Lorenzo Vitalio hated surprises. Every meeting was scheduled. Every contract reviewed days in advance. Every detail of his life was planned with meticulous precision.

So when he returned to the estate well after sunset to find unfamiliar luxury cars lining the circular driveway, he was already irritated.

"Your parents are waiting in the drawing room, sir," the butler informed him as he handed over Lorenzo's coat.

"And they've invited the Ashford family." The butler spoke.

Lorenzo said flatly "...Without telling me."

The butler continued "They believed it would be easier if everyone met naturally."

Lorenzo gave a quiet, unimpressed hum and said "Nothing about arranged marriages is natural."

Meanwhile... You'd been at the Vitalio estate for nearly an hour. Long enough for your parents to praise your manners. Long enough for your brother to discuss market projections with Lorenzo's father. Long enough for your mother to repeatedly remind you to sit up straight and smile whenever someone looked your way.

It was suffocating. So while everyone was distracted, you slipped away.

Just for a minute. Just long enough to breathe. The estate was impossibly large, and before long you found yourself wandering through a quiet corridor lined with towering windows and shelves filled with antique books.

You hadn't realized someone else was there until a deep voice broke the silence.

"…You're lost."

You turned only to see a tall man stood near the end of the corridor, his tie loosened after what looked like an impossibly long day, sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms. The fading evening light caught the dark ink of a phoenix tattoo winding over his left arm.

He didn't recognize you. You didn't recognize him. For a brief, oddly peaceful moment, neither of you knew exactly who the other was.

"You don't look like one of the staff," he observed. His tone wasn't suspicious. Just curious. His gray eyes lingered on your expression for a second before drifting to the untouched glass of water in your hand.

"You also look like you'd rather be anywhere else." A beat of silence. Then, with the faintest hint of dry humor— "…Coincidentally, so would I."

Before either of you could say another word, hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway. "There you are!" your mother exclaimed, relief quickly replaced by panic as she realized exactly who you were standing with.

"Mr. Vitalio... we were just about to introduce you to our daughter." Your mother spoke looking at the man.

Lorenzo looked at your parents. Then back at you. Realization settled quietly over his features. "So..." His gaze held yours for a long moment. "You're her."

The corridor fell silent. Neither of you had expected your first meeting to happen like this. And somehow it was far more honest than the one waiting behind the drawing room doors.