Secrets of the Billionaire's Heart

Chapter one

Samantha Reynolds sat at her kitchen table, shafts of winter sunlight streaming through the window, lighting her bill pile on fire. She sighed and tucked the strand of chestnut hair behind her ear before refiguring the numbers for the third time. It wasn't easy being a single mother, but it was what she had decided for herself, what she had set her sights on to build a whole life far from the chaos that once had been hers alone.

"Mommy, look what I drew!"

That was when Lily's high voice broke into her thoughts, shrill with excitement. She saw her three-year-old daughter standing there with a crayon drawing depicting their small family: Samantha herself, Lily, and Emma—Lily's twin sister.

"Oh, lovely, honey," Samantha smiled and hugged her daughter, allowing Lily's little curls to tickle her cheek. For a second, the worries receded. At reality of it, that was all that mattered—her girls, her little world.

"Can we go today?" her big blue eyes looked up at her mother.

"Maybe later, sweetie," Samantha replied, her smile tightening at memories of Greg Thornton. She shoved them away. This was their life now, simple and safe, just as she wanted.

The phone rang, making her jump. She reached for it, balancing Lily on her hip.

"Hello?"

"Uh—how do you do, Ms. Reynolds? This is Rachel calling from Ascend Design." The voice at the other end was crisp, chilly, businesslike. "We've gone through the kind of stuff that you've sent us over, and we feel that we could, umm, probably work out an assignment for you in one of our upcoming issues as a freelance project. It'd be great experience for you, because we do have a couple of pretty high-potential clients lined up, and the take for the gig's gonna be above average. Would you do me a favor and drop in for a chat day after?"

Samantha felt her heart leap into a gallop. Ascend Design would be one of the top firms—an opportunity that could just turn it all around for her and her girls. There was a catch. She would have to go back to the very city, the world that she had vowed to leave behind.

"May I ask who the client is, Mr. Whitman?" she asked, trying very hard to sound matter-of-fact.

There was a brief hesitation. "What I am not at liberty to say over the phone, but you can be sure it will be a prestigious account."

Samantha hesitated. She needed the money, and this very well could be what would provide her with the security she craved so dearly, so hard-won for her daughters. And yet, an angle of something, a slant of time's action drawing her back to a place she wasn't ready to go.

"I will be there," she said finally, pretending that she spoke very definitely, though within, she was churning with anxiety.

"Excellent. We will see you at ten."

Samantha looked down at the phone in her hand. Emotions built up in her chest between excitement and dread simultaneously, and she glanced across the room at Lily, who was already playing with Emma on the floor; their giggles filling the room.

Over the years, she had run and run from what she had left behind, had thrown herself headlong into a life that would keep her daughters ever safe from the secrets she buried. Yet now, with all the uncertainties staring her in the face, Samantha knew she couldn't keep running forever.

The decision was made. Tomorrow she would come back to the city to that world—power and riches—which she had once renounced. She only hoped that her most vulnerable secret wouldn't cascade down.

As she hung up the phone, she was cold all over. Little did she know that tomorrow would bring her face to face with that very man, whom she never forgot, and who was ignorant of ever being a father.

The day just seemed to zip by, after that. Samantha did all the usual routine things: made lunch for the girls, tidied up their little home, and worked on her assigned freelance work. All the while her mind was on the call. She couldn't help it; something about this JOB just didn't sit right with her somehow.

Samantha was well aware that by that evening, she would have wrestled Lily and Emma into bed and be sitting down to her desk with a steaming cup of tea right beside her. She opened her laptop and went straight into researching Ascend Design. The firm had always handled high-profile clients, but it wasn't the company that bothered her; it was who was perhaps behind the project. "It was madness that it could be anything to do with Greg Thornton," she told her reflection, but fear was immovable. And, after all, she had taken such pains to make sure that he would never find her.

Samantha's fingers hovered over the keys for a moment. It had been a long time since she looked anything up about him. However, she couldn't take it anymore. The anxieties got the best of her curiosity, so she took a deep breath and keyed in his name in the search bar.

