The taxi pulled forward, moving away from the crowded street corner. Sasha stayed frozen, the photo of Luca Meyer, the man who was both her CEO and her blind date, still burned into her mind. Her professional armor, which had been so shiny and unbreakable an hour ago, was now shattered by a cruel, cosmic joke.
Sameer, completely unaware of her internal crisis, was already scrolling through his construction notes. "So.. are we doing a quick check in or a deep dive at the site? I say we make it quick. I have that design challenge to prepare for tomorrow. So.."
"Quick check in" Sasha managed, her voice tight. The frantic, honking chaos of the city was a dull roar compared to the panic in her head. She spent the entire ride building an airtight defense plan. She would be polite, brief, and completely forgettable. She had to make sure her professional and personal lives stayed totally separate.
Her job depended on it.
The next hour on the construction site was a blur. The metallic smell of concrete dust and the rhythmic clang of tools did little to bring her back to earth. Sameer worked efficiently, his eyes sharp as he checked the progress, but Sasha was running on pure adrenaline and habit. She nodded at the foreman, signed off on material logistics, and pretended to look closely at the blueprints, only seeing Luca Meyer's focused gaze placed over the technical drawings. She felt like a puppet, moving through the motions while her brain was completely shut down.
"All right.. that's us done" Sameer said, snapping the blueprints shut. "You look like you need a forty eight hour nap. Go home, champ."
"You have no idea.." Sasha muttered, forcing a tired smile.
The familiar, crowded mess of Karama was a strange comfort after the sleek, controlled world of the Business Bay towers. The buildings were closer together, the street noise louder and the air was thick with the scent of spices and diesel fumes. Sasha walked up the narrow stairs to her simple one bedroom apartment. The door feeling like a gateway out of the corporate pressure cooker.
She pushed open the door and was instantly met by the warm, savory smell of Indian food Masala dosa, judging by the scent.
"I'm home.." Sasha called out, dropping her heavy work bag by the entrance.
"Finally!"
Kavya, her roommate and best friend appeared from the small kitchen area, holding a wooden ladle. She was wearing comfortable scrubs, her thick dark hair pulled back in a messy bun. A nurse at one of Dubai's major hospitals, Kavya ran on night shift energy, which meant she was currently bright and wide awake.
Kavya took one look at Sasha, who was leaning against the doorframe, a picture of polished exhaustion.
Sasha didn't speak, but she managed a helpless yet dramatic pout. She walked straight over and slumped against Kavya, resting her head on her shoulder in a side hug.
"Woah.. What happened, workhorse?" Kavya asked, playfully patting Sasha's arm, her tone light. "Tired from work, or are you planning again to travel back in time and fall in love with a fictional king, huh..?"
Sasha sighed, the sound long and defeated. She pulled away and hopped onto the kitchen countertop, avoiding eye contact. "Worse..! My mother." She pulled out her phone and, with a grimace, opened the photo and handed the device over. "Tell me your honest opinion."
Kavya's eyes widened as she took in the image of Luca in the expensive suit, the composed posture, the mature seriousness. "Wow. Nice guy. Very... established. Go meet him, why not? Seriously, Sasha he is hot."
Sasha pushed herself off the counter, burying her face in her hands. "Kavya. This 'nice guy'... is my boss."
Silence fell, broken only by the gentle simmering of the chickpeas on the stove. Kavya stared at the phone, then at Sasha, then back at the phone.
Slowly, an impossible, hilarious grin spread across her face.
Kavya let out a hoot of laughter, covering her mouth with her free hand.
"Oh, my God. A perfect K-Drama moment! You are living the office romance story, Sasha! Except in your version, the CEO is terrifying, and you're the heroine trying to avoid a promotion or a marriage proposal."
"It is not a K-Drama, it's a career suicide waiting to happen" Sasha hissed, running a hand through her slick ponytail. "He is Luca Meyer! I saw his face across a boardroom table for two hours today. He approved my project! Now I'm supposed to sit and drink coffee with him and talk about our mutual mothers?"
