Chapter 15
Mia and Sebastian’s reunion was pretty dramatic.
She’d spent three years grinding to make it in London’s financial district, just got promoted to senior associate, when her boss dropped a thick case file on her desk.
“Mia, since you know domestic law better than anyone here, this one’s yours.
This is our first major international M&A deal. Nail this and you’re looking at partner track–and the salary that comes with it.”
Taking the massive stack of documents, Mia didn’t feel the usual rush of landing a big case. Instead, something felt off.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for something this huge…”
Under her sharp business suit, her heart was racing with anxiety.
She knew this was her shot to level up, but something in her gut was screaming to run from this case.
When she’d first landed in London, she was totally lost.
Pure determination and desperation to escape her past had driven her to bust her ass for the bar exam.
She’d started at the firm fetching coffee and making copies.
Now she was handling major cases solo.
She’d survived way more than just changing seasons–countless all–nighters studying until her eyes bled, living off instant noodles and
determination.
When she won her first case, that’s when Mia finally got her confidence back.
She realized how fucking stupid she’d been to rip up that law school acceptance letter for Sebastian all those years ago.
Since then, she’d been obsessed with every opportunity that came her way.
But today she almost threw this one away.
Snapping back to reality, she had this weird feeling as she untied the string around the manila envelope.
When she saw “Pierce Corp” on the letterhead, even though she’d been bracing herself, her heart still dropped:
“We’re working with… Pierce Corp?”
“Exactly.” Her boss glanced up and nodded.
“The legendary Pierce Corp everyone’s talking about. That’s why you need to crush this opportunity.”
Her boss caught the worry in her eyes and patted her shoulder reassuringly.
“Relax. Yeah, that CEO Pierce has a reputation for being ruthless, but word is he’s still searching for his first love. Any guy that devoted can’t be too much of an asshole to work with.”
Hearing Sebastian’s name again felt like another lifetime.
The whole drama at his engagement party had made international headlines.
When she’d heard him say “The only woman I’ll ever marry is Mia Brooks” on that livestream, her heart had definitely skipped.
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27.1%
Chapter 15
But here in London, when she got sick she went to A&E alone, ate every meal alone, and when her stomach cramped up so bad she couldn’t move, she dealt with that alone too.
That’s when she figured it out–Sebastian could only ever be her teenage what if.
Mia kept her head down, about to say something but swallowing the words back,
“Fine. I’ll take the M&A case.”
This was business–no point mixing in personal baggage.
Besides, she didn’t owe Sebastian shit. No reason to act scared around him.
On the flight back States, she couldn’t sleep all night, staring out the window as the colors shifted from scattered stars to dawn breaking.
Mia forced herself to focus and opened the transaction files for the ninth time.
In the conference room, Sebastian had been waiting for what felt like forever.
After Mia left, insomnia had become his new normal.
But today he’d gotten up even earlier than usual.
Those dark circles under his eyes came from countless nights drowning himself in work to numb the pain.
But the second Mia walked into that conference room, his whole body went rigid.
Until Mia put on that fake professional smile and stuck out her hand:
His hands actually shook as he rubbed his eyes, worried he was hallucinating.
ww
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Pierce.”
Sebastian froze for a few seconds, gripping her slender hand.
“Mia, you…”
“Let’s not waste your time. I’d like to get straight to business.”
Mia yanked her hand back and didn’t give him another glance.
Case analysis, antitrust review, closing conditions…
Professional jargon flowed effortlessly from Mia’s lips.
Watching this brilliant woman in front of him, Sebastian felt his chest tighten hard.
His eyes started burning and he looked down, terrified that all his love and guilt would show.
Over these three years apart, Sebastian had imagined their reunion thousands of times.
