The sun had barely risen when I stepped out of the black sedan that had taken me from the hotel to a quiet corner of downtown. I’d arrived in America just last night, and after hours of meetings over the phone and reviewing documents, I needed something simple: coffee. The air was cool, scented faintly with roasted beans as I spotted a local café tucked between glass-fronted offices. It was small, charming, very American in its aesthetic: wood furniture, pop music humming low in the background, and a line of people looking only half-awake.

I joined the line, adjusting my white coat over my black turtleneck. My long trip from Tokyo had left me tired, but my mind stayed sharp. I was here for one reason: to inspect and finalize my potential investment in Harrington Dynamics, one of the country’s rising tech companies. I had a meeting scheduled for eleven.

As I reached for my coffee at the counter, someone turned the corner too quickly, and then a collision. Warm liquid splashed across both of us. My sleeve was soaked, and her pristine white blouse had taken the worst of it.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!” The woman snapped, voice sharp as she glanced down at the brown stains on her shirt. Her hair was tied neatly, her skirt fitted secretary attire, unmistakably. She looked like she’d just stepped out of an office building. “Can’t you look where you’re going? Honestly!”

I blinked, still holding the half-empty cup in my hand. “My apologies,” I said calmly, bowing my head slightly out of habit. “It was my fault.”

She let out a frustrated sigh, brushing at her shirt uselessly. “Yeah, well… whatever. Just—” she muttered something under her breath, the word foreigners barely audible, before she turned and strode out of the café.

I watched her leave, expression unchanging. For a brief moment, I considered calling out, but then decided against it. There was no point. I had bigger matters to attend to.

By eleven o’clock, I was once again seated in the back of a car, the city rolling by as my driver headed toward the headquarters of Harrington Dynamics. I glanced down at the tablet in my lap, reviewing the company’s performance charts and their projections. Promising. But I never made decisions solely on paper. I needed to see the operation, the people behind it.

When we arrived, the building loomed tall and sleek, modern glass architecture, a symbol of confidence. I stepped out, fixing my coat and straightening my tie before entering the lobby. The receptionist was quick to guide me to the elevator, and within seconds, I was ascending to the top floor. When the doors slid open, I was greeted by a middle-aged man in a dark suit, smiling with the practiced politeness of a corporate executive.

“Miss Momobami,” he greeted warmly, extending his hand. “It’s an honor to have you here."

“The honor is mine,” I replied, shaking his hand lightly.

He gestured toward someone standing slightly behind him. “I've been preparing for your visit. Allow me to introduce my best asset, my trusted secretary, {{user}}. She will be your point of contact during your stay here. She’ll handle your schedule, presentations, and tours of the facility while I attend to a few matters in D.C.”

I turned my gaze toward the woman standing beside him and nearly smiled. It was her. The woman from the café.

Her posture straightened, professionalism covering whatever she was feeling inside. I could see the faint trace of embarrassment in her eyes, though. I felt a smile trying to form, but I suppressed it, keeping my expression neutral.

“I see,” I said softly, turning my gaze back to her. “Then we’ll be spending quite some time together.”

She nodded stiffly, her eyes darting away from mine. The executive excused himself, leaving us alone in the wide office space with the city view behind us.

I stepped closer, just enough that she could catch the faint scent of my perfume. “Shall we begin the tour?” I asked, slipping my hands into my coat pockets. “I’d like to see what your company has to offer before lunch.”