The first hit was an article from last week about some big acquisition Greg's company just pulled off. She opened the screen, and there he was, sharp, handsome with those piercing blue eyes, never gone from her dreams. 'Still as powerful' he read, 'one of the most important billionaires of the decade.' She closed the tab right away. She had seen him, and her heart was pounding. That picture brought back too many feelings, all of which she wasn't prepared to deal with.

She slung back into her chair, her hands folding against her face. "You are over-thinking," she whispered to herself. "There is no way this project is connected with him."

But as she sat in her life that he had nothing to do with, the nagging voice continued within her head. What if somehow it was connected to Greg? What if joining this job gave way only to know more than she had tried to bury?

The way too early next morning arrived. Samantha really hadn't slept at all; her mind was alive with whirling possibilities. Sleeping in with caution, it was going to be a smart, professional outfit that steered well past being too garish or too trying too hard. Running her fingers through her hair, she looked at her reflection in the mirror and wondered if Greg would even recognize her by now. She was not that footloose girl anymore, whom he'd known to be easily untouched; motherhood had made her many things in that time—some visible and some invisible changes.

She kissed goodbyes to Lily and Emma, leaving them in good hands, before driving towards the city. Its skyline became more palatable, silhouetted against the towering buildings in relief against the quiet life she had created. With every mile that passed, she felt a step back toward a past that she wasn't certain she wanted to face.

Samantha drew a deep breath, shoving at the door to the sleek, modern offices housing Ascend Design. The smiling face of the receptionist bade her toward a glass-walled conference room. Samantha stood waiting, her nerves fizzing with anticipation. She had no idea what to expect or whom she was going to meet.

Moments later, the tall, immaculately dressed woman walked in through that door. "Hello, Ms. Reynolds. I'm Rachel," she said, smiling and offering her hand. "Thank you for coming in."

"Hello, thank you for the opportunity," Samantha returned, shaking her hand.

Rachel grabbed a chair and placed it just so and proceeded to yank an executive folder from her bag with a child's smile pasted across it. "So, as I told you on the phone, this is a really big project. The client is very particular and we think that your style is going to be right up their alley."

Samantha nodded as she seemed to try and hear the words Rachel was saying instead of the increasing sense of impending doom that had consumed her mind.

All he could do was listen to Rachel. "We are going for modern elegance, timeless sophistication. The client is just up into new acquisitions in the high-end property category and wants to rebrand."

Now there was no stopping Samantha. This was going to be her kind of project—all creative, high-stakes, and potentially life-altering.

But she wouldn't let herself believe in the impossible, not until.

And the minute she started letting herself believe in the impossible, there was that phrase from Rachel that let Samantha's heart almost stop. "We'll be working closely with Mr. Thornton's team to make sure everything aligns with his vision."

"pleasant surprise" indeed.

**Chapter Two:**

Samantha's heart raced, failing to let the words sink in. Greg Thornton's team: that in itself was enough to turn her stomach. She had been hoping that she would avoid him and any kind of contact, but in this, her hope was to be in vain.

Rachel went on, not noticing the growing nervousness in Samantha's voice. "Mr. Thornton is very much a hands-on man with these projects. First thing tomorrow, we're having a meeting with him to discuss the design in great detail. You need to prepare a presentation."

"Tomorrow?" Samantha echoed in a steadier voice, trying to keep it from shaking. "That's pretty short notice."

"Yes, tight doesn't even begin to describe the timetable. The client is pretty anxious to be up and running with these things," explained Rachel. "You're going to be great."

She managed a thin smile and a nod. "I'll be ready."

Her head buzzed with anxiety as she walked out of the office. Seeing Greg was the last thing on her agenda here. It had literally taken her years to hide from that part of her life, and somehow, it was about to barrel down upon her full tilt. She needed to face it with class and professionalism, but he was going to overwhelm her.

It was the longest drive, riding back home to the coastal town. Her mind wouldn't stop the whirlwind of 'what could have beens' and slight guilt. Greg's face, his touch, their last conversation, it all came flooding back in. The pit, the sickness in the pit of her stomach, all felt fresh—leaving him, fear of getting caught.

