The vacation ended the way all good things do—quietly, with a hint of unfinished business.
Luca and Lila hadn't spoken since the night of the gala. Not really. They didn't live in the same place during the vacation, so they didn't run into each other. But no words. No apologies. No explanations.
Luca had spent the rest of the vacation with his mother, helping her with charity work and pretending not to notice how often his thoughts drifted to a girl with a sharp tongue and a sharper stare. Lila, meanwhile, had thrown herself into family hikes, spa days with Pearl and Amara, and long walks along the cliffs, trying to forget the way Luca had looked at her on that balcony—like she was the only real thing in a room full of masks.
But vacations end. And real life waits.
Two weeks later, Lila stood in front of a towering glass building in the heart of the city.
It was massive—sleek, modern, and intimidating. The kind of place that didn't just house a company. It was the company. A business empire that stretched across industries and continents.
She clutched her folder tighter.
Her uncle had pulled strings. That much was clear. He'd said it was a favor from an old friend's wife. That the company was run by the husband. That Lila's academic record had sealed the deal.
Top of her class. Best law school in the state. Fluent in corporate law, mergers, and litigation. She was ready.
But as she looked up at the name etched in silver across the building's entrance, her stomach dropped.
ELION GLOBAL HOLDINGS.
No. No, no, no.
She stared at the name, heart pounding.
It couldn't be.
But it was.
She took a deep breath. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe it was a distant cousin. Maybe—
"Miss Grace?"
She turned. A man in a navy suit smiled at her. "I'm Chief Legal Officer Marcus Hale. Welcome. We've been expecting you."
She forced a smile. "Thank you. It's an honor."
He led her through the lobby, past glass elevators and marble floors, into a sleek office with floor-to-ceiling windows.
"This will be your workspace," he said. "You'll be working directly under the executive legal team. We're excited to have you."
"It's beautiful," she said, setting her folder down. "May I ask—who exactly is the CEO?"
Marcus smiled. "Victor Elion. He's the founder. But his son, Luca, has been taking on more and more of the day-to-day operations. Grooming him to take over officially."
Lila's heart stopped.
Luca. That Luca.
She kept her face neutral. "I see."
Marcus didn't notice her shift. "You'll probably meet him soon. He's very hands-on. But don't worry—he's brilliant. Demanding, but fair."
Lila nodded. "Thank you for the warm welcome."
By lunchtime, she'd met her team, reviewed her onboarding documents, and settled into her office. She was just starting to relax when her phone buzzed.
Lunch is served in the executive dining lounge. Attendance is encouraged.
She sighed. No escape.
The lounge was on the top floor, with panoramic views of the city. She stepped inside, scanning the room.
And froze.
Luca was there.
Not in a suit. Not in a tux. But in a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled, tie loose, laughing with a group of executives like he owned the place.
Because he did.
He turned.
Saw her.
And smiled.
"Well, well," he said, walking over. "Didn't expect to see you here."
Lila straightened. "Trust me, the feeling's mutual."
He looked her up and down. "New hire?"
"Legal department."
He raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. I didn't know we were recruiting from the bakery circuit."
She gave him a tight smile. "And I didn't know nepotism was a job qualification."
He laughed. "Touché."
Marcus appeared beside them. "Ah, I see you've met our newest associate, Mr. Elion."
Luca's smile widened. "Oh, we've met."
Lila's jaw clenched. "Briefly."
Marcus chuckled. "Small world, huh?"
Luca's eyes never left hers. "Smaller than you think."
That night, Lila sat on her bed, phone pressed to her ear.
"You didn't tell me it was his company," she hissed. Lila being close to her uncle too,had also told her uncle about Luca because she had blamed him for her seeing him again because he made her attend that party.
Her uncle sighed. "I didn't think it mattered. You said you wanted a challenge."
"I wanted a job. Not a front-row seat to the Luca Elion show."
Pearl's voice chimed in from the background. "Told you he was trouble."
Lila groaned. "I can't believe this."
Her uncle's voice softened. "Lila, you earned this. Don't let anyone—especially not some rich boy—make you feel otherwise."
She hung up, staring out the window at the city lights.
She'd worked too hard to walk away.
But she also knew one thing for sure:
This wasn't over.
Not by a long shot.