Unfinished Business

Alex Carter wasn't a man who believed in coincidences.

Architecture was built on precision—on meticulous planning, deliberate choices, and structural integrity. Nothing in a well-designed space happened by chance. Every beam, every curve, every empty space was intentional. Life, however, had never quite followed the same rules.

And yet, after seeing Elena Murphy's name on that invitation, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was shifting.

The past didn't just resurface without reason.

The invitation still lay on his desk, half-open, as if waiting for him to make a decision. He picked it up again, reading the details more carefully this time. The symposium wasn't just another industry event. It was the kind that attracted visionaries, investors, and city planners—people who shaped the future of urban landscapes. Attending wouldn't just be about speaking on a panel; it was about influence, about making sure his voice played a role in the architectural conversation of the next decade.

And yet, that wasn't what made him pause.

It was her.

Seven years had passed since the last time he had given serious thought to Elena Murphy. Sure, he had seen her name in headlines, had come across her work in industry publications, but she had always been part of a larger backdrop—a name among names, a competitor he had never truly faced.

Now, it felt personal again.

He wasn't sure if he liked that.

With a sigh, he closed the invitation folder and tossed it onto a growing pile of paperwork. He had other things to deal with—projects, deadlines, clients who expected perfection. Getting caught up in an old rivalry was a waste of time.

Or at least, that's what he told himself.

Two miles away, in a loft-style office filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the quiet hum of late-night work, Elena Murphy ran a hand through her dark waves, exhaling sharply as she stared at the same email for the third time that evening.

Alex Carter.

She should have expected this. The symposium was designed for architects who had shaped the industry in the past decade—of course, his name would be there. His work spoke for itself, just as hers did.

Still, the sight of his name had sent something unsteady through her.

It wasn't guilt. No, guilt wasn't the right word.

It was something heavier.

Regret?

No, she had no reason for that either.

But the past had a way of creeping in when least expected.

Elena closed the email and leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling of her office. She had built a reputation for herself in an industry that wasn't always welcoming to women. Every success had been earned, every project fought for. She didn't have time to second-guess the past or wonder what Alex Carter thought of her after all these years.

She had moved on.

Hadn't she?

A knock at her office door pulled her from her thoughts.

"You're still here?" Ava, her lead designer, leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "I thought you had a dinner to get to."

Elena glanced at the clock. She had completely lost track of time.

"Damn. Yeah, I should leave soon." She stood, stretching her stiff limbs.

Ava raised an eyebrow. "You okay? You've been staring at your screen like it personally offended you."

Elena hesitated. For a brief second, she considered brushing it off, but Ava knew her too well.

"Got the speaker list for the symposium," she admitted. "Guess who's on it?"

Ava didn't miss a beat. "Alex Carter."

Elena blinked. "How did you—"

"Come on, it's obvious. The two of you have been orbiting each other's careers for years. I'm surprised you haven't run into him sooner."

Elena let out a dry laugh. "I don't think 'orbiting' is the right word."

Ava shrugged. "Call it what you want, but let's be real. You're going to that symposium."

Elena folded her arms. "And what makes you so sure?"

"Because you're you," Ava said simply. "And you don't run from things that make you uncomfortable. You face them head-on."

That was true. It was one of the reasons she had made it this far.

But facing Alex Carter?

That was a different kind of challenge.

Alex had planned to push the invitation out of his mind, to drown himself in work until it became nothing more than another email lost in a sea of responsibilities.

But fate—or something dangerously close to it—had other plans.

Two days later, he stepped into a café near one of his construction sites, needing a caffeine boost before heading to his next meeting. The place was small, with exposed brick walls and oversized windows that let in the glow of the late afternoon sun. He ordered his usual—a black coffee, no sugar—before turning to find a seat.

And then he saw her.

Elena Murphy.

She was sitting by the window, her long fingers curled around a steaming cup of coffee, her dark eyes scanning a set of blueprints spread across the table.

She hadn't seen him yet.

For a moment, Alex considered turning around, leaving before she noticed. But something held him in place.

Seven years.

Seven years of near-encounters, of walking in the same circles without ever truly colliding.

And now, here they were.

Elena looked up then, as if sensing something, and their eyes met across the room.

Her lips parted slightly, surprise flickering across her features.

For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.

Then, she set down her coffee, straightened her posture, and—without looking away—offered the faintest hint of a smile.

A challenge.

A silent invitation.

And just like that, the past was no longer something distant. It was right here, waiting to be confronted.