Wingless;

rgen

cleared for takeoff," the flight attendant said, h

didn't

ter until the cool metal dug into my palms. Just a week earlier, I'd been pacing my apartment, overwhelmed by doubts about

k to one conversa

s huge, yeah, but you should take it. Walk away and you'll re

uch, Ali," I'd admitted, my ha

s," he shot back withou

d, letting his confidence seep into m

forehead against the window, the glass cool against my skin, and

impossibly attached to me over the past week, her tiny arms reaching for me the moment I arri

itcase through customs, surrounded by rapid

e heat hit me. It was nothing li

n had arranged. The driver gave a br

east ten messages from Ali, all some version of "Did you land? Call me

aid when h

fely?" Relief poured t

I said, glancing at the sprawl

settled," he said. "Y

soon," I reminded him. He'd practically dragged me through stores the

, still unconvinced. "

I said as the car rolled up in fro

you,

lied, stepping out in

and elegant room with hardwood floors and a massive window overlooking the city. I dropped my bags onto the

______

d Stephan in the hallway. Zara was fast asleep in

e. After a week of late nights and long meetings, I'

ed, then nodded at Ste

han," he'd said with a gr

d built Rowan Architects from the ground up and seeing the way he loved Lar

brushing a curl from her daughter's cheek

he rest," I'

ce shifting back into business mode. "We will

ood," I'

r. Hot water poured over my shoulders, loosening the stiffness from the long f

buy. My reflection looked composed and professional, but my hands shook s

used on the racers' dressing rooms. They needed industri

or snapped me bac

uniform told me everyone w

later, grabbed my portfolio, an

han and Lara sat among franchise owners and officials, authority settling around them like a s

le, several se

ple stil

we already know: we're strong in innovation. We'll

w, leaned forward. "We're impressed, Mr. Rowan. The work is

lipboard. "This is Liam Steven, our chief engineer- one of the best in New Y

Stephan moved on just as easily, introducing Jack next, a civil engineer with a quiet, obse

softened, his tone shift

ce. "My wife and one of our lead designers. She's ov

ing, a polite smile settling easily on her face. Several of the

Our interior designer. She stood out almost immediately and impressed us

fully dry. A line of male gazes swept over me. I t

interrupted, "the designs must suit the race

ward me. "Ximara will meet with them directly. She'l

ey'll be arriving shortly, including the mai

lse j

ra

orced my breathing to steady as Stephan wrapped up

mplete concepts took shape, each with its own personality: clean and minimalist, raw industrial, and a bold, c

midnight, I fin

_____

s massive, with steel, asphalt, and raw potential stretched as far a

g at my side, taking it all in. My pencil moved fast, reimagining the space from the ground u

sketchbook, shading in a storage nook for gear. Everything els

h

e ro

e. Warm in a way that sent a

e, leaving a jagged line. My heart slammed in my che

ur V

rk hair tousled by the wind. A hint of stubble along his jaw. A faint, knowing smile tugging

ought in my he

_____