Page 33 of Before Dawn

“What’s the pitch?”

“Expansion. I want them to see the potential in other cities. We’re changing the way people think about transportation.”

“Morison or Sapphire going with you?”

“Neither. Just Emilia and me for the engagement party.”

Dillon nodded. “Good luck with the meeting, and send my best to your parents.”

“Will do.”

He gave me a firm nod. “You’ve got this, man.”

And for the first time in a while, I actually believed it.

Chapter Eight

Mikkel

“Where there is love, there is life.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, washing the stack of profiles in a sterile glow. I traced the edges of the papers absentmindedly, but my thoughts were miles away.

The thought of her sent a charge through me, sharp and electric. From the moment I saw her, the rest of the world faded. Her twinkling green eyes held a thousand secrets—ones I ached to uncover.

In my thirty-three years of life, no one had ever done this to me.

I’d only seen and interacted with her three times, yet she consumed me.Completely.

Insane. Obsessive. But if losing my mind meant feeling this alive, I’d gladly unravel.

“Contrólate, Mikkel,9” Imuttered, trying to focus, but it was useless. Red’s image lingered in my mind, her laughter echoing in my ears.

A familiar voice cut through the haze. “Mr. Suarez? You look distracted.”

I looked up to see Sapphire standing in the doorway, her brow furrowed. She’d just returned from Chicago, and I was surprised to see her back in the office so soon.

“Everything’s fine,” I said, forcing a smile that felt hollow. “Did you need something?”

She stepped inside, her heels clicking against the floor. “Actually, yeah.”

“Go ahead.”

“We’ve got a problem with Alexander Williams,” she said, exhaling sharply. “No response on client follow-ups.”

I clenched my jaw. “I’ll take care of it. How’s everything else?”

“All our drivers are out and assigned. No complaints so far, sir.”

Exactly what I wanted to hear. I let out a breath, my chest easing. “Great. I’ll be out for a week or two starting tomorrow, so it’s the usual protocol until I’m back.”

“Okay, sir. Safe travels.” She hesitated. “I met some potential hires in Chicago. One stood out—Laura Ellison. Strong background in logistics and tech integration. Could be a major asset.”

I leaned forward, intrigued. “Did you go over our goals with her?”

“Yes, and she’s already full of ideas to improve efficiency. I also scheduled meetings with local tech firms to explore partnerships. If it works out, we’ll streamline operations significantly.”

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