The pne touched down smoothly, the soft jolt rousing Evan from his idle thoughts as he gnced at Sienna, who was practically glowing with anticipation. Her fingers tapped lightly against the armrest, her lips curved in a knowing smile. She had been looking forward to this trip far more than she let on. It wasn’t just about business—no, the business aspect was almost secondary to her. This was about the two of them, alone, away from prying eyes and expectations.

  Evan wasn’t blind to her excitement. If anything, he found it amusing, endearing even, how eager she was. It was a contrast to her composed and confident demeanor in public, where she was the young and brilliant president of Lancaster Energy.

  As they stepped into the luxurious hotel lobby, the polished marble floors reflecting the warm glow of chandeliers, Evan gnced around, appreciating the modern aesthetics. The air smelled faintly of vender and freshly brewed coffee, a welcoming touch of hospitality.

  Sienna led the way to the reception desk, her posture exuding authority as she spoke with the receptionist, a young woman with a professional smile.

  "A double room, please," Sienna requested, her voice smooth but carrying an unmistakable edge of mischief.

  The receptionist didn’t bat an eye—perhaps used to hearing simir requests from traveling couples—but Evan caught the tiny smirk tugging at the corner of Sienna’s lips. He sighed inwardly. At this point, it was almost childish how pleased she was with herself. As if it wasn’t obvious that they’d be staying together.

  Still, he let her have her fun, watching as she signed the necessary paperwork while he took in the lobby’s soft hum of activity. Business travelers, couples, and tourists milled about, some chatting, others checking in.

  Once they had their key, they made their way up to the room, Sienna practically bouncing with energy as she pulled him inside and shut the door. The room was spacious, tastefully decorated with muted gold and beige tones, a rge window offering a panoramic view of the city skyline. But Evan barely had time to admire it before he felt Sienna’s arms snake around his waist from behind.

  “You’re ridiculous,” he murmured, suppressing a chuckle as she pressed herself against him.

  “Am I?” She let her fingers trail down his chest, her voice dropping into something teasing. “Or am I just eager for some time with you?”

  He smirked, but the truth was, he wasn’t immune to her charm. He let the moment linger for a few seconds before gently prying her off. "We just got here. Let’s eat first and go over the meeting details."

  Sienna groaned dramatically but relented, flopping onto the plush king-sized bed as he called for room service.

  ***

  The lunch was light and delicious—seared tuna, tangy sads, and a gss of chilled white wine. But as the st dish was cleared away, a sudden urge to escape the stifling formalities took over.

  “Let’s get out of here for a bit,” Sienna said, her eyes gleaming mischievously. “I have an idea.”

  Evan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What did you have in mind?"

  Sienna stood, already moving toward the door. “We’re in a new pce, Evan. Why not take some time to explore? We don’t have to jump straight into work yet. A little fresh air and some sightseeing will help get us into the right headspace for the meetings tomorrow.”

  Evan hesitated for a moment but then agreed. “Fair enough. It’ll be nice to see the city before the business grind begins.”

  They left the hotel, stepping into the bright afternoon. The city had a rexed charm to it—quaint streets lined with cafes, small shops, and winding paths that seemed to beckon them.

  “I figured we could rent bikes and explore a bit,” Sienna suggested as they passed a small bike rental kiosk. She motioned toward the bright-colored bikes.

  Evan couldn’t help but smile at the suggestion. “Bikes? Alright, I’m in.”

  They each grabbed a bike, with Sienna choosing a bright pink one, clearly relishing the contrast. Evan opted for a cssic blue. The two of them set off, riding side by side along the winding paths of a nearby park. The air was fresh, the pace leisurely, and for a moment, it felt like nothing else mattered.

  Sienna took the lead, her pace faster than Evan’s, and he found himself trying to catch up. It wasn’t a race—just the kind of spontaneous challenge she seemed to thrive on.

  They rode through tree-lined paths, the afternoon sun casting dappled shadows on the ground, and came to a quiet fountain at the park’s edge. Sienna stopped, hopping off her bike with a satisfied grin.

  “Well, that was nice,” she said, wiping her brow. “We should do this more often.”

