Chapter 1: The Unwelcome Encounter

The morning sun filtered softly through the glass walls of Vance Global Headquarters in downtown London, casting sharp shadows across the bustling

main hall. Clara Montgomery adjusted the strap of her leather portfolio bag, taking a deep breath before stepping into the executive elevator.

Today was the biggest presentation of her career, and failure was not an option.

Clara stepped inside the lavish conference room, sorting her digital designs and sketches on the mahogany table. Just as she arranged her final

draft, the heavy double doors swung open. A tall man in a tailored charcoal-grey suit walked in, carrying an air of quiet authority. His sharp

jawline and cold, piercing blue eyes immediately commanded the entire room.

It was Ethan Vance—the newly appointed CEO of Vance Global.

“You’re in my seat,” Ethan said coldly, his deep voice cutting through the silence without even looking up from his tablet.

Clara blinked, caught off guard by his abrupt tone. She stood her ground, folding her arms. “There’s no name on it, Mr. Vance. And technically, my

agency was assigned this space for the pitch.”

Ethan stopped and raised his gaze, meeting Clara’s fearless eyes for the first time. For a brief second, something flickered in his dark eyes—a

mix of surprise and mild annoyance—before his expression returned to an icy, unreadable mask.

“This is my boardroom, Miss Montgomery,” Ethan replied smoothly, stepping closer to the table. “And in my firm, efficiency comes before comfort.

Let’s see if your work matches your attitude.”

Clara felt a surge of frustration, but she held her head high. “Oh, it will exceed your expectations, Mr. Vance.”

The rivalry had officially begun.