I try not to think about Brad's text, but it keeps popping into my mind at odd moments. By the time I fall into bed Sunday night, I'm a bundle of nerves about what Monday will bring.

My alarm goes off at an ungodly hour on Monday morning. I drag myself out of bed, moving quietly so I don't wake Lily. As I'm getting ready, I hear my phone buzz. It's another text from Brad:

*Need you here by 7. Bring coffee. Lots of it. - BK*

I sigh, glancing at the clock. So much for having time to stop at my favorite coffee shop. I'll have to make do with the office brew.

The subway is eerily quiet this early. I use the time to go over my mental checklist for the day. By the time I reach Kilman Industries, I feel marginally more prepared.

The office is dark when I arrive, save for the light spilling out from under Brad's door. I quickly set up the coffee maker, then knock softly on his door.

"Come in," he barks.

I push open the door to find Brad hunched over his desk, surrounded by stacks of papers. He looks like he hasn't slept, his usually perfectly styled hair disheveled, his tie loosened.

"Good morning, Mr. Kilman," I say, setting a mug of coffee on his desk. "You wanted to see me?"

He grunts in response, grabbing the coffee and taking a long swig. Then he looks up at me, his blue eyes bloodshot but intense.

"Lovebird," he says, his voice rough. "We've got a problem with the Chen merger."

I nod, pulling out my notepad. "What kind of problem, sir?"

He runs a hand through his hair, making it stand up even more. "Chen is trying to back out. Says he's got a better offer from MegaCorp."

I feel my eyebrows shoot up. MegaCorp is Kilman Industries' biggest rival. Losing this merger to them would be a huge blow.

"What do you need me to do?" I ask, already mentally rearranging our schedule for the day.

Brad stands up, pacing behind his desk. "I need you to clear my schedule for the next three days. Cancel everything that's not absolutely crucial. Then book us on the next flight to Hong Kong."

I blink. "Us?"

He stops pacing, fixing me with a look. "Yes, us. I need you with me on this, Lovebird. Can you handle it?"

For a moment, I'm speechless. Then I straighten my shoulders. "Of course, Mr. Kilman. I'll take care of everything."

He nods, seemingly satisfied. "Good. We leave tonight. Pack for warm weather."

As I turn to leave, he calls out, "And Lovebird?"

I look back. "Yes, Mr. Kilman?"

"Thank you," he says softly. "For coming in early. For... everything."

I'm so surprised that I just nod before hurrying out of his office. My mind is racing. A last-minute trip to Hong Kong? With Brad? This is definitely not what I expected when I took this job.

The next few hours are a whirlwind of activity. I'm booking flights, arranging hotel rooms, rescheduling meetings, and trying to figure out how to tell Lily I'll be gone for a few days. By lunchtime, I'm exhausted.

I'm just about to grab a quick sandwich when my phone rings. It's Lily.

"Hey, Lil," I answer, trying to sound upbeat. "What's up?"

"Joan?" Lily's voice is small, trembling. "I... I don't feel good. The voices... they're back."

My heart sinks. "Oh, sweetie. Have you taken your meds?"

"Yes, but they're not helping. Can you come home?"

I close my eyes, feeling torn. "Lily, I... I can't right now. I'm so sorry. I have to go on a business trip tonight."

There's a long pause. "A trip? You didn't tell me about a trip."

"I know, I'm sorry. It just came up. It's only for a few days. Will you be okay? Maybe you could stay with Mrs. Rodriguez?"

Another pause. "Yeah... yeah, I guess. Don't worry about me. Go be a big shot."

The bitterness in her voice makes me wince. "Lily, you know you're my priority. Always. I'm doing this for us."

"I know," she sighs. "I'm sorry. Go. I'll be fine."

We say our goodbyes, and I hang up feeling guilty and conflicted. I'm so lost in thought that I don't notice Brad approaching until he's right in front of me.

"Everything okay, Lovebird?" he asks, his brow furrowed.

I plaster on a smile. "Yes, Mr. Kilman. Just finalizing some details for the trip."

He studies me for a moment, then says, "Take an hour. Get some lunch, pack a bag. I'll see you at the airport."

I nod, grateful for the break. As I'm gathering my things, Brad adds, "And Joan? If you need to stay behind, I understand. Family comes first."

I look up at him, surprised by his use of my first name and the unexpected kindness. For a moment, I'm tempted to take him up on the offer. But then I think of all the bills piling up at home, of Lily's medical expenses.

"Thank you, Mr. Kilman," I say softly. "But I'll be there."

He nods, something like approval in his eyes. "Good. See you soon."

The next few hours pass in a blur. I rush home, throw some clothes in a suitcase, and have a tearful goodbye with Lily. Before I know it, I'm in a taxi headed to the airport.

I find Brad at the check-in counter, looking impeccable in a tailored suit despite the early hour. He nods when he sees me.

"Ready for this, Lovebird?"

I take a deep breath. "As I'll ever be, Mr. Kilman."

The flight is long and uncomfortable, despite being in first class (a perk I'm definitely not used to). Brad spends most of the time working on his laptop, occasionally asking me to look over a document or make a note. I try to sleep, but my mind is too wired.

We land in Hong Kong in the early morning, the city already bustling despite the hour. As we step out of the airport, the humid air hits me like a wall.

"Welcome to Hong Kong, Lovebird," Brad says, a hint of a smile on his face. "Hope you're ready for a crash course in international business."

The next two days are a whirlwind of meetings, negotiations, and late-night strategy sessions. I'm running on coffee and adrenaline, barely keeping up with Brad's relentless pace. But despite my exhaustion, I find myself exhilarated by the challenge.

On our third night in Hong Kong, we're in Brad's hotel suite, going over the latest contract revisions. I'm struggling to keep my eyes open, the words on the page blurring together.

