Lyra paced her office, the fading sunlight casting long shadows across the worn carpet. Her mind raced with the events of the past two days - the gala, the kiss with Caden, the media frenzy. She glanced at her phone for the hundredth time, rereading Caden's message: "I'll be there. We have a lot to discuss."
A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Aria poked her head in, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "He's here," she said simply.
Lyra nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "Thanks, Ari. I've got this."
As she made her way to the front door, Lyra couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change. She opened the door to find Caden standing there, looking as conflicted as she felt.
"Hi," she said softly, stepping aside to let him in.
"Hi,
