Third Person's POV.
What Mr. Randall had said in the conference room still stung Sofia. She knew she was shorter than the average human, but he didn't have to mock her genetic condition so cruelly.
Back in Singapore, Sofia had visited several doctors. They had told her she might grow a little taller at a certain age, but they warned her not to hope for it — it only happened in rare cases. She had accepted it long ago. She had built empires without height. She had commanded rooms without towering over anyone.
Still… his words had found a small crack in her armor.
She pushed the thought aside. Vulnerability was a luxury she rarely allowed herself.
After the exhausting board meeting, Sofia decided to go directly to her chocolate company instead of returning to her office. The faint scent of cocoa greeted her as soon as she stepped inside. Workers moved efficiently across the production floor, gloved hands precise, machines humming in steady rhythm.
She walked slowly this time — not just observing, but absorbing. Employees greeted her respectfully. Progress charts were updated. Weekly reports were neatly stacked on her assistant manager's desk.
The marketing department was preparing seasonal advertisements, colorful drafts pinned carefully to presentation boards. Campaign timelines were highlighted. Budgets balanced. Everything ran exactly as she had envisioned when she first invested.
Saydai once called it a chocolate obsession. Sofia called it passion.
Satisfied, she offered a small nod and left. The factory was stable. Reliable. Loyal.
Her architectural company, however, demanded her sharper focus.
Back at her office, Sofia removed her blazer and sat behind her desk. Files were stacked high. Emails blinked impatiently on her screen. She instructed Sandra to grab lunch since they had skipped it earlier due to the board meeting.
"You need energy, Miss Parker," Saydai insisted gently.
"I'll be fine," Sofia replied without looking up.
Truthfully, she wasn't hungry. Her mind was elsewhere.
Dinner with Antonio Haywood.
Time slipped away unnoticed. The office clock ticked steadily, but neither woman paid attention. Saydai was buried in editing documents, photocopying contracts, arranging files, and coordinating replacements for the employees Sofia had fired. Her usually composed face showed a faint strain.
It wasn't until she glanced at her watch that her eyes widened.
"Miss Parker… we're going to be ten minutes late."
Sofia looked up immediately. Ten minutes.
She disliked being late.
They moved quickly to the underground parking lot. The echo of their heels against the concrete floor felt louder than usual. Saydai clutched her tablet tightly, her brows slightly furrowed.
Colman was already waiting at the entrance. He stepped out the moment he saw them and opened the door for Sofia.
"Thank you," she said softly before entering the car.
As the vehicle pulled onto Congo Town Road, Sofia checked the time again. A traffic light ahead turned red. She exhaled slowly.
Outside, street vendors packed up for the evening. Motorbikes weaved through smaller lanes. The city moved with its usual rhythm, unaware that tonight could shift the course of her business.
"This deal could change everything," she thought. "I can't afford to misstep."
Antonio Haywood was not just another businessman. He was strategic. Calculating. A man who expanded across continents and dominated markets others feared to enter.
If he partnered with her architectural firm, it would open doors internationally. If he refused… competitors would circle.
Saydai noticed the tension in Sofia's posture. "You've negotiated with ministers and foreign investors," she said quietly. "You can handle one billionaire."
Sofia allowed herself a faint smile. "That's not what worries me."
Saydai tilted her head slightly. "Then what does?"
Sofia didn't answer. She wasn't sure herself.
The car moved smoothly once the light turned green. No heavy traffic blocked their way. As Crystal's restaurant came into view — sleek glass walls glowing under soft golden lights — Sofia adjusted the cuffs of her blouse and reviewed her mental notes.
Key talking points. Investment projections. Expansion proposals.
The car stopped.
Through the glass entrance, she could see silhouettes of diners. Elegant décor. Staff moving gracefully between tables. Soft ambient lighting reflected off polished floors.
And then she saw him.
He stood near the far end of the restaurant, speaking briefly to a manager. Even from a distance, his presence was unmistakable.
Tall. Composed. Effortlessly commanding.
Antonio Haywood did not fidget. He did not rush. He occupied space as though the world adjusted itself around him. His posture was relaxed yet alert, shoulders straight, movements deliberate. When he turned slightly, the warm lighting caught his golden-brown eyes.
He wasn't trying to impress anyone.
He didn't need to.
For a brief second, Sofia forgot to open the car door.
Saydai noticed. "That's him, isn't it?"
"Yes," Sofia replied calmly, though her pulse had quickened.
Not because of his appearance.
But because she recognized something in his demeanor.
Control.
The same control she carried into every boardroom.
This would not be a simple meeting.
This would be a chess match.
Colman opened the door. Sofia stepped out, smoothing her expression into professional composure.
Tonight, the ordinary rules would not apply.
And neither of them would underestimate the other.
---
Author's Note
Hola, everyone!
Thank you for your patience and all the love and support. I'm so excited about Antonio and Sofia's first real interaction — I promise it won't disappoint.
How do you think their meeting will unfold? 🤔
Happy reading!
(｡☬０☬｡)