Chapter 8 : Surprises and invitations.

Irina didn’t realize she was smiling until she caught her reflection in the elevator mirror.

The realization immediately made her straighten her face.

Ridiculous.

Absolutely ridiculous.

She had spent years building walls around her heart.

One dance with Kyle George wasn’t going to change that.

Yet as she stepped into her hotel suite, the memory followed her.

His voice.

His smile.

The way he’d looked at her as though she was the only woman in the ballroom.

With a frustrated sigh, she kicked off her heels and walked toward the window.

The city glittered beneath her.

New York never seemed to sleep.

Unlike her thoughts.

Her phone buzzed.

Maria.

“Tell me everything.”

Irina laughed.

“There’s nothing to tell.”

“Liar.”

“Maria.”

“You danced with him, didn’t you?”

Irina froze.

Maria squealed through the phone.

“I knew it!”

“It was one dance.”

“Mhmm.”

“It was.”

“Mhmm.”

Irina rolled her eyes.

The conversation continued for another ten minutes before she finally ended the call.

But once the room became quiet again…

Her thoughts returned to Kyle.

More specifically—

His answer.

Some losses stay with you.

The memory lingered.

There had been sadness in his eyes.

Real sadness.

For the first time since meeting him, Irina realized Kyle was hiding something too.

And for reasons she couldn’t explain…

She wanted to know what it was.

⸻

Across the city.

Kyle stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse.

A glass of whiskey rested untouched in his hand.

His thoughts were elsewhere.

On a woman.

Again.

His assistant entered carrying several files.

Then stopped.

“You look happy.”

Kyle frowned.

“I always look happy.”

“No.”

The assistant sat down.

“You look interested.”

Silence.

Kyle hated when people knew him too well.

“Who is she?”

Kyle stared at the skyline.

For a moment, he considered ignoring the question.

Then surprisingly—

A small smile appeared.

“Irina Solace.”

The assistant blinked.

“You actually answered.”

Kyle’s smile widened slightly.

That alone told his assistant everything he needed to know.

Because Kyle George never talked about women.

Ever.

Yet somehow…

This one was different.

And deep down, Kyle already knew it.

The frightening part?

He wasn’t sure he wanted her to be.

An Unexpected Invitation

The following morning began with a surprise.

Irina had just arrived at George & Sons Enterprise when a large bouquet of white lilies was delivered to her.

She frowned.

Flowers?

For her?

Attached to the bouquet was a small card.

Her heart skipped when she recognized the handwriting.

Good luck with today’s presentation.

— K

Her lips parted slightly.

No flirtation.

No unnecessary compliments.

Just encouragement.

Simple.

Thoughtful.

Dangerous.

Because somehow that meant more.

Maria would absolutely lose her mind if she saw this.

A smile tugged at her lips despite herself.

Then she carefully placed the flowers on her desk.

For the rest of the morning, she caught herself glancing at them.

Far more often than she should have.

⸻

That afternoon, her presentation ended successfully.

Investors applauded.

Executives congratulated her.

Everything had gone perfectly.

As she exited the conference room, a familiar voice called her name.

“Miss Solace.”

She turned.

And there he was.

Kyle.

Looking unfairly handsome in a charcoal suit.

The man belonged on magazine covers.

Unfortunately, he seemed completely unaware of it.

Or perhaps he simply didn’t care.

“Mr. George.”

His eyebrow lifted.

“We’re back to formalities?”

A laugh escaped her.

“You earned it.”

“I thought the flowers earned me a first name.”

Her eyes widened.

“You sent those?”

Kyle placed a hand dramatically over his chest.

“You sound disappointed.”

“I’m surprised.”

His smile softened.

“Was that a bad thing?”

“No.”

The answer came too quickly.

Both of them noticed.

A strange silence followed.

One neither seemed eager to break.

Finally, Kyle cleared his throat.

“Good.”

For a moment, they simply stood there.

Two people pretending there wasn’t something growing between them.

Something dangerous.

Something neither understood yet.

Then Kyle spoke.

“I need a favor.”

Immediately suspicious, Irina folded her arms.

“What kind of favor?”

His grin returned.

“The harmless kind.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Fair.”

She laughed.

Again.

And once more, Kyle found himself staring.

Because every time she laughed…

The sadness disappeared from her eyes.

And he wanted to keep it that way.

“I have an event tomorrow evening.”

Irina narrowed her eyes.

“A business event?”

“Mostly.”

“Mostly?”

“There’ll be food.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“There’ll be investors.”

“Better.”

Kyle’s smile widened.

“Come with me.”

The words settled between them.

Simple.

Yet somehow heavier than they should have been.

Irina’s heart betrayed her with a single hard beat.

This wasn’t a date.

It couldn’t be.

Yet it didn’t feel entirely professional either.

And judging by the look in Kyle’s eyes…

He knew that too.