Against all odds: crowned by fate

icult moments in her life, but nothi

thm she couldn't control. The towering skyscraper reflected the early morning sun, casting an intimidating glow over the city below. This was supposed to b

e, completely unaware of the storm raging inside Harp

ace. She had spent six years convincing herself that she was over him, that the pain had dulled into nothing more than a distant memory

she stepped inside the

he looked every bit the powerful billionaire the world knew him to be. But Harper's gaze was drawn to the small details-the slight

et hers, and for a momen

heavy with everything l

per Quinn." He said her name like a secret he hadn

ong e

mirror his professio

through his gaze before he gestured towar

s was. A professional opportunity. It didn't matter that the man sitting across from her was the same one who had once wh

omach tighten. "Your work has impressed our team. We've been searching for someon

edge of something dangerous. "I appreciate the opportunity," she said, keeping her tone ev

s jaw, but he nodded.

i

meone trying to read between the lines. "The collection I've designed merges timeless elegance with modern

held no trace of insincerity, and that only made it worse. "But tell me s

der her skin, testing her boundaries the wa

she said smoothly, arching a

ething that hinted at the past neither of

oor shattered th

ecognized Vivian Mercer instantly-Holden's stepmother. The woman who had once made

d disdain before she smiled at Holden. "I wasn't

expression neutral. This was exactly what

s leading our fashion expansion.

't reach her eyes.

remembered from years ago. But she wasn't the n

eciate the opportunity, Mrs. Mercer. I

led her smirk. "I su

the room, her presence lin

pulse thrumming with irritation.

s fingers tapping against

but she let it go. It w

said, steering the conversation back to business. "If

ged at Holden's lips. "St

arrogant

he way things used to be. The effortless back-and-forth, the way he had

"I'll have the finalized concepts

oo close. His cologne-rich and familiar

sy, are you?" His voice was lower

unreadable. "I'm here fo

expression, but he nodded. "Then let's see if we

walked out, keeping her pace

This project was going to change her life. The only question was whet