Then there were Lily and Emma, who would greet her with beaming faces. Samantha tried, really tried, to put her worries away and focus on them. They played; she read them stories; she tucked them in with a kiss. Again there was only pure silence in the living room, which she would sit in alone, and its weight would prepare her for the next day's ordeal.

'She continued to stay at work that night, trying to channel nervous energy into something productive. Some design idea sketches, some very compelling slides, were created, and through her pitch rehearsal, she took some time every now and then just to gaze at the picture of her family that sat on the mantle and remind herself why she would go through the painful process of confronting her fears in the service of a future that showed potential for being better.

Samantha rose early the next morning and clad herself consciously in a classy, professional ensemble: a navy dress with a high, modest neckline and matching heels. Examining herself in the mirror, she tried to rein in the rushing ideas. She must be composed and confident; she must not let Greg sense the turmoil within her.

She drove back into the city, every mile gradually making the skyline more normal-looking. The meeting was, after all, to be at a little past mid-morning so Samantha got there early, taking a few moments to get her thoughts together. She reviewed her presentation, took deep breaths, and reminded herself of a lifetime of skills and experience.

As she walked into the office, there was a whirlwind of movement: the receptionist set up a bright reception and moved her into a real slick floor-to-ceiling-window conference room, overlooking the city. Samantha set up, tucked-in, and prepared her materials, then she just waited. The room was truly immaculate, showing Ascend Design's high standards.

At the chiming tenth stroke, and the door opened, in walked Greg Thornton. Samantha almost held her breath. He looked, as ever, dashingly handsome and dominant, this time in a nice suit that enhanced his tall and athletic built. His piercing eyes of blue roved the room, and for a second, they focused on hers.

Samantha was panting in the struggle to get her breath. Greg looked at her too long for it to be a moment of placing a face. She turned to her presentation board quickly and began to ramble through the content to try to quell the racing of her heart around him.

'Mr. Thornton, thank you for coming,' Rachel said as she extended her hand to shake his. 'This is Samantha Reynolds, our project's designer.'

Greg confidently yet firmly shook her hand. 'Good to meet you, Ms. Reynolds. Good things I've heard about your work.'

'Thank you.' The steadiness of her voice was surprised by Samantha when she said that, after that flutter in her stomach. 'I am really looking forward hard to share my ideas with you.'.

Getting through the meeting, Samantha kept the cobwebs out of her head. She told him about the design concepts, the questions, and Greg's remarks as professionally yet expectantly as she could. She had this sensation all the while that he was watching her, and it had never been clearer that not only was he without feeling—bored to death by the whole affair—but that he was bored by her as well.

Finally the group dispersed, the others moved on and Greg lagged behind, coming forward to where Samantha stood. His face was speculative.

"Can I.can I say something?" Greg's voice was very soft.

"Sure," Samantha hadn't a clue, her thoughts buzzed.

As the room cleared his eyes lost their sharpness. "I know something about you.you seem really familiar.are we being introduced?

Samantha's heart skipped a beat. She was walking on eggshells.

"I doubt it," she ventured, trying to smile. "Maybe you've seen one of the projects."

Greg slowly nodded, even if he did not look completely content. "Maybe. Well, can't wait to see what you come up with on those ideas."

"Thanks," Samantha replied with the almost inaudible intonation of her voice.

As he left, Samantha released a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. Of course, it had been a brief but very intense meeting. She knew what to do: keep her mind on her work, and guard the life she had managed to build. Somehow, meeting Greg again was meant to happen, but at that moment, she had to focus and deliver a design that would get her a position on the project, hopefully keeping her secret.

Chapter Three:

Days passed in a flurry of activity as Samantha buried herself within the project. She was working late each night, fine-tuning her ideas for design concepts. Of course, the excitement of landing a high-profile job kept her focused, but the thoughts of looming Greg Thornton just refused to go away.

He was really into the project. He gave loads of feedback and set up extra meetings to get everything just right. Samantha couldn't but notice how he was attending to everything, though she was trying to be professional herself and not show growing anxiety.

