In the car, Reese flipped through the documents in her folder, trying to piece together what little information she had. She never would''ve guessed that the person L wanted her to pick up was the founder of Iron Financial-a name making waves everywhere these days.


    The folder didn''t help much. There''s no photo, barely any personal details. Even after a quick search online, she found almost nothing. All anyone seemed to know was that he''d left the country young, made a fortune abroad, and now he was back to start fresh at home.


    On her way to the airport, Reese made a pit stop at an ad agency and begged them to make a wee sign on the spot. Thanks to traffic, she was already runningte, and by the time she arrived, passengers were pouring out of the arrivals gate.


    She rushed inside, barely lifting the sign before a familiar voice cut through the crowd. "Reese!"


    She spun around. Her eyes widened, a grin breaking out on her face. “Tara!”


    Tara was her cousin, her uncle''s daughter, and basically her best friend since childhood. They''d grown up together, as close as sisters.


    Tara threw her arms around her. "You came to pick me up? You must''ve known I was flying home today!"


    Normally, Reese would have joked right back, but today she had a job to do. She quickly exined she was there for work, ready to get back to her mission of finding Iron Financial''s mysterious founder.


    But Tara justughed, grabbed her hand, and started weaving through the crowd. "Don''t worry about it. I actually know the guy you''re looking for."


    Reese blinked, surprised. "You do?"


    "Yup. No need to wander around. I''ll take you right to him."


    It sounded impossible. How had Tara, after just a few years overseas, ended up crossing paths with someone this important? She must have noticed Reese''s confusion, because Tara shot her a secretive little smile. "Not only do I know him, you know him too."


    Reese stared. "Me? No way. I think I''d remember meeting someone like that."


    But Tara just winked and led her to the baggage im. There, a man in a white T- shirt with a subtle print stood off to the side, one hand in his pocket, the other steadying a suitcase.


    "Zach!" Tara called out, letting go of Reese and running straight into his arms.


    He caught her easily, smiling as he brushed her nose with his finger. "What''s got you so happy?"


    The name hit Reese like a p. For a second, she forgot how to breathe. When she saw Tara hugging him, her feet refused to move. She just stood there, frozen.


    Zach. Her childhood best friend. Her first love. The boy she''d once promised to spend her life with.


    But life had other ns. Everything changed, and she ended up marrying Sebastian. She broke the promise she''d made to Zach, and they lost each other.


    Now, Tara was holding his hand, and it was obvious to anyone what they meant to each other.


    "Reese, this is the founder of Iron Financial," Tara said, beaming. "He''s the one you came to meet, right?"


    Zach looked up at the sound of her name. The warmth in his eyes disappeared, reced by a cold, distant stare.


    Reese forced a smile, stepping forward. "Zach, it''s been a long time."


    "It has," Zach said, his voice cool.


    With introductions done, Tara handed all the luggage to Zach without a second thought, then pulled Reese ahead.


    "Don''t mind him," Tara whispered. "He''s always like that kind of standoffish with people he doesn''t like. He''lle around."


    "Oh, and we''re getting married," Tara added, as if it was no big deal. "We''re


    staying here for good this time. Ready to start our life here together."


    Reese nced at her cousin. They''d grown up side by side, shared every secret, told each other everything. At least, she thought so.