Chapter 4

Aria's POV

I practically flew through the doors of Stellar Impressions, ignoring the receptionist's cheerful "Good morning!" as I rushed past. My hair was hastily pulled back in a bun and I'd managed to find a clean blouse and pencil skirt in the emergency outfit stash I kept in my office. The taxi ride from the hotel had been a blur of Manhattan traffic and my own racing thoughts.

"There you are!" Sophia's voice cut through my mental fog as she intercepted me in the hallway. "I've been texting you for the past hour."

"Sorry, phone died," I mumbled, ducking into my office with her hot on my heels.

"Well, you picked a great day to go AWOL," she said, her voice tinged with nervous energy. "The Kane Technologies subsidiary representative is coming in less than thirty minutes for the pitch meeting."

I froze halfway through hanging up my purse. "Kane Technologies? As in..."

Sophia's eyes narrowed. "Yes, as in the company owned by the very man you apparently spent last night with, if that I*******m post is anything to go by. Don't tell me you forgot we've been pursuing their lifestyle division as a potential investor for weeks?"

My heart sank. Of course I knew today's meeting was with a Kane Technologies subsidiary, but how was this possible? Would Devon Kane himself really show up in person for such a small investment meeting? It made absolutely no sense.

"It's just... I didn't make the connection," I admitted, my mind racing. "But Devon Kane himself wouldn't come for a small investment meeting like this, right? It'll just be some mid-level executive."

"Let's hope so," Sophia replied, not looking convinced. "Though after your little overnight adventure, who knows? Just please tell me you didn't blow our chances before the meeting even started."

"Of course not," I said, more confidently than I felt. "It was just... it was nothing. And there's no way he'll show up personally for something this small. He's probably got a dozen meetings today."

Sophia gave me a once-over, her expression skeptical. "Are you okay? You look... well, like you spent the night doing exactly what your I*******m suggested."

"I'm fine," I assured her, pulling a compact mirror from my desk drawer to assess the damage. My makeup was passable, but there was no hiding the fatigue in my eyes or the slight redness around my neck where Devon's stubble had left its mark. "Nothing a little concealer won't fix."

While Sophia gathered the presentation materials, I locked myself in the small office bathroom. I splashed cold water on my face, applied a generous layer of concealer to mask the evidence of my crazy night, and reapplied my lipstick. I stared at my reflection, practicing my most professional smile.

"You can do this," I whispered to myself. "It's just business."

By the time our conference room was prepared, I'd transformed back into Aria Harper, confident founder of Stellar Impressions. My presentation was loaded on the projector, portfolio samples arranged perfectly on the table, and a pitcher of ice water with lemon slices placed strategically in the center.

"Do you think they'll send someone high-level?" Sophia asked as we made final adjustments to the room. "I heard Kane Technology is very hands-on with their brand partnerships."

"Probably some mid-level marketing executive," I replied, straightening a stack of lookbooks. "The big guns only come out when the deal is nearly done."

The intercom buzzed. "Ms. Harper? Your ten o'clock appointment is here."

"Send them in," I answered, smoothing my skirt and standing straighter.

The conference room door opened, and my carefully constructed professional facade crumbled instantly. Standing in the doorway, impeccably dressed in a tailored charcoal suit that highlighted his broad shoulders, was Devon Kane himself.

His gray eyes met mine, showing not the slightest hint of recognition or surprise. If anything, there was a flicker of amusement buried deep in their steel depths.

"Ms. Harper," he said smoothly, extending his hand. "Devon Kane. I've heard impressive things about your firm."

My hand moved automatically to shake his, and the brief contact sent an electric current up my arm. His grip was firm, professional—nothing like the hands that had explored every inch of my body just hours ago.

"Mr. Kane," I managed, finding my voice. "We weren't expecting the CEO himself. This is quite an honor."

Next to me, Sophia had gone completely still, her eyes darting between us with growing suspicion.

"I like to be personally involved in all aspects of our brand development," Devon replied, taking a seat at the head of the conference table as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Especially when working with... promising new partners."

The meeting proceeded like a surreal dream. I launched into my presentation, highlighting Stellar Impressions' unique approach to luxury brand marketing and our success with boutique clients. My voice sounded distant to my own ears as I walked through slide after slide, hyperaware of Devon's intense gaze following my every movement.

"Your visual concepts are strong," Devon commented halfway through, interrupting my flow. "But I see three critical weaknesses in your strategy."

The room temperature seemed to drop ten degrees as he leaned forward, tenting his fingers. "First, your market segmentation is too conventional. Second, your digital integration lacks depth. And third," he paused, his eyes boring into mine, "you've completely overlooked the potential of NFTs and virtual fashion, which will dominate the luxury space in the next three years."

I stood frozen, feeling like a student being dressed down by a particularly stern professor. This wasn't the passionate man from last night but a calculating business titan who had spotted every flaw in my carefully constructed proposal.

"The current approach lacks forward thinking," Devon continued, his voice cool and clinical. "My experience in Asian markets suggests that digital ownership will be the next frontier for luxury brands. Your proposal doesn't address this at all."

For the next twenty minutes, Devon methodically dismantled my presentation, offering razor-sharp insights that were simultaneously brilliant and devastating. Sophia furiously took notes, while I struggled to maintain my composure.

"I appreciate your candor, Mr. Kane," I finally said, gathering my strength. "Those are valuable insights we'll incorporate into our revised proposal."

Devon nodded, standing abruptly. "I look forward to seeing how you adapt. Kane Technology requires partners who can pivot quickly." He adjusted his cufflinks—the same gesture I'd seen him make at the hotel. "Send the revised proposal to my office by the end of the week. I'm particularly interested in seeing your ideas for the metaverse integration."

As he moved toward the door, he paused beside me. "Your company shows promise, Ms. Harper. With the right guidance, it could be extraordinary." His voice had dropped to a lower register, for my ears only.

Then he was gone, leaving behind the lingering scent of his cologne and a room thick with tension.

"What the actual hell was that?" Sophia hissed the moment the door closed. "He completely eviscerated our proposal!"

I collapsed into the nearest chair. "He's right though. Everything he said was spot-on. We need to completely rework this proposal. Cancel my afternoon appointments."