Chapter 1: Collision Course

The skyline of New York City was a jagged silhouette against the early morning sun, the buildings bathed in a golden hue. Isabella Harrington stood by the large glass window of her small but stylish apartment, sipping her coffee and mentally running through her schedule. She had a big presentation today that could potentially land her firm, Harrington & Co., a high-profile project with Blackwood Enterprises.

The thought of working with Ethan Blackwood made her grip tighten on her coffee mug. Their paths had crossed before—his company had outbid hers on more than one occasion. Ethan was known for his ruthless business tactics and impeccable success record. To Izzy, he was the epitome of everything she despised in the corporate world: arrogant, entitled, and utterly insufferable.

As she finished her coffee, Izzy’s phone buzzed with a text from Sophia Martinez, her best friend and partner in design.

Sophia: "Good luck today, Izzy! Knock 'em dead! 🎨"

Izzy smiled. Sophia’s support was always unwavering. She quickly typed back.

Izzy: "Thanks, Soph! Meeting at 10. Fingers crossed! 🤞"

Izzy arrived at Blackwood Enterprises’ sleek headquarters with minutes to spare. The modern building was a testament to the company’s wealth and influence. As she entered the imposing lobby, she felt a familiar sense of determination settle over her. This was her chance to prove herself and her firm.

She was led to a spacious conference room where Ethan Blackwood was already seated, reviewing some documents. He looked up as she entered, his blue eyes meeting her green ones with a mixture of curiosity and challenge.

“Ms. Harrington,” he greeted coolly, standing up and extending his hand.

“Mr. Blackwood,” she replied, matching his tone as she shook his hand, feeling the firmness of his grip.

They sat down, and Izzy launched into her presentation. She spoke passionately about her vision for the project, detailing her ideas with precision and confidence. Ethan listened attentively, his expression unreadable. When she finished, there was a moment of silence.

“Impressive,” he finally said, his voice neutral. “You’ve clearly put a lot of thought into this.”

Izzy’s heart raced. Was that a compliment? From Ethan Blackwood?

“But,” he continued, “I have a few concerns. Your design, while innovative, may not align with the historical significance of the site.”

Izzy felt a flare of frustration. “With all due respect, Mr. Blackwood, preserving history doesn’t mean we can’t embrace modernity. My design integrates both.”

Ethan leaned back in his chair, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “I see your point, Ms. Harrington. Perhaps we can find a middle ground.”

The rest of the meeting was a tense back-and-forth, both of them refusing to back down. When it finally ended, Ethan stood and offered his hand again.

“I look forward to seeing how this develops,” he said.

Izzy shook his hand, her competitive spirit ignited. “So do I.”

As she walked out of the building, Izzy felt a mix of emotions. She was determined to win this project, but something about Ethan Blackwood intrigued her, challenged her in a way she hadn’t expected. She pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand.

Little did she know, this was just the beginning of a journey that would change everything she thought she knew about love and rivalry.

End of Chapter 1

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