep, I groaned and fumbled to switch it off.

Before I could bury my face back in the pillow, the door creaked open and my mom walked in.

“Get up, Emily, or you’ll be late for work,” she said, pulling the curtains wide. Bright morning sunlight flooded the room.

“Can’t I sleep for just a few more minutes, Mom? Please…” I begged, already turning over.

“Stop being lazy and get up. Didn’t you say you have a presentation today?”

The word “presentation” hit me like cold water. I shot out of bed.

“Oh no! The presentation!”

I dashed into the bathroom, showered in record time, threw on my clothes, and shoved my feet into my heels. My colleagues and I had spent weeks perfecting this pitch. I couldn’t afford to mess it up now.

I raced downstairs, nearly tripping over my own feet.

“Why are you in such a hurry, dear?” my dad asked from the dining table.

“She woke up late. Today is the big presentation,” Mom answered for me.

“Goodbye, Mom! Goodbye, Dad!” I called, grabbing my bag and bolting out the door.

There was no time to wait for the bus. I flagged down a taxi and jumped in.

While the driver weaved through the chaotic streets of Los Angeles, I pulled out my laptop and frantically worked on the final touches of the presentation.

“We’re here, miss.”

I paid quickly and stepped out, heart racing. As I turned, I collided hard with someone. My laptop flew from my hands and crashed onto the pavement.

“Oh no! Oh no!” I dropped to my knees, picking up the broken pieces.

I tried powering it on, but the screen stayed black. Panic surged through me. All our work was on that laptop. If it was damaged, the entire presentation would be delayed.

“Are you okay, miss?” a deep voice asked.

“Okay?” I snapped, thrusting the broken laptop toward him. “Does this look okay to you?”

The man stared down at me, irritation clear on his strikingly handsome face. “I didn’t mean to bump into you. You should have watched where you were going.”

“I was getting out of a taxi! You were the one walking on the sidewalk like you owned the street!” I shot back, voice rising. “Don’t I have the right to be mad?”

He glanced at his expensive watch. “Look, miss, I have an important appointment. I’ll give you my number. Call me later and I’ll compensate you generously for the laptop. Right now, I really must go.”

He tried to walk past me, but I blocked his path.

“Miss!” His tone grew impatient.

“Mr., I didn’t go through all of this just for your stupid money. I have a very important meeting too, and everything I need is—”

Without waiting for me to finish, he pulled out a thick wad of cash from his wallet and pressed it into my hand. “This is all I have on me. That should cover it. Now we’re even.”

He moved to leave again.

Fury boiled over. I stormed after him, shoved him hard in the chest, and watched as he stumbled and fell onto the pavement.

“Are you crazy?” he growled, eyes flashing with anger.

“You think your money fixes everything, don’t you?” I yelled. “A simple sorry would have been enough, but no — you had to be arrogant! How much do you even have that you throw it around like that?”

I flung the money back at him. “Take your damn cash! You clearly need it more than I do to fix that arrogance.”

“How dare you—”

“No, how dare you!” I cut him off. “Who do you think you are? You’re nothing but a rude, mannerless jerk. Your parents clearly failed to teach you basic manners.”

I didn’t wait for his reply. I turned on my heels and stormed toward the building, leaving him sitting on the ground.

Serves him right.

Moments later, I stepped out of the elevator on my floor, still fuming. My colleagues immediately surrounded me.

“Emily, what took you so long?” Gracie asked as we hurried toward the presentation room.

“Something came up,” I muttered, setting my laptop on the table and plugging it in. To my relief, it finally turned on.

“You look stressed. Is something wrong with the presentation?” Michael asked.

“I just bumped into an arrogant idiot on the way here. But it’s fine. We’re ready.”

“Is Emily here?” Our boss, Rose Brighton, strode into the room.

“Yes, I’m here.”

“Why were you late? Do you want us to lose this contract?” she snapped.

Before I could explain, she continued, “I don’t want excuses. This is the biggest opportunity this agency has ever had. Give it your absolute best. No mistakes!”

She turned to Gracie. “Did you research the client’s profile?”

“I tried, but there’s almost nothing online. All we know is that he’s a wealthy billionaire who likes to keep his life private.”

Rose let out an exasperated sigh. “You’re not doing your job properly, Gracie!”

After another sharp lecture, she waved her hand. “Enough! You all will give me wrinkles before my fiftieth birthday. Emily, take over.” She stormed out.

Gracie mimicked her dramatically once she was gone, and we all laughed, the tension easing slightly.

Everyone was on edge. Our small advertising agency needed this win. Landing the Callaghan contract would change everything for us.

“Guys! They’re here!” Mary, the receptionist, burst in.

While Gracie and Michael went to welcome the guests, I quickly finished setting up the room. A cable lay loose on the floor. I bent to pick it up just as Gracie’s voice floated in.

“Come in, sir.”

“This better be worth my while,” a familiar deep voice replied.

My stomach dropped. I stood up slowly… and froze.

Standing in the doorway, looking just as shocked as I felt, was the rude man from the sidewalk.

“Emily,” Gracie said cheerfully, “meet Cade Callaghan, owner of the Callaghan Empire.”

My mouth fell open.