"Exactly!" Kavya insisted, turning off the gas and grabbing Sasha's arm, pulling her toward the small balcony. The cool evening air of Karama gave them a slight break. "Look, he is already seen the photo of you. He knows. He hasn't called it off. That means he's fine with it."
Kavya sat down and motioned for Sasha to do the same. "You need to stop panicking. You're a professional. Treat this like an uncomfortable professional situation you have to handle. But first, you have to talk to him. If you show up cold, it'll be a thousand times more awkward. Call him. Right now. Just to confirm he's still going."
Sasha stared at the phone, her heart beginning its familiar, heavy rhythm. Kavya was right. Knowing for sure that he would show up was crucial for her composure.
After a few minutes of arguing with herself, Sasha unlocked her phone and scrolled to the number that was already saved. Her hand trembled slightly as she hit the call button. The ringing seemed deafeningly loud.
He answered on the second ring.
"Hello, Sasha." His voice, deep and composed, came through the speaker. It was the same voice that had dismissed an entire marketing campaign yesterday, now speaking her name with an unsettling familiarity.
Sasha's throat was dry.
"Uhm, s-sir..." she stammered, instantly regretting the formality.
Kavya, leaning in, tapped her hand sharply, signaling for her to speak like a normal person.
"Yes?" Luca's voice was polite, patient, and completely businesslike. "Did you and Sameer leave the site yet?"
"Y-yes, sir. Just got back. Everything's fine."
"Good. I'm glad the site visit went smoothly. As for tonight, let's meet at seven as planned. I've booked a table at Observatory Bar & Grill in the Dubai Marina, overlooking the water. Is there anything else you need?"
Sasha was silent in shock. He had handled the entire absurd situation with the same methodical, calm efficiency he used to manage a multimillion dirham project. He was treating the blind date like a regular seven o'Clock appointment.
Kavya nudged her again.
"No... no sir" Sasha finally managed, the lie catching in her throat.
"Okay then. I'll see you at seven."
And with that, he ended the call.
Kavya threw her hands up in victory. "See! He's fine! He's a workaholic. He's probably just fitting you in between emails. It's perfect! Now, less panic, more preparation. This is a scouting mission, remember? You're gathering information on his civilian personality."
The panic, though still there, began to give way to a new feeling.. determination. If Luca Meyer was treating this like a highly efficient meeting, Sasha Perret would treat it like a detailed design presentation.
For the next hour, the apartment was buzzing with activity. Kavya, an expert in getting dressed quickly and looking simply elegant, dove into Sasha's closet.
"Not the boring gray. Not the severe navy. We need an unforgettable professional" Kavya dictated.
They decided on a black, knee length pencil skirt and a beautifully draped black silk top. It was elegant, classy, and demanded respect without trying too hard. Kavya expertly applied simple makeup. A sharp line of eyeliner and a confident, brick red lipstick, and insisted Sasha leave her hair down, letting the waves frame her face.
By 6:15 PM, Sasha looked in the mirror. She was polished, poised, and utterly terrified.
"You got this" Kavya said, pushing a small clutch into Sasha's hand. "Remember, he is your blind date, Not your boss for next few hours. Don't panic, just be yourself."
The taxi ride to the Dubai Marina was silent. The city lights flashed past the towering, ambitious geometry of the Business Bay, the glittering reflections on the water. Luca had chosen the location well. The Observatory Bar & Grill was a classy, high end spot known for its spectacular views and sophisticated customers. It was intimidating, but suitable for a CEO.
Sasha took a deep breath, smoothing her skirt as she stepped out. She walked past the host and scanned the room. The restaurant was sleek and hushed.
And there he was. Luca Meyer, already at a table by the window, gazing out at the panorama of the Marina. He was no longer the imposing figure behind the mahogany desk, but a solitary man waiting for a blind date.
Taking a deep, anchoring breath the same one she used right before clicking the first slide of a presentation, Sasha started walking toward him, her heels clicking softly on the polished floor, every single molecule of her being uncertain and awkward.
[To be continued]