On the fourth day, quite early in the morning, Samantha, as was now her habit, arrived in the Ascend Design office. Barely she had settled when Rachel called her with an urgent update.

"Ms. Reynolds, we've revised the schedule a little," Rachel said. "Mr. Thornton would like to discuss the project further with you today. Would you please come to his office?"

Samantha's gut tightened. Never had she contemplated this level of personal involvement. "Of course," she replied, hoping her voice was calm and didn't reflect her nervousness.

Greg's office was on the top floor and seemed very sleek and modern, with views all around the city. Taking the elevator up, Samantha's heart thudded upward with each floor. At her destination, she was sent down the hall into a large conference room with a long glass table by the receptionist.

Greg had already arrived and was standing beside the window, his back toward her. He turned as Samantha entered the room, his eyes engaging hers in curiosity and warmth.

"Ms. Reynolds, thank you for coming," he said, his voice modulated and smooth. "Please, have a seat."

Samantha took a deep breath and sat down, setting her materials on the table. "Thank you for having me.".

Greg nodded and took a chair opposite her. "I've been going through your designs. I must say, impressive. I wanted to go through some of them in person to make sure we're on the same page."

She tried to keep her attention on the project as he ran her through the details. All of Greg's comments were astute, and he appeared to be very genuinely interested in the outcome. She could not shake off the feeling that something was not quite right, though. His intensity and darting glances made her uneasy but, again, she couldn't place her finger on it.

The meeting ran longer than she'd anticipated. As they neared the end, Greg walked her to the door. "I just wanted to thank you for working so hard," he said, not letting his eyes dart away fast enough. "Your ideas are really coming together."

Samantha pushed a fake smile onto her face. "Thank you. I'm glad you like them."

With these words, Greg uttered as she turned to leave. There was something in his tone, a thread of familiarity that gave her the shakes and refused to brush off. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the unease. She needed to focus and not let personal worries intervene in her job.

That evening, Samantha returned home to the warm chaos of her daughters. With all their vigor, Lily and Emma came to greet her and tried to rid her of troubles in the mind while playing together and sitting down to dinner.

But the further into the night it got, and the girls were in bed, Samantha was on edgy nerves. She sat there in her darkened living room, playing the activities of the day in her mind. Greg's long gazes, his scrutinizing eyes—there was something untruthful about all of it.

There was a sudden knock that made her stop thinking. Somewhat shocked she went to open the door and found her friend and neighbor, Jane, standing there with a concerned and curious look on her face.

"Hey, Samantha, everything okay?" Jane asked, stepping inside.

Samantha pulled up a smile onto her face. "Yeah, just a long day at work."

Jane raised an eyebrow, catching something tense in Samantha's posture. "You sure? You look like there's something on your mind."

Samantha hesitated a moment before nodding. "It's just… the project. It's much more intense than I expected."

Jane nodded sympathetically. "I get it. But remember, you've got this. You're amazing at what you do."

"Thanks, Jane," Samantha replied, easing up a bit on her tension. "I do appreciate it."

With Jane out the door, Samantha locked it behind her and dropped onto the couch. This feeling of familiarity and unease that she was getting from Greg was only increasing, and she couldn't turn a blind eye to it anymore. She needed to be on guard for when it did finally pop up again.

The next morning, another meeting with Greg was set up for Samantha. As she was dressing herself up, she couldn't get rid of the feeling that there was something personal in their connection. Was he really able to recognize her, or again was she scaring herself for nothing?

Whatever it was, Samantha knew she needed to be prepared for everything. The game was big, and she just couldn't let her guard down.

**Chapter Four:**

Finally, the next day for meetings came, still loaded with a twist. Samantha was right in the middle of doing her presentation when her phone rang. It was Rachel on the other line.

"Ms. Reynolds, there has been a slight change of plans," she said. "Mr. Thornton wants to meet with you today in a private lunch session. He's going to discuss the project further with you.".

Samantha's heart leaped. A lunch meeting? This wasn't in the original schedule, and it would mean she'd be alone with Greg, away from the confines of an office.

