The meeting ended on a note that left with more questions than answers. Alexander Knight had agreed to a tentative partnership—on the condition that she present a full-scale strategic plan within the next seventy-two hours. He wanted specifics, projections, and contingency plans, and he wanted them perfect.
Isabella returned to her office with fire in her veins. The challenge wasn't just professional anymore—it was personal. Alexander had made it clear he didn't trust her. Not yet. But that only made her more determined to prove herself.
She worked through the night, the soft glow of her desk lamp casting long shadows against the walls. Her office, usually neat and polished, turned chaotic—documents scattered, whiteboards filled with scribbles, and coffee cups piling up. Dana had offered to stay late, but Isabella had declined. She needed to do this herself.
By the second night, exhaustion clung to her like a second skin, but she refused to give in. She'd built her entire career from the ground up, fighting tooth and nail in a world where women were often underestimated. She wasn't about to let a man like Alexander Knight dismiss her as just another ambitious executive.
She glanced at the clock. 3:14 AM.
The silence of the office was deafening—until a soft chime broke it. A new email.
Isabella blinked as she read the sender.
A.Knight@knightindustries.com
Her fingers hesitated before opening it.
You're working late, Ms. Harper.
Or is it early?
Either way, I hope you're not sacrificing sleep over me.
– A.K.
Isabella smirked, caught off guard by the subtle teasing in his message. She quickly typed a response.
Sacrifice implies loss, Mr. Knight.
I prefer to call it a calculated investment.
– I.H.
She hit send and leaned back, a small smile curving her lips. Maybe Alexander wasn't as cold as he appeared. Maybe beneath all that steel was a man who enjoyed the game as much as she did.
The final proposal was submitted exactly seventy-one hours later—one hour ahead of schedule.
When Isabella entered the boardroom for their third meeting, Alexander was already there. He looked impeccable, as always, but there was something different in his expression today—less guarded, more... intrigued.
He accepted the file without a word and spent the next ten minutes flipping through it in silence. Isabella stood her ground, refusing to fidget even under his intense scrutiny.
Finally, he looked up.
"This is…impressive," he said, his tone carefully neutral.
"But?" she asked.
Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly, the ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "No 'but'. Just… unexpected."
"I aim to surprise."
"I can see that."
He closed the file and stood. "You've made your move, Ms. Harper. I think it's time I made mine."
Isabella arched a brow. "And what exactly does that mean?"
Alexander moved closer, the space between them shrinking again until she could feel the pull of his presence. He studied her face for a long moment before speaking, his voice lower, more personal.
"It means this partnership will go beyond paper and numbers. I intend to see just how far you're willing to go."
The tension between them crackled like electricity. Isabella's breath caught, but she didn't back away.
"Careful, Mr. Knight," she murmured. "I don't play games I can't win."
Alexander's smile deepened. "Neither do I."