Damon's POV
Monday mornings at Blackwood Global were known for one thing.
Meetings.
Lots of them.
The boardroom on the forty-second floor was already filled with executives when Damon walked in. Everyone immediately stood.
"Good morning, Mr. Blackwood."
He acknowledged them with a slight nod before taking his seat at the head of the long oak table.
Olivia placed a tablet in front of him.
"The quarterly reports are ready, sir."
"Thank you."
For the next thirty minutes, the meeting went exactly as every other meeting did.
Numbers.
Profits.
Expansion plans.
Projected investments.
"...and if we proceed with the Singapore acquisition—"
"Mr. Blackwood?"
Silence.
Every eye in the room turned toward Damon.
He blinked.
"I'm sorry."
"Could you repeat that?"
Olivia almost smiled.
In eight years of working together...
She had never seen Damon lose focus.
Not once.
The finance director cleared his throat and repeated the figures.
Damon listened this time, but a small part of his mind drifted back to the exhibition.
To a quiet woman standing in front of a painting of a lonely boat.
"The boat isn't lost..."
"It's resting."
He hadn't expected those words to stay with him.
Yet they had.
When the meeting finally ended, Gabriel walked in carrying two cups of coffee.
"I come in peace."
Damon accepted one.
"That's unusual."
"I've decided to be a better friend."
"You said that last week."
"I lasted almost twelve minutes."
Damon chuckled.
Gabriel noticed.
"There it is again."
"What?"
"The smile."
"I smiled?"
"You've smiled three times since Saturday."
Damon took a sip of coffee.
"I think you're imagining things."
Gabriel folded his arms.
"No."
"I think you're thinking about someone."
Damon looked at him without expression.
"I met dozens of people at the exhibition."
"I'm not talking about dozens."
Gabriel leaned against the desk.
"I'm talking about the woman."
Silence.
That was all the answer Gabriel needed.
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"There is a woman."
"There isn't."
"So you remember her."
"I remember everyone I meet."
"Liar."
Damon raised an eyebrow.
"I simply have a good memory."
Gabriel grinned.
"What was her name?"
Damon didn't answer immediately.
"...Lila."
Gabriel's grin widened.
"You remembered."
"I just said I have a good memory."
"No."
"You remembered her."
Before Damon could reply, Olivia knocked.
"Mr. Blackwood, your ten o'clock appointment is here."
Gabriel pointed dramatically.
"This conversation isn't over."
"It is."
"We'll see."
Lila's POV
Monday at Carver's Fine Art Supplies felt strangely... normal.
As if the exhibition had never happened.
She was helping a customer choose charcoal pencils when Noah appeared beside her carrying an enormous stack of sketchbooks.
"Question."
She looked up.
"Is it an important question?"
"Very."
"What is the best snack ever invented?"
She blinked.
"...That's important?"
"It could save lives."
She pretended to think.
"Cinnamon rolls."
He gasped.
"I knew we were friends."
Mr. Carver looked over his glasses.
"You two are discussing pastries while customers are shopping?"
"It's research," Noah replied.
"For what?"
"Our lunch."
The elderly customer they were helping laughed.
"I vote for cinnamon rolls too."
Noah threw both hands into the air.
"Democracy wins!"
Even Mr. Carver smiled.
The morning flew by.
Just before lunch, Elise burst through the shop doors.
She wasn't supposed to be there until evening.
"Lila!"
Lila frowned.
"What happened?"
"I was nearby."
"You were shopping."
"...Maybe."
"You wanted gossip."
"...Definitely."
Noah quietly stepped away.
"I'm giving you two privacy."
"Good choice," Mr. Carver muttered.
Elise leaned across the counter.
"So..."
"So?"
"Tell me about the handsome stranger."
Lila immediately looked away.
"There isn't anything to tell."
"Really?"
"You talked for almost twenty minutes."
"It wasn't twenty."
"Eighteen."
"You timed it?"
"I was curious."
Lila laughed despite herself.
"We just talked."
"About?"
"Art."
"And?"
"Boats."
Elise blinked.
"...Boats?"
"There was a painting."
Elise stared for a long moment before laughing.
"You are the only woman I know who meets a gorgeous man at a glamorous exhibition..."
"...and spends the evening discussing boats."
Lila couldn't help laughing too.
"It wasn't like that."
"So..."
"When did you realize he was Damon Blackwood?"
"Right before he left."
"And?"
"I was embarrassed."
"Why?"
"I accidentally spilled water on his jacket."
Elise covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
"Oh, Lila."
"I apologized."
"I'm sure you did."
"Several times."
"I know you."
They both laughed.
That afternoon, the shop grew quiet.
Lila wandered toward the display window and absentmindedly opened her sketchbook.
Without thinking...
She began sketching.
A sharp jawline.
Calm eyes.
Dark hair.
She stopped.
Stared at the page.
Then sighed.
"I wasn't trying to draw him."
Noah walked over carrying a box of paintbrushes.
"Draw who?"
She quickly closed the sketchbook.
"No one."
He looked suspicious.
"Hmm."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You've got your 'thinking face' on."
"I have a thinking face?"
"You do."
"You also have a smiling face."
"And today..."
"I've seen both."
Across the city...
Damon stood in front of the enormous windows of his office.
The city stretched endlessly below.
Victor stepped inside.
"Sir?"
"Yes?"
"The foundation board would like your approval for next month's community art program."
Damon turned.
"Where is it being held?"
Victor checked his notes.
"At Carver's Fine Art Supplies."
Damon paused.
"Carver's?"
"Yes."
"They've partnered with the foundation for years."
A quiet smile touched Damon's lips.
"Approve it."
Victor nodded.
"I'll notify them."
As he left, Damon looked back out over the city.
Carver's Fine Art Supplies.
The place where Lila worked.
He hadn't planned on seeing her again.
But life...
Had quietly placed another brushstroke onto the canvas.
And neither of them knew...
Their second meeting was closer than either could imagine.