"I'll be there," Samantha said, trying to modulate her voice into a comfortable steadiness.

Lunch was booked at a fashionable restaurant with a sophisticated atmosphere and excellent service. Samantha arrived to find Greg already seated at a quiet corner table. He turned toward her as she came toward him. His expression was warm but impossible to read.

"Ms. Reynolds," he said, standing to greet her. "Good to see you.".

"Mr. Thornton," she said, rising with her hand out. She sat down again. Something in the simplicity of the action brought home to her the reality of the position.

He was suave and courtly over dinner, talking about the project with a flattering, slightly unnerving eagerness. Samantha tried hard to keep the conversation firmly on work, but there was something in Greg's easy manner and pointed questions that somehow made that difficult.

"So, how did you get into design?" Greg asked, tipping back in his chair. "I'm just interested in your background, that's all."

Samantha chose her words carefully. "I've always had the passion in art and design. After my college, I worked for small firms before deciding to bring out on my own."

Greg nodded, reflective in his eyes. "You're obviously talented. I'm glad we could bring you aboard for this project."

The conversation flowed well, and then Samantha started to realize that Greg's questions were getting personal—into areas of her life that were becoming increasingly intrusive. She was beginning to wonder what all this had to do with the pitch, but pressed the thoughts to the back of her mind and refocused on the pitch.

Just as dinner was wrapping up, Greg's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, and his expression changed a bit. "Just a minute, excuse me," he said and stepped away to take the call.

Her eyes remained glued to the face sitting across the table as her mind was on fast track. That lunch meeting had whipped her in a swirl of emotions when she was trying to be calm. It was much more acute interest than she had ever expected from Greg, and he was digging out something other than professional insight from her.

When Greg came back, he was a bit preoccupied. Turning back to their conversation, he said, "Sorry about that," trying to smile, "I wanted to talk with you about something in private. Do you happen to be free to drop by my office later today?"

Samantha's stomach tightened. "Later today?"

"Yes," Greg replied. "I want to run through some last-minute stuff and see how we might make some improvements on the project. It won't take a minute."

Samantha agreed, whirling her mind with apprehension. Lunch was wolfed down, and she left the restaurant, a jumble of anxiety laced with curiosity racing in her mind. What did Greg want to talk about so urgently? And why was he so keenly interested in her?

Mixtures of anticipation and dread engulfed her as she walked into Greg's office later that afternoon. The receptionist led her back to the conference room, where Greg was now waiting for her. His demeanor seemed really serious this time.

"Ms. Reynolds, thank you for coming," Greg said, gesturing her to a seat. "I wanted to address something important before we move forward."

Samantha took a chair, her heart thudding. "What is it?

Greg sucked in a deep breath; his eyes finally met hers, both determined and unsure. "I've been thinking much about our conversations, so much so that I can't help but notice something familiar in you. I have done some checking around to see if I am correct, and I found out that you are none other than that same Samantha Reynolds who left the city years back.".

Samantha's heart raced—her secret, protected for all these years, was about to come out. She must think fast.

"Yes, it is me," she confessed, trying to sound level-headed when she really was upside down. "But my past is in the past. I worked hard to build a new life for me and my daughters.".

Greg's eyes widened a bit, but his expression softened. "I didn't mean to intrude. I just wanted to know why your name sounds so familiar. I've been trying to piece things together."

Samantha felt this wave of relief mixed with unease. "I understand, but my focus is more on this project now. I would like to keep my personal life separate.

Greg nodded but continued to look reflective. "Of course. Let's get down to the work. We have a lot to do."

As the dragging of the meeting continued, so did Samantha's efforts—she was really into her job—compared to Gregory's very intrusive questions, which had woken up something in her she desperately wanted to keep safely buried with the horrors of the past. At the same time, she knew she needed to be professional.

At the end of the meeting, she was tired but resolute. She had kept the discussion professional, though the meeting had left her somewhat scarred. Greg's interest and persistence showed no signs of fading whatsoever. She just couldn't rid herself of the gnawing feeling that he was slowly closing in on her true past.

