Blind date

Severa's POV

Valeria's was one of those upscale restaurants that exuded elegance without trying too hard. The scent of freshly baked bread and herbs welcomed me as I stepped inside, a subtle contrast to the tension simmering in my chest. Business meetings were nothing new, but the uneasy feeling at the back of my mind had nothing to do with negotiations.

Sebastian hadn't given me much information about the client I was supposed to meet—only that it was an important investor who could open more opportunities for our company. I had assumed it was someone older, a well-established figure in the industry, perhaps with graying hair and a firm handshake. But as I made my way toward the reserved table, I nearly collided with a familiar face.

Lucien.

The same man I had met days ago near the construction site. The one with the effortless charm, knowing smirk, and a presence that demanded attention without a single word. He looked just as polished as before, dressed in a crisp dark blue button-up, sleeves rolled just enough to reveal toned forearms.

"Severa," he greeted smoothly, tilting his head slightly. His golden-brown eyes held a flicker of amusement.

I blinked. "Lucien?"

He chuckled. "Well, this is unexpected. Are you—" He glanced past me toward the reserved table, recognition flashing in his gaze. "—by any chance, meeting someone for lunch?"

A sinking realization settled in my stomach. I exhaled sharply. "You're the investor?"

"In the flesh," he said, slipping his hands into his pockets, looking far too entertained by my reaction.

I closed my eyes for a brief second. Of course. Of course, my brother would do something like this. I could already picture the smug grin on Sebastian's face when I confronted him later.

Lucien gestured toward the table. "Shall we?"

Suppressing the urge to groan, I walked ahead and took a seat. A waiter immediately approached, placing down two menus, but I barely glanced at mine.

"You seem surprised," Lucien mused, resting his elbows on the table.

"That's because I am," I admitted. "Sebastian said this was a business meeting."

He smirked. "It is. Just with a small twist."

I inhaled deeply, calming my nerves. "And what exactly did my brother tell you?"

Lucien leaned back, his fingers tracing the rim of his glass of water. "That we'd be discussing a potential partnership, and—" he paused, eyes twinkling, "—that I should keep an open mind about you."

I frowned. "He set this up as a blind date?"

"More or less."

I clenched my jaw. "I'm going to kill him."

Lucien laughed, low and warm. "If it makes you feel better, I had no idea it was you until just now."

That did little to ease my annoyance. "And do you usually mix business with pleasure?"

"Only when the company is this intriguing." He flashed an easy smile, but his gaze was assessing. "Relax, Severa. Let's talk business first. Then we can decide if this lunch stays strictly professional."

I studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. Let's get this over with."

Lucien's family ran a well-established development firm that had expanded internationally. Their expertise lay in luxury projects—boutique hotels, high-end resorts, and exclusive real estate developments. Partnering with them could elevate our company's profile, but that wasn't what concerned me.

"I assume you've looked into our current project?" I asked, setting aside my irritation.

"Of course," he replied. "The resort mall is an ambitious endeavor. I respect the vision behind it."

"Then you also know it's a twenty-four-month project with tight deadlines. Any potential partners need to align with that pace."

Lucien nodded, his expression turning serious. "Which is why I'm interested. But I have one concern."

I arched a brow. "And what would that be?"

"Your steel supplier," he said. "ED Corp."

My fingers tightened around my fork. "What about them?"

"I've heard some chatter that they're experiencing internal issues—delays, supply inconsistencies, even financial strains." He leaned forward slightly. "Is that why your construction schedule has been stalling?"

I exhaled slowly, my mind racing. The fact that Lucien knew about this meant the issue wasn't just my problem anymore. If word was spreading, then others in the industry were already questioning ED Corp's reliability.

"We're handling it," I said carefully. "The project timeline hasn't been compromised."

Lucien studied me for a beat. "I hope that's true. Because if I'm going to invest in this partnership, I need assurance that there won't be further complications."

I forced a smile. "Noted."

The conversation eventually shifted back to business terms—potential collaborations, investment breakdowns, projected returns. Despite my initial frustration, Lucien was sharp, well-versed in every aspect of his industry. His confidence was backed by knowledge, not just charm, and that made him a formidable potential partner.

By the time we finished lunch, I had to admit that the meeting had gone better than expected. As we stood, Lucien shot me an amused look.

"So? Strictly business, or should we consider this a successful blind date?"

I rolled my eyes. "It was tolerable."

He laughed. "That's a start."

Just as I turned to leave, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out and frowned when I saw the message from Celine.

Call me ASAP. There's another issue with the ED Corp shipment.

My stomach twisted. This wasn't just a minor inconvenience anymore. Something was definitely wrong.

Lucien must have caught the shift in my expression because he asked, "Everything alright?"

I glanced at him, debating how much to say. Then I shook my head. "I have to go."

Without another word, I walked out of the restaurant, dialing Celine as I stepped into my car.

I had a feeling things were about to get a lot more complicated.