Lily Carter wasn't used to being summoned into Alex Knight's office first thing in the morning. Usually, he kept their interactions limited to clipped instructions, a glance that felt more like a dissection, and occasional corrections sharp enough to slice through steel. So when she found herself clutching a notebook, standing in front of his glass-walled office with Melissa whispering, "Careful, rookie, maybe he's about to deport you to HR exile," Lily's heart already felt like it was auditioning for a marathon.
Alex's voice was calm when he finally looked up from his screen. "You'll be traveling with me next week."
Lily blinked. Once. Twice. "Traveling? Like… for coffee? Because honestly, the Starbucks down the street feels like a trip sometimes."
The faintest twitch touched the corner of his mouth — not a smile, but something that made her feel she'd cracked open a vault only the bold dared to touch.
"London," he clarified. "Merger negotiations. Investor dinner. Seven days."
Her brain froze on the word London. Her entire knowledge of the city came from movies and one ill-fated Pinterest board titled Someday.
"You want me to—" she pointed at herself as though he'd confused her with someone competent, "—me, Lily Carter, hop across the ocean and… what? Order tea? Translate sarcasm?"
"You'll be assisting with prep, managing schedules, and keeping records during discussions." His tone was brisk, already moving back to his monitor. "Pack professional attire. Nothing else."
Lily swallowed. "Right. Professional attire. So… I'll leave my pink flamingo pajamas at home. Got it."
He didn't answer. But when he finally lifted his eyes to hers, the silence stretched a fraction too long. His gaze was cool, analytical, but there was something there — as if he'd accidentally allowed himself to picture her outside the rigid frame of blazers and boardrooms.
Her cheeks burned. She pretended to scribble notes she didn't need.
By the time she left his office, whispers were already curling through the hallway like wildfire.
"She's going with him?"
"Assistant turned travel companion…"
"Must be nice to be Knight's favorite."
"Or something more than favorite."
Melissa swooped in like a hawk, practically dragging Lily toward the breakroom. "Okay, spill. London? With him? You're basically starring in your own enemies-to-lovers rom-com."
"Rom-com? More like horror film," Lily groaned, slapping her forehead. "I'm going to embarrass myself, trip in front of the Queen, and single-handedly ruin American-British relations. They'll deport me before I even get through customs."
Melissa smirked. "Just don't get lost in Heathrow. That place eats people alive."
Lily dropped into a chair, overwhelmed. A week in another country. A week surrounded by investors who saw her as nothing more than Knight's shadow. And worst of all — a week in close quarters with him.
And yet… buried under the panic was a spark of excitement she couldn't extinguish.
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The night before their departure, Lily barely slept. Her suitcase was a disaster — clothes folded, refolded, then rolled in desperate Pinterest-inspired attempts at "packing like a pro." Half of it was professional blazers, the other half was chaos: a polka-dot scarf she couldn't explain, three notebooks she didn't need, and an emergency stash of chocolate.
By morning, she was a bundle of nerves — which is how she ended up juggling three bags, a coffee, and her passport as she nearly collided with the revolving doors of JFK Airport.
"Melissa was right," Lily muttered to herself, fumbling with her rolling suitcase. "This place eats people alive."
Her muttering turned into a squeak when Alex's voice cut in smoothly behind her.
"You're going to miss the flight if you keep treating this like a scavenger hunt."
Lily spun around, nearly spilling her coffee. He stood there in a charcoal suit that probably cost more than her rent for an entire year, his carry-on perfectly organized, his stride calm and efficient. Meanwhile, she looked like a tourist in over her head.
"Relax," she said, waving her passport like a flag of truce. "I've got this under control."
He arched an eyebrow just as her coffee cup tilted, splashing dangerously close to her blazer. She yelped, fumbling, and Alex's hand shot out with quick precision, steadying both her wrist and the cup.
"Under control?" he asked dryly.
Lily's cheeks flamed. "Okay, fine. Ninety percent under control. Eighty. Okay, maybe fifty."
He didn't reply, only released her hand with a measured calm that made her feel far too aware of the brush of his skin against hers.
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If Alex Knight moved through airport security like a panther — sleek, calculated, exuding quiet power — Lily resembled a squirrel caught in rush hour traffic.
She struggled with bins, laptop, shoes, blazer, scarf, and almost sacrificed her passport to the conveyor belt before Alex slid it back into her hand with a pointed look.
"Do you make a habit of losing government documents?"
"Only on days that end in Y," Lily quipped, then groaned. "Great. My humor will get me banned from international travel."
His lips twitched, almost imperceptibly, before he moved ahead, breezing through the scanner like a man who owned the place.
Lily, of course, set off the metal detector. Twice.
By the time she caught up with him near the gate, she was panting. "Well, at least I didn't end up in TSA prison. Progress, right?"
Alex didn't answer, but when he handed her a bottle of water, she caught the faintest flicker of amusement in his eyes.
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Business class. Lily tried not to gape as she sank into the plush seat beside Alex. She fiddled with the seat controls, trying to recline, only to jerk the seat forward so abruptly she nearly toppled into the aisle.
A low sigh came from her right. Alex reached over, long fingers brushing hers as he adjusted the panel smoothly.
"There," he said simply.
Lily froze. The warmth of his hand lingered a moment too long against hers before he pulled back, already opening a sleek folder of documents.
"Thanks," she murmured, embarrassed, turning her focus to the in-flight entertainment screen.
When the opening credits of a rom-com flashed across the screen, she smiled, relaxing slightly.
"You're really going to watch that?" Alex asked without looking up.
"Yes. Normal people enjoy happiness, Knight. You should try it sometime."