With that, Samantha turned her back on the office—head high, eyes scanning—as always, on guard. She really couldn't afford to let anything slip now that the stakes were so high.

Chapter Five

The next week blurred by in hard work and rising tension. Samantha became totally absorbed in finalizing design concepts for Greg's project, but his growing curiosity pressed on her like a weight.

Later that same afternoon, while Samantha was working over the latest revisions, her phone buzzed with a message from Rachel: "Mr. Thornton has called for a final review of the designs this evening. Can you make it?

Samantha's gut tightened. An evening conference would give her more time with Greg, and she wasn't so sure she was ready for that. Still, she couldn't afford to refuse.

"Of course," she replied, forcing herself to stay calm.

The evening meeting was set in Greg's office, a sleek, modern workspace that seemed a little more imposing by the day. Samantha took a deep breath and strode into the building, her mind focused on work.

Greg came out to meet her, beaming with friendliness, but Samantha sensed in his eyes something else—a flicker of curiosity and perhaps something she couldn't place.

"Ms. Reynolds, good to see you," he said, his tone warm. "Shall we go over the designs?"

They retreated into the conference room, where Greg went over the final designs with a critical eye. Samantha was confident in her presentation, but there was something about Greg searching for something beyond the aesthetics that unnerved her a little.

Greg's questions only got more and more personal as the meeting progressed. "You have done a great job with these designs. But tell me, what inspires you? What drives you in your work?"

Samantha was caught off guard by the question. "I am inspired to create spaces that people will love and connect with; it is all about creating something that speaks to them.

Greg nodded, his eyes unwavering. "That's a powerful motivation. I can see it in your work."

Just as Samantha was putting the final touches on the presentation, Greg's phone rang. He glanced at it, and his expression darkened. "Excuse me for a second," he said, rising from the room.

She took the opportunity to gather her things and prepare to leave. The meeting had gone well, but Greg's personal questions had unnerved her. She hoped the rest of the evening would go off without a hitch.

As Greg came back, he appeared serious than earlier. "Sorry for the interruption. We're almost done here."

Samantha nodded, trying to keep calm. "No problem. I appreciate your time.

The door opened, and a smartly dressed man walked in. Greg's character slightly changed as he introduced him as Alex, his colleague, who was somehow involved with the project.

"I'm going to talk over some other things with Alex," Greg said, "so thanks for the hard work, Ms. Reynolds. We will get back to you soon."

She packed up her things and left the office; her mind was filled with questions. She couldn't help but feel that something was cooking between her and Greg, not to mention Alex—something about his air that insinuated there was more to the situation.

That evening, as Samantha prepared dinner for Lily and Emma, her mind was on the events of the day. The twins were full of energy, and she was trying as much as possible to direct her attention toward them, but her thoughts persisted in returning to Greg and his poking questions.

She put the girls to bed and then sat down to a cup of tea, her mind racing with thoughts. She needed to be prepared for whatever was coming next. Greg's curiosity was becoming a growing concern, and she could no longer shut out the thought that he might find out the truth about her past.

She was having a cup of tea when her phone buzzed to the arrival of a fresh message. Rachel. "Mr. Thornton wants to meet with you tomorrow morning. Said he had some further ideas he wanted to discuss."

Samantha's heart sank. Was it another meeting already? She was starting to feel the pressure and knew she needed to stay sharp. Whatever Greg had planned, she had to keep her cool. Her life was built with care, and she would not let anyone jeopardize that.

Samantha took a deep sigh and then put the phone away. She was all set to tackle another day at work, with the strict resolution of finishing the project to the best of her capabilities. It was impossible to avoid the escalating tension of her past with the present. As she went off to bed, turning off the lights, she knew she had all the strength and resolution to meet whatever lay ahead.

**Chapter Six:**

That morning, Samantha worked hard to get ready for her meeting with Greg. She wanted to look professional, so she wore a navy suit and did her best to command all of her nerves at bay. As she walked into the office, she was racing with thoughts in anticipation and anxiety.

