Chapter 4 : The C.E.O

The next morning arrived far too quickly.

Irina woke before sunrise.

For the first time in months, she felt strangely refreshed.

Perhaps it was New York.

Perhaps it was the conversation with the mysterious stranger.

Whatever the reason, her mood was lighter.

After dressing in a tailored cream business suit, she headed toward George & Sons Enterprise.

The building towered above the city skyline.

Glass.

Steel.

Power.

Everything about it screamed success.

Inside, assistants hurried through the lobby while executives moved between meetings.

Maria’s voice echoed in her head.

“Don’t be late.”

Unfortunately, traffic had other plans.

By the time Irina reached the conference room, she was eight minutes late.

Every seat was occupied.

Every eye turned toward her.

Wonderful.

“Miss Solace,” an executive greeted.

“Please, have a seat.”

Embarrassed, she quickly sat down.

At the far end of the table, a large leather chair faced the window.

The CEO.

Apparently he hadn’t turned around yet.

The room quieted.

Then a familiar voice spoke.

“I was beginning to think you’d changed your mind.”

Irina froze.

That voice.

Impossible.

Slowly, the chair turned.

Her heart nearly stopped.

Dark eyes.

Confident smile.

The stranger from the lounge.

The man she’d spent hours talking to the previous night.

He looked just as surprised.

Then amusement flickered across his face.

“Well,” he said.

“This is unexpected.”

The room watched silently.

Confusion spread among the executives.

Irina could barely breathe.

The stranger leaned back comfortably.

“As I’m sure you’ve now realized…”

He extended a hand.

“Kyle George. CEO of George & Sons Enterprise.”

The name struck like lightning.

Kyle George.

One of the youngest billionaire CEOs in the country.

And the man she had met by pure chance the night before.

Or had it really been chance?

Kyle’s smile deepened.

His gaze never leaving hers.

“Welcome to New York, Miss Solace.”

For the first time since entering the room, Irina sensed danger.

Not the kind that destroyed businesses.

The kind that changed lives.

And somehow…

She had a feeling Kyle George was about to change hers forever.

The conference room remained silent long after Kyle George introduced himself.

Irina could barely hear the ongoing discussion.

All she could think about was the stranger from the lounge.

Kyle George.

CEO of George & Sons Enterprise.

One of the most influential businessmen in America.

And somehow…

The man she had spent hours talking to the previous night.

Fate had a twisted sense of humor.

Kyle seemed unaffected.

He casually continued the meeting as if nothing unusual had happened.

Meanwhile Irina struggled to focus on a single word.

Every now and then she caught him glancing in her direction.

Each time, her pulse quickened.

By the end of the meeting, the partnership was approved.

The executives slowly filed out.

Irina immediately gathered her documents.

She needed to leave.

Fast.

“Miss Solace.”

She froze.

Kyle’s deep voice echoed through the nearly empty room.

Slowly she turned.

He was standing beside the window.

Watching her.

Waiting.

“Yes?”

A small smile tugged at his lips.

“You look disappointed.”

She frowned.

“Disappointed?”

“You discovered I was a CEO instead of an ordinary stranger.”

To her horror she laughed.

The sound surprised both of them.

“You seem very confident.”

“I’ve been told.”

His grin widened.

The man was impossible.

For a moment they simply stared at each other.

The air between them felt strangely charged.

Then Kyle broke the silence.

“Coffee.”

Irina blinked.

“What?”

“Coffee.”

He slipped his hands into his pockets.

“You owe me a conversation.”

Her eyebrows lifted.

“I owe you?”

“You left before I could ask your name.”

She almost smiled.

Almost.

Instead she adjusted her handbag.

“I think I’ll pass.”

For the first time, Kyle looked genuinely surprised.

Most women jumped at the opportunity to spend time with him.

Irina was walking away.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

As she reached the door, his voice stopped her.

“We’ll be seeing each other again.”

Irina glanced over her shoulder.

Kyle’s eyes sparkled with certainty.

She rolled her eyes and left.

But somehow…

His words followed her all the way back to the hotel.