He didn't reply, but the edge of his mouth curved again — the closest thing to a smile she'd ever seen on him.
______________
Midway through the flight, the seatbelt sign pinged and the plane jolted. Lily stiffened, fingers gripping the armrest so tightly her knuckles whitened.
"Relax," Alex said calmly, not looking up from his papers.
"Relax? This is how every plane crash movie starts!" she hissed, clutching harder.
Without a word, his hand shifted, covering hers on the armrest. His touch was firm, steady, grounding.
The panic in her chest eased, replaced by something else entirely — a hum of awareness she couldn't ignore. His hand lingered a second too long before he pulled away, cool as ever, returning to his documents.
Lily swallowed hard, staring at the glowing screen in front of her without registering a single word of dialogue.
______________
Hours later, the cabin lights dimmed. Most passengers slept, but Lily was restless, shifting in her seat. Eventually, her head tilted toward the window, eyes fluttering shut.
She shifted again, unintentionally leaning closer to Alex. Her temple nearly brushed his shoulder, and for one suspended second, she hovered there.
Alex didn't move. He kept reading, gaze fixed on his papers, though his eyes hadn't moved in minutes. He could feel the warmth radiating from her, hear the soft rhythm of her breathing.
When she finally slumped against the window instead of his shoulder, he let out a quiet breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
His eyes flicked to her once — just once — before returning to the page. But the words blurred, and all he could see was the image of her face softened by sleep.
__________________
The flight touched down just after dawn, the soft glow of sunrise spilling through the airplane windows. Lily's hair was sticking out in at least three different directions, her scarf had twisted itself into an unholy knot around her neck, and her brain was fogged with jet lag. Meanwhile, Alex looked like he'd just stepped off a runway shoot—tie still straight, suit crisp, not a hint of fatigue.
Lily glared at him as she wrestled with her carry-on. "Do you… do you just regenerate mid-flight like some corporate vampire?"
He didn't glance at her. "Discipline. Try it sometime."
"Discipline doesn't fix bedhead," she muttered, tugging her scarf loose.
_____________
The airport bustled with energy—families, business travelers, tourists. Lily gawked at the signs, her accent slipping into mock-British as she whispered, "Mind the gap. Tea and crumpets. Bob's your uncle."
Alex's pace didn't falter. "If you plan to offend the entire city before we leave baggage claim, I suggest doing it quietly."
She hurried after him, dragging her suitcase, nearly colliding with a businessman. "Sorry! Jet lag, luggage lag, life lag!"
By the time they reached customs, Lily was winded. Alex slid his passport forward like a man who'd rehearsed efficiency from birth. Lily dropped hers on the counter, nearly spilling boarding passes everywhere.
The officer raised an eyebrow. "First time in London?"
"Yes! Well, for work. Which is terrifying. But exciting. But mostly terrifying," Lily babbled.
The officer chuckled. Alex, however, exhaled slowly through his nose. "You're representing Knight Enterprises," he said under his breath. "Not auditioning for a comedy club."
_____________
Outside, London stretched before them—historic stone buildings beside sleek glass towers, red double-decker buses weaving through traffic. Lily pressed her nose to the taxi window, whispering, "It's like Harry Potter meets James Bond."
"Focus," Alex said, already scanning his phone.
She twisted in her seat to face him. "Do you ever… I don't know… look up? Enjoy the city you're in?"
He didn't answer, fingers moving across the screen. But when she caught the reflection in the window, his gaze lingered a moment on the skyline before returning to work.
_________________
The hotel lobby was all marble floors and crystal chandeliers. Lily stumbled slightly on the polished tile, staring up at the massive centerpiece.
"Knight Enterprises," Alex said to the receptionist, sliding over his card.
"Of course, Mr. Knight," the woman said brightly. She clicked on her screen, then hesitated. "Ah… I'm terribly sorry. There seems to have been a mix-up. We only have one suite currently available."
Lily froze, her suitcase tipping onto her foot. "Wait, one suite? As in… one?"
The receptionist nodded apologetically.
Alex's jaw tightened, but his voice was calm. "Arrange another immediately. I don't care which hotel you pull it from. Tonight."
The receptionist hurriedly made calls. Within minutes, she secured another suite.
Relief washed over Lily, though the flush in her cheeks remained. The awkwardness clung as they rode the elevator—her brain replaying one suite, one suite on repeat.
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Later, in her room, Lily stood before the full-length mirror, pacing. She clutched an imaginary wine glass, bowing dramatically.
"Good evening, Mr. Chen, may I interest you in some witty banter?" she practiced. "No, no, too much. Okay, try again—'Lovely to meet you, sir, I promise I'm not a liability…' No, terrible."
She groaned, tossing her scarf onto the bed. "Why do people small-talk about golf? I don't even know what par means."
The door between their adjoining suites wasn't fully closed. Alex, passing through the hallway, paused. He leaned against the doorframe silently, arms crossed, listening to her flounder.
"Or maybe… 'I'm Lily Carter, assistant-slash-disaster, but tonight I'm trying to be a functioning adult!'" she said, throwing her hands up.
Alex's voice cut in dryly. "You'll scare the investors off before the appetizers."
Lily yelped, spinning around. "Were you—oh my god, you were listening!"
"Unfortunately." His eyes flicked to the mirror, then back to her. "Stick to honesty. Investors value authenticity."
She blinked. "Wait, was that… advice? From the Ice King?"
His gaze lingered a fraction too long before he said, "Don't make me regret it." Then he disappeared back into his suite, leaving Lily flustered and oddly encouraged.