  Evan, a little winded, caught up and leaned against his bike. “You just wanted to make me work harder, didn’t you?”

  Sienna ughed lightly. “Maybe a little. But it’s good for you, isn’t it? You’ve got to unwind every now and then.”

  Evan paused, the lightness of the moment settling in. “Yeah, it’s nice. A good change of pace.”

  They stood there for a few moments, just enjoying the calm of the park before turning back toward the hotel.

  ***

  After returning the bikes and heading back to their room, the mood between them shifted again as they focused on the upcoming meetings. Sienna pulled out her tablet and began briefing Evan in earnest.

  Sienna straightened in her chair, her pyful demeanor shifting into something sharper, more professional. "Alright," she began, pulling out her tablet and skimming through some notes. "Let me bring you up to speed on what’s happening."

  Evan leaned forward attentively.

  “Lancaster Energy is looking to expand its portfolio into offshore wind farms," she expined. "Right now, we have strong domestic holdings, but our reach internationally is still limited. This trip is about negotiating partnerships that will help us establish a foothold in new markets."

  She swiped at the tablet, pulling up a few charts and documents. "The first meeting is with North Horizon Solutions. They specialize in turbine technology and offshore logistics. This particur deal is a priority because it will allow us to streamline supply chain costs and increase efficiency for our new projects."

  Evan nodded, making mental notes. "So, this is more about infrastructure support rather than direct investment?"

  Sienna’s lips quirked. "Exactly. I knew you were sharp, but I like how quickly you're picking up on this."

  He shrugged, but he was pleased with the praise.

  "For now," she continued, "your job is simple. Just observe. You don’t need to speak unless you're asked something directly. Business negotiations require a lot of reading between the lines, so I want you to focus on that—how people phrase things, what they don’t say, the little power pys in conversation."

  Evan absorbed her words carefully. He had always known Sienna was good at what she did, but seeing her in her element, so confident and articute, was impressive.

  An hour ter, they left the hotel with Sienna’s secretary, James, and her assistant, Cra, in tow. The two of them had arrived earlier and had apparently spent the morning enjoying the hotel's amenities. James, noticeably more reserved around Sienna since his st misstep, focused solely on his job, briefing her on some st-minute details as they got into the waiting car.

  The meeting took pce at a sleek, gss-walled office building in the heart of the city. They were led into a spacious conference room, where the executives from North Horizon Solutions greeted them with firm handshakes and polite smiles.

  Evan took his seat beside Sienna, keeping quiet as the discussions began.

  As expected, this first meeting was retively smooth. North Horizon was eager to work with Lancaster Energy, and the negotiations leaned more towards fine-tuning contractual details rather than heavy back-and-forth debates.

  Evan noted how Sienna controlled the pace of the conversation. She let the representatives speak first, listening carefully before responding with measured, confident statements. She didn’t rush to fill silences, instead letting them linger just long enough to subtly pressure the other side into eborating further.

  It was fascinating to watch.

  By the end of the meeting, both parties were in agreement on the main points, and only minor adjustments remained to be finalized.

  As they exited the building, Evan turned to Sienna.

  "That went well," he said. "I noticed that you let them take the lead at first. Was that intentional?"

  Sienna grinned, eyes gleaming with approval. "It was. When you're the one making the offer, it’s better to let the other party talk more. They’ll reveal what their priorities are, and sometimes, their weaknesses."

  Evan nodded thoughtfully. "And the pauses? You were quiet for a few seconds at times, and they seemed to get nervous and add more details."

  Sienna chuckled. "That’s a cssic tactic. Most people can’t handle silence in negotiations, so they’ll keep talking just to fill the gap. And the more they talk, the more they give away."

  Evan smirked. "So it’s a mind game."

  "Business is always a mind game," she said with a wink. "And you’re already getting a good grasp of it."

  He felt a small swell of pride at her words. Maybe he really did have a knack for this.

  As they headed back to the hotel, Sienna leaned in slightly, her voice dropping into something softer, more teasing.

  "Since we finished early, that means we have plenty of time for… fun activities."

  Evan shot her a dry look. "You really have a one-track mind."

  "And you love it," she echoed from earlier, smirking.

  He sighed, but the truth was, he did.

  LunarEcho