Alex stepped out of her office building, her eyes scanning the crowded sidewalk as she made her way to the waiting car. Rachel, her assistant, followed closely behind, juggling a stack of files and Alex's briefcase.
As they reached the car, Alex's driver, James, opened the door for her. But just as she was about to step inside, a tall, imposing figure emerged from the crowd, his eyes locked on hers.
Rian Musk.
Alex felt a flicker of surprise, followed by a sense of wariness. What was Rian doing here?
"Miss Alex," Mr. Rian said, his voice smooth as he approached her. "What a coincidence running into you here."
Alex raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Mr. Rian. I wasn't aware that you were in the neighborhood."
Rian smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I was in the area, and I thought I'd drop by to discuss some business."
Alex felt a surge of unease at his words. What did he want to discuss?
"I'm afraid I'm on a tight schedule, Mr. Rian," she said, her voice cool. "Perhaps we could schedule a meeting for another time?"
Rian's smile never wavered. "I'm afraid this can't wait, Miss Alex. It's about our proposed partnership."
Alex felt a sense of trepidation at his words. What did he want to propose?
"Very well, Mr. Rian," she said finally, her voice detached. "I'll give you a few minutes."
As they stepped aside to talk, Rachel watched with interest, her eyes darting back and forth between Alex and Rian.
Joey, Rian's assistant, appeared out of nowhere, his eyes locked on Rachel. "Hi," he said, his voice friendly.
Rachel smiled, her expression polite. "Hi."
As the two assistants exchanged small talk, Alex and Rian discussed the details of their proposed partnership, their voices low and intense.
But despite the seriousness of their conversation, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that Rian was hiding something from her.
And she was determined to find out what it was.