"Lovebird," Brad's voice cuts through my fog. "You look dead on your feet. Go get some sleep."

I shake my head, stifling a yawn. "I'm fine, Mr. Kilman. We need to finish this."

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Joan, look at me."

Surprised by his use of my first name, I meet his gaze. His blue eyes are tired but soft.

"You've been amazing these past few days," he says quietly. "I couldn't have done this without you. But you need rest. Go. Sleep. That's an order."

Too tired to argue, I nod and gather my things. As I reach the door, Brad calls out, "And Joan? Thank you. Really."

I turn back, giving him a small smile. "You're welcome... Brad."

The use of his first name feels strange on my tongue, but the smile it brings to his face makes it worth it. As I head back to my room, my mind is spinning. What is happening between us? Is this just professional appreciation, or something more?

I'm too exhausted to dwell on it, falling into bed and into a deep sleep almost immediately. I dream of blue eyes and gentle smiles.

The next morning, I wake to a text from Brad:

*Meeting with Chen in an hour. Wear something impressive. - BK*

I scramble to get ready, my heart pounding. This is it. The make-or-break meeting. As I'm putting the finishing touches on my makeup, there's a knock at my door. I open it to find a hotel staff member holding a garment bag.

"Compliments of Mr. Kilman," he says, handing it to me.

Confused, I unzip the bag to find a stunning designer dress in a deep, rich blue. It's easily the most expensive piece of clothing I've ever touched. There's a note pinned to it:

*For good luck. You've earned it. - BK*

I stare at the dress, then at the note, my mind reeling. This is... unexpected. And probably inappropriate. But as I slip the dress on, feeling the luxurious fabric against my skin, I can't bring myself to care.

When I meet Brad in the lobby, his eyes widen as he takes in my appearance. For a moment, he seems at a loss for words.

"You look... perfect," he finally says, his voice low. "Ready to help me save this deal?"

I straighten my shoulders, feeling confident in a way I never have before. "Let's do this."

The meeting is intense. Chen is a tough negotiator, but Brad is in his element. I watch in awe as he maneuvers the conversation, addressing concerns, offering compromises, all while maintaining the upper hand. I chime in when needed, providing data or clarification.

After what feels like hours, Chen leans back in his chair, a small smile on his face. "Mr. Kilman," he says, "I believe we have a deal."

The relief in the room is palpable. As we shake hands and exchange pleasantries, I catch Brad's eye. He gives me a subtle wink, and I feel a warmth spread through my chest.

We're barely out of the conference room before Brad pulls me into a tight hug. I stiffen in surprise, then relax into his embrace.

"We did it, Lovebird," he murmurs into my hair. "We actually did it."

As he pulls back, his hands linger on my arms. We're standing close, too close for a boss and his assistant. I should step away, but I can't seem to make myself move.

"Joan," Brad says softly, his blue eyes intense. "I..."

But whatever he was about to say is interrupted by the buzz of his phone. The spell broken, we step apart. Brad glances at his phone and sighs.

"It's the office," he says. "I need to take this."

I nod, trying to ignore the disappointment I feel. "Of course. I'll... I'll go start on the post-meeting report."

As I walk away, my mind is spinning. What just happened? What was Brad about to say? And more importantly, why do I care so much?

That night, we have a celebratory dinner with Chen and his team. The wine is flowing, and everyone is in high spirits. I find myself actually enjoying the company, laughing at jokes and joining in conversations about Hong Kong's history and culture.

Brad keeps glancing at me throughout the night, his eyes warm and approving. Every time our gazes meet, I feel a little jolt in my stomach. It's confusing and exhilarating all at once.

As the night winds down, Brad and I find ourselves alone on the restaurant's balcony, overlooking the glittering Hong Kong skyline.

"Quite a view, isn't it?" Brad says, leaning on the railing next to me.

I nod, taking a sip of my wine. "It's beautiful. I never thought I'd see anything like this."

He turns to look at me, his expression serious. "Joan, I... I owe you an apology."

I blink, surprised. "For what?"

"For how I treated you when you first started. I was... harsh. Unfair. You've proven yourself to be invaluable, both to the company and... to me."

I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks. "Thank you, Brad. That means a lot."

We stand in comfortable silence for a moment, looking out at the city. Then Brad says, so quietly I almost don't hear him, "I'm glad you're here, Joan. Not just as my assistant, but... as you."

I turn to look at him, my heart pounding. He's looking at me with an intensity that takes my breath away. Slowly, he reaches out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His hand lingers on my cheek.

"Brad," I whisper, not sure if I'm about to stop him or encourage him.

But before anything can happen, we hear Chen calling for Brad from inside. The moment shatters, and Brad steps back, his professional mask sliding back into place.

"We should get back," he says, his voice neutral.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. As we head back inside, my mind is reeling. What just happened? And more importantly, what happens now?

As I lie in bed that night, unable to sleep, I can't stop thinking about Brad. About the way he looked at me, the way his hand felt on my cheek. It's exciting and terrifying all at once.

But then I think about Lily, about my responsibilities back home. About the fact that Brad is my boss, and this... whatever this is... could jeopardize everything I've worked for.

I roll over, burying my face in my pillow. What have I gotten myself into? And how on earth am I going to navigate this when we get back to New York?

With a sigh, I reach for my phone and send a text to Lily:

*Can't wait to see you. Miss you lots. We'll do something fun when I get back, promise.*

Her reply comes quickly:

*Miss you too. Glad your trip is going well. Love you, sis.*

I stare at her message, feeling a mix of love and guilt. No matter what happens with Brad, I remind myself, Lily comes first. She has to.

But as I drift off to sleep, it's not Lily's face I see. It's a pair of intense blue eyes, looking at me like I'm the most precious thing in the world.