She Visits a Friend’s Office, Never Imagining the CEO She Bumps Into Will End Up Falling for Her
An Unexpected Collision
Sierra Adams didn’t mean to crash into anyone, especially not the man in the navy suit who looked like he walked out of a Forbes cover shoot. But her heel caught on the edge of the sleek marble floor. The next thing she knew, she was face first against six feet of solid chest.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” she gasped, clutching his arms to steady herself.
The man didn’t flinch. He caught her by the waist, holding her upright like she weighed nothing.
“You all right?”
His voice was low and smooth, like it belonged somewhere between a boardroom and a bedroom. Sierra blinked up at him, a little breathless. He had sharp cheekbones, piercing gray eyes, and the kind of jawline that made women forget how to form complete sentences.
“I—yeah, I’m fine. I wasn’t watching where I was going,” she said quickly, taking a step back, her cheeks burning.
He didn’t say anything for a second, just looked at her like she was a puzzle he didn’t expect to like solving. Sierra coughed awkwardly and smoothed the front of her thrifted blazer.
“I’m here to see Lily. She works in accounting, floor 23.”,
His expression didn’t change, but a flicker of amusement passed through his eyes.
“Take the elevator to 23. Turn left. Her office is at the end of the hall.”
“Right. Thank you.”
She practically ran to the elevators, heart racing not just from the fall but from him, whoever he was. What she didn’t see was the man still standing there after the doors closed, watching her disappear with a look of intrigue he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
“Wait, you bumped into him?” Lily’s eyes were wide as she handed Sierra a coffee.
“I literally bounced off his chest. I probably left a dent.”
Lily burst out laughing.
“That was Owen Jackson.”
Sierra paused mid-sip.
“Who?”
“The CEO of this entire company.”
Sierra nearly dropped her cup.
“No, no way that was the CEO.”
“Yep. Billionaire, ruthless in the boardroom, and apparently now your crash dummy.”
Sierra groaned.
“Of course. That’s just my luck.”
Lily leaned in.
“He’s never down in the lobby at this hour. That’s weird.”
“I’m weird. This is clearly fate messing with me.”,
“Or fate doing you a favor,” Lily teased.
Sierra rolled her eyes.
“Please. Guys like that don’t even see girls like me.”
But Owen Jackson did. He couldn’t stop thinking about her—the way she looked up at him slightly panicked but totally unafraid. The way she laughed nervously and apologized like it actually mattered.
She bumped into him. She didn’t flirt, she didn’t even try to linger. She just left. He wasn’t used to that, and for some reason, he wanted to see her again. By the time his assistant came in with his schedule, Owen was already at his desk.
“Cancel my lunch meeting,” he said without looking up.
“Sir?”
“Reschedule it. I’ll be on floor 23.”
Sierra was not prepared to see him again. She had just stepped out of Lily’s office when he turned the corner in a tailored charcoal suit, looking like he belonged in a movie about power and sin.
“Oh,” she said, backing up instinctively.
He stopped in front of her.
“You again.”
“I swear I didn’t plant myself here to run into you again.”,
His mouth twitched but not quite with a smile.
“Good. I prefer accidental collisions.”
She nodded, awkward.
“Okay then.”
Owen tilted his head.
“Have lunch with me.”
“What? Lunch?”
“You eat, don’t you?”
“Um, yes. I just… why?”
“I want to.”
Sierra stared.
“You don’t even know my name.”
“Then tell me,” he said.
She hesitated.
“Sierra. Sierra Adams.”
“Owen Jackson,” he said, even though she obviously already knew.
Then he turned, gesturing for her to follow. She did. Lunch wasn’t in a cafeteria; it was in a private dining room on the top floor. Floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over the skyline, and a private chef laid out a Michelin-starred spread.
Sierra sat across from Owen, still trying to figure out how this was real. He poured her sparkling water like it was wine.
“So, Sierra Adams, what do you do when you’re not crashing into strangers?”
“I’m a freelance illustrator,” she said nervously, picking at the edge of her napkin. “Mostly books, some magazines. I’m not rich.”
He raised an eyebrow.,
“I didn’t ask if you were. I just figured, you know, you probably only eat with people who wear thousand-dollar heels.”
His gaze flicked to her scuffed boots.
“I like your shoes.”
She laughed.
“You’re lying.”
He didn’t laugh.
“I’m not.”
There was a beat of silence, and then he looked at her in a way that made her stomach flutter.
“You’re different.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“It’s rare,” he said.
Three days later, he showed up at Lily’s office. Sierra was there dropping off coffee, and he appeared in the doorway like he owned the world, which technically, he kind of did.
“I’m taking you to dinner tonight,” he nodded. “Be ready at 7:00. I’ll send a car.”
She stared.
“Do I get a choice?”
“You always have a choice,” he said, softer this time. “But I’d like to spend time with you.”
Sierra looked at Lily, who was already mouthing, “Say yes.” So she did.
At 7:00, a sleek black town car pulled up in front of her building. The driver opened the door and handed her a single white rose. Inside the car was a velvet box. She opened it slowly, revealing a pair of delicate diamond earrings.
Her breath caught. When she looked up, Owen was standing outside her door in a black suit, waiting.
“You didn’t have to do this,” she said as he helped her out.
“I wanted to.”
“Why?”
He looked at her, really looked at her.
“Because I haven’t wanted anything this badly in a long time.”