That elevator ride to the top floor took longer than it usually did. Samantha took a deep breath before she stepped out into that sleek, modern office. Rachel greeted her with a smile and motioned to go left, toward Greg's office.

When she entered, Greg was seated at his desk, flipping through a set of documents. He looked up and smiled warmly. "Good morning, Ms. Reynolds. Please, have a seat.

Samantha drew out a chair across from him and sat down, trying to collect her thoughts. "Good morning, Mr. Thornton."

Greg gestured to a set of blueprints spread across the table. "I wanted to go through a few last-minute changes with you. We're just about ready to finalize the project, but there are a few more ideas I wanted to run by you."

Flipping through the papers, Samantha put all her personal problems aside and got down to work. The excitement about the project was palpable in Greg, and she felt a sense of satisfaction with them as they finalized the edits to the designs.

"Your attention to detail has been impressive," Greg said, bending over the blueprints, his eyes beaming. "I'm really pleased with how everything is shaping up.".

"Thank you," Samantha replied, trying to temper her feelings of pride and relief. "I'm glad you are pleased with the progress."

Greg's face turned serious. "There's this particular thing I wanted to tell you. I've been noticing you have put a lot of effort into this project. You really seem to care about your work."

Samantha nodded. Her heart pounded. "I do. It is important to me."

Greg eased a bit forward, eyes locked. "I appreciate that. At the same time, I would like to confirm that we are clear about something else too. From your demeanor, I have been getting vibes of something more beyond professional skill.

Samantha's breath caught in her throat. She forced a smile, trying to keep her cool. "I assure you, my focus is to deliver the best results for this project."

Greg locked onto her eyes a bit longer than necessary, his glare piercing. "Of course. I'm just very interested in the people I work with. It's important to me that we have a good working relationship."

Before Samantha had time to respond, Greg's phone buzzed. He checked it before exhaling an irritated sigh. "Sorry, I need to take this call. Feel free to look over the final designs. We'll finish up once I'm done."

She nodded, going back to studying the designs as her mind lingered on Greg's words. He was getting increasingly interested in her life, and she felt he was closer to uncovering her secret.

The door to Greg's office opened, and she saw a familiar face walk in while she was working. It was Alex, the colleague Greg had introduced during their previous meeting. He nodded at Samantha before taking a seat in the corner.

"Morning," Alex said casually. "I'm just here to go over some of the logistics with Greg.

Samantha nodded in return, then, with an effort to remain professional, turned her attention to the task at hand. As she worked, a rising sense of apprehension wrapped itself around her as she wondered what Alex's presence was going to mean for her and the project.

When Greg finished his call, he returned to the conference table. "Thanks for your patience. Let's go over the final details.

As they wrapped up, Greg couldn't help but keep his eyes on her. "I gotta tell ya, Sam; I was impressed with how you took care of all that. Looking forward to the final results."

Samantha smiled slightly. "Thank you. Looking forward to seeing it all meshed together."

Greg rose and offered his hand. "I appreciate all your hard work, Ms. Reynolds. I will call you again soon to let you know the next step."

As Samantha left Greg's office, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was brewing underneath. After all, Greg did show interest in her beyond the professional level, and Alex was just that ingredient to add yet another layer of uncertainty.

Back home, Samantha's mind wandered elsewhere as she was preparing dinner for Lily and Emma. The girls' chatting and giggles were much needed, but her thoughts continued to fall back to Greg and this tension developing between them.

She settled down with her laptop after putting the girls to bed to find as much information as she could on Greg's strange ways of late. Her search turned up a news article about Greg's business dealings and some sort of family gathering he had gone to recently.

Samantha's heart stopped as she saw the photo of Greg with a woman and a child—his family. Suddenly it hit her. Greg had moved on, had built a life for himself, and the idea of their paths crossing again was more complex than she had imagined.

As she shut the laptop off and began to get ready for bed, Samantha knew that how things played out going forward with the project—and her interactions with Greg—would be the keys. She had to keep her focus on her work while somehow being able to regain control of the pitfalls around her from her past and present.