When love wasn't the plan

Chapter Four

It had been over a week now, and Ivy had slipped into a comfortable routine—work, coffee shop, then home.

Life in New York was settling in. Work kept her busy, and she enjoyed it. Numbers had always been her thing, and she was already proving herself at K and K corporation

Still, something felt... off.

Maybe she needed a change of scenery. She had finished her book and figured a trip to the library wouldn’t hurt. Just something light to read before bed—escapism at its finest.

She walked in, breathing in the scent of books and quiet. It was peaceful here, and she liked that.

Until a familiar voice cut through the calm.

“Ivy?”

She turned and saw Emily, arms crossed, a playful glare in her eyes.

“Hey, Emily.”

Emily raised an eyebrow. “So... how’s New York treating you?”

“It’s been good,” Ivy nodded. “Just work, mostly.”

Emily’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And no time for new friends?”

Ivy blinked. “What?”

“You never called,” Emily huffed, crossing her arms dramatically. “I mean, I wasn’t expecting daily updates, but a text? A ‘Hey, Emily, I’m alive’? Nothing.”

Ivy bit her lip, suddenly feeling guilty. “I—sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you. I just... got caught up with work.”

Emily sighed, then waved a hand. “I’m not mad, just giving you a hard time.” But then she hesitated. “Unless—am I intruding? I mean, if you’re not looking for friends or whatever, that’s totally fine.”

Ivy frowned. Why did that actually make her feel bad?

“No, you’re not intruding,” she said quickly. Then, before she could second-guess it, she added, “How about this?

Come over on Saturday, and we’ll go for a walk in the park. You can show me around.”

Emily’s face lit up instantly. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

Emily grinned. “Okay, deal. I’ll bring snacks.”

Ivy chuckled. “Looking forward to it.”

As Emily walked off, Ivy exhaled.

Maybe she really did need to shake up her routine.

After her unexpected chat with Emily at the library, Ivy left the quiet stacks with a mix of mild guilt and a spark of anticipation for new connections. But once she reached the familiar pace of New York’s busy streets, her mind shifted back to work—her constant, reliable focus.

At work, Ivy dived straight into her tasks. Today, her concentration was solely on the collaboration project between K&K and a forward-thinking tech development company. The initiative was designed to integrate advanced digital solutions into K&K’s financial and logistical operations, promising to streamline processes and propel the corporation into a new era of efficiency.

Sitting at her desk by the window, Ivy opened her laptop and reviewed the project brief once more. The proposal was ambitious: merging K&K’s robust financial systems with innovative technology, such as blockchain for secure transactions and data analytics for predicting market trends. Every chart and forecast was meticulously prepared, all with one goal in mind—the presentation on Monday.

Ivy’s fingers danced over the keyboard as she refined her slides and double-checked her numbers. The presentation had to be flawless; she was determined to make it clear that the collaboration would not only benefit the company but also position them as industry pioneers. Her focus was absolute. There was no distraction—no lingering thoughts about anything or anyone beyond the work at hand.

As she adjusted the final slide, a quiet satisfaction settled over her. Ivy’s dedication had always been her strength, and today was no exception. The project was ready, and come Monday, she would stand before the board with confidence, articulating the vision for this bold new partnership.

Before wrapping up, she glanced at her calendar, noting the Saturday invitation from Emily. Ivy smiled softly to herself. Perhaps a walk in the park would be a nice change of pace,but tonight, work was her priority. The library, the coffee shop, even the fleeting encounter with a familiar stranger earlier—none of that mattered now. This was about proving her worth and showcasing the brilliant future she envisioned for K and K.

With a final click, Ivy saved her work and leaned back in her chair. The presentation was set, and her path was clear. Monday would mark a new beginning, both for the project and for her future at the company

For now, though, she allowed herself a small moment of calm before she prepared to leave the office,a moment to breathe, to enjoy the silence of a job well done, and to step into the the evening with purpose.