Rivals to Forever

Knight Industries - Next Morning

Sophia was not nervous.

She had absolutely not spent an extra fifteen minutes choosing an outfit this morning. And she definitely didn't stand in front of the mirror reminding herself that last night meant nothing. That it was just a dance.

Nope. She was a professional. A CEO. A woman with priorities.

Which is why, when she stepped into Bobby's office for their work session, she barely noticed the way he leaned back in his chair, sleeves rolled up, looking way too casual for someone who had almost kissed her on a dance floor twelve hours ago.

"Morning," he said, in a smooth voice

"Morning," she replied, sitting her laptop on the table a little too forcefully. "Let's get to work."

Bobby grinned. "No small talk? No wow, Bobby, you look exhausted, are you still reeling from our amazingly intimate dance?"

Sophia shot him a withering look. "You think that was intimate?"

His grin widened. "Admit it, Sophia. You enjoyed it."

She sat down and opened her laptop. "The only thing I enjoyed last night was watching that finance bro spill his drink on himself."

"That was good." Bobby leaned forward. "But we both know that wasn't the highlight of the night."

Sophia did not blush. She did, however, aggressively click her pen. "Can we focus please?"

Bobby smirked but didn't push it. "Fine. Let's talk numbers."

For the next hour, they pretended nothing was weird. They reviewed budgets, tweaked presentation slides, and discussed implementation models like two sane, normal adults.

Except it was weird.

every time Bobby leaned too close, Sophia's heart jumped.

every time Sophia bit her lip in concentration, Bobby's gaze lingered a little longer.

every time their fingers brushed, they both flinched like they'd been caught.

At one point, Sophia reached for a binder at the same time Bobby did. Their hands collided.

They both froze.

Bobby cleared his throat. "Are we doing this thing where we-"

"No," Sophia said quickly.

He raised a brow. "You don't even know what I was going to say."

"I do, and the answer is no."

Bobby leaned in slightly. "You sure?"

Sophia gritted her teeth. "One hundred percent."

"Because I was just going to say—"

The door was pushed open, and Emma Knight waltzed in, holding two iced coffees. "Hey, lovebirds."

Sophia snatched her hand back. Bobby rolled his eyes. "Emma, do you ever knock?"

"Not when I have gossip." Emma plopped into a chair and handed Sophia a coffee. "So. What's the post mixer damage?"

"No damage," Sophia said too fast.

"Come on that's boring," Emma said. "Drew texted me at two in the morning saying, Bobby is spiraling, I am thriving."

"I am not spiraling," Bobby said.

Emma smirked. "Mmm-hmm."

Sophia grabbed her coffee, deciding she was absolutely not having this conversation right now. "Can we—"

Emma waved her off. "Fine, fine. Work. Be boring. But I want updates." She stood, pointing at Bobby. "Also, Mom wants you at dinner Sunday."

Bobby groaned. "Pass."

"Not optional." Emma grinned at Sophia. "Unless you want to come? Maybe save Bobby from a family intervention?"

Sophia nearly choked on her drink. "Hard pass."

Emma sighed dramatically. "You two are no fun." Then she waltzed out, leaving an awkward tension in her wake.

Bobby exhaled, rubbing his jaw. "She's the worst."

"She's my favorite Knight," Sophia muttered, flipping through her notes.

Bobby grinned. "You're obsessed with my family."

Sophia ignored him.

Elsewhere in Manhattan - Priya's Coffee Run Gone Wrong

Priya had exactly ten minutes before her next meeting. Just enough time to grab a latte from her favorite hole-in the wall coffee shop, answer some emails, and not think about the fact that she spent half of last night's mixer watching Drew Gallo from across the room.

Not that it meant anything.

She pushed through the café door, fully focused on her phone paying attention

And walked directly into someone's chest.

Hot coffee splashed dangerously close to her sweater.

"Whoa—" A familiar voice.

Priya looked up.

Drew. Freaking. Gallo. Because of course.

"Seriously?" she groaned.

Drew looked down at her and smiled, sunglasses pushed onto his head, looking like he'd just rolled out of bed and still somehow managed to be attractive. "Well, well, well. Fancy seeing you here, Priya."

Priya scowled. "Are you stalking me?"

"I was here first." He gestured to the cup in his hand. "You're the one crashing my coffee time."

Priya sighed, stepping aside to order her drink. "Don't you have, like, stocks to short or rich people brunches to attend?"

"I'm taking a personal day." Drew leaned against the counter. "But what's your excuse?"

"None of your business."

He smirked. "Are you always this charming, or just with me?"

Priya rolled her eyes. "I only waste my best insults on people who deserve them."

Drew grinned. "Lucky me."

Her coffee order arrived. She grabbed it, giving him a mock salute. "Well, this has been sufficiently annoying. See you never."

But as she turned to leave—

Drew touched her wrist.

Not a lot. Just enough.

Priya blinked.

Drew looked… different for a second. Not just the usual cocky trust fund menace thing. Something else.

Something dangerous.

"You know," he said, voice lower. "I think you like running into me."

Priya tilted her head. "Oh?"

"Yeah." Drew smirked. "And I think one of these days, you're gonna let yourself admit it."

Her heart jumped.

She snatched her hand back. "Not in this lifetime, Gallo."

And then she walked out.

Because if she stayed, she might have actually—God forbid—enjoyed his company.

And that?

That would be way too dangerous.