Chapter 15

ISABELLA’S POV

The morning of my investor meeting feels heavier than I expected. This is an investment that will either make or break my stay here. I dress carefully in my tailored navy pantsuit, while pulling my hair into a sleek professional style. The twins are with the nanny I employed for the afternoon, safe and happy at home. I review my notes one last time in the car ... from my financial projections, startup milestones, to the impact metrics. This meeting could be a major breakthrough for my debt-relief platform, providing the capital and network I need to scale faster than I could alone.

I arrive at the upscale conference venue with ten minutes to spare. Entering into the private meeting room, I can immediately see the elegant design of the room, in the room is a long polished table, sitting there you are blessed with the city views through the windows. I take my seat, my heart steady, while mentally preparing for the meeting.

Then the door opens again, Iook up to see who the person is...only to see Ethan walk in.

Our eyes meet for a brief, electric second. His expression is composed, but I can see the flicker of recognition in his gaze. He looks exactly as I remember ... tall, commanding, and dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit. For a moment, the air in the room feels thinner. But I force my face into a polite neutrality and nod once in professional acknowledgment, as if he is simply another executive in the room. Just a stranger and nothing more.

The lead investor, Mr. Cole, begins the meeting with introductions. The deal on the table is significant. For my startup, it means substantial funding, credibility, and access to a broader client base. For Ethan’s side, the partnership would open critical doors into Asian and European markets through Cole’s extensive network ... a strategic expansion he has been pursuing aggressively...I guess. I just got to know that now in this meeting.

We are forced to present and negotiate together. I keep my voice calm and professional, addressing the room rather than him directly. I outline the platform’s data models, projected social impact, and revenue forecasts. Ethan does the same, his tone measured and businesslike as he discusses market entry strategies and synergies.

The discussion grows in detailed manner. We debate timelines, risk assessments, and equity structures. Despite the tension humming beneath every word, we find common ground on several key points. The deal is too valuable for either of us to walk away from easily. I need this funding to grow my portfolio and accelerate my startup. He needs the investor’s network to soften his entry into new international markets.

The meeting stretches for nearly two hours. By the end, it is clear we will need to collaborate closely on follow-up deliverables from detailed financial models, to joint proposals, and strategy sessions over the coming weeks.

As the meeting concludes, I gather my documents and stand.

“Thank you for your time,” I say to the room, my voice steady. “Please send the follow-up projections and revised term sheet to my email.”

I turn and walk toward the door without looking at Ethan.

ETHAN’S POV

She is here.

The moment I saw Isabella inside the room, everything else faded. Three years, and she still carries that quiet strength that once unsettled me. She looked professional, composed, and completely detached. She treated me like a stranger.

I played my role during the meeting, keeping my tone neutral while my mind raced. The deal is genuinely promising. The Asian and European market access it offers could transform my expansion plans. Yet the thought of working hand-in-hand with her on the follow-ups makes the air feel thicker.

As the meeting ends, she stands and speaks to the room with cool professionalism.

“Please send the follow-up projections and revised term sheet to my email.”

She turns and walks toward the door. Something tightens in my chest. I stand quickly.

“Isabella.”

She does not stop. Her steps remain measured and confident as she continues down the hallway. I take a step forward, but she is already turning the corner.

I stand there for a moment, my jaw clenched, watching the empty doorway. The investor clears his throat, reminding me we are not alone. I force myself back into the conversation, finalizing the next steps, but my mind is no longer fully on this deal.

She is back, but she is avoiding me. And the forced collaboration means I will see her again soon whether she likes it or not, thankfully.

ISABELLA’S POV

My heart is still racing as I reach the exit and slide into the waiting car. I keep my posture straight until the vehicle pulls away from the building. Only then do I let out a long, shaky breath.

Seeing him again stirred too many old feelings. The way he said my name. The familiar presence that once filled every room we shared. But I will not give him the satisfaction of a reaction. Our interactions will remain strictly professional. Emails. Documents. No personal conversations that will reopen any old wounds or current secrets.

The deal is too important to abandon. It will help my startup grow faster than I could alone and strengthen my portfolio significantly. For him, it offers the international expansion he clearly wants. We will both benefit from making this work which means none of will back down.

But I will keep my distance outside the necessary meetings.

I close my eyes and rest my head against the seat. My twins are waiting at home. That is what matters most. They are safe. They are mine. Ethan does not know they exist, and after today, I am even more determined to keep it that way.

ETHAN’S POV

I leave the meeting with the signed intent letter in my briefcase, but my thoughts are elsewhere. Isabella’s cool professionalism stung more than I expected. She treated me like a business acquaintance and nothing more.

I sit in the back of my car as the city passes by. The deal is genuinely strong. The market access it offers is exactly what I need. But working closely with her on the follow-ups will mean being in the same room again and again. Such a profitable deal

Part of me wants to demand answers. Another part ... my proud self ... wants to maintain the distance she clearly prefers.

I grip my phone tightly. This business deal will bring her back into my orbit whether she likes it or not.

This is not over.