AN: Alright everyone. Powersto; Help me reach the top.

  1 extra chapter every 200 PS up 4. Today only.????

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  [Max's apartment]

  The room was a plete mess, littered with clothes, shoes, and accessories all over the pce. Caroliood in the middle of it all, holding a bck dress and staring at it ily as if she were cheg it for dirt or tears. Max was lying on her bed, scrolling through her phoh one hand and mung on her usual cheap chips with the other.

  "I still don't uand why you're stressing," Max said, her mouth half-full. "It's just a business meeting. Wear whatever says, 'I'm too broke to be intimidating, but not desperate enough to sell you a kidney.'"

  Caroline shot her a gre. "This isn't just a business meeting, Max. It's our ake a real impression. If Alex Wilson is in us, it could ge everything."

  Max snorted. "Yeah, until he realizes our 'business' is basically you hustling and me being the sarcastic sidekick."

  "That's why I have to sell it," Caroline said, her voice rising with determination. She tossed the bck dress onto the growing pile on her bed and picked up a sparkly navy number. "What about this ooo much glitter?"

  Max gnced up and smirked. "You look like Sophie threw up on you."

  Caroline groaossing the dress aside. "I don't even know what kind of vibe I'm supposed to go for! Sophisticated? Approachable? Fun? Help me out here, Max."

  Max leaned back, propping herself up on her elbows. "Caroli doesn't matter what you wear. Alex isn't iing in your wardrobe. He's iing in the fact that you're, like, a human caffeine shot. You're impossible to ignore, even when you're covered in cupcake frosting."

  Caroline paused, her hand h over a simple emerald green dress. "You think I'm impossible to ignore?"

  Max raised an eyebrow. "Well, yeah. You've got that 'relentlessly chipper underdog with a dream' thing going on. It's exhausting, but people eat it up."

  Caroline smiled, a little softer now. "Thanks, Max. That's… weirdly sweet of you."

  "Don't get used to it," Max shot back. "Now, wear the gree's cssy but not 'I borrowed this from a prom queen.' And it matches your eyes."

  Carolihe dress up to her chest and studied her refle in the mirror. "You're right. This could work."

  Max sat up, tossing her phone aside. "There. Crisis averted. Now, let's talk about the real issue... how are you going to ha if this diurns into something more than business?"

  Caroline bliurning to face her roommate. "What do you mean?"

  Max gave her a knowing look. "e on, Carolihis guy isn't just some random ior. He's suave, loaded, and probably has a yaamed after a Shakespearean character. If he starts maki eyes at you over the escargot, are you ready for that?"

  Caroline ughed nervously. "That's not going to happen. Alex is a professional. And so am I. This is about cupcakes, not… romance."

  Max shrugged. "If you say so. Just don't e g to me when he shows up with a dozen roses and a private jet ticket to Paris."

  Caroline rolled her eyes. "Max, you've been watg too many rom-s. This is business. Strictly business."

  Max grinned, leaning back again. "Whatever you o tell yourself, Blondie. Just don't trip in those heels, or he might start rethinking the iment."

  Caroline huffed, slipping into the green dress and stepping into a pair of modest bck heels. She g herself in the mirror, smoothing out the fabric. "How do I look?"

  Max gave her an appraising look. "Like someone who's about to vince a billioo fund a cupcake empire. Go get him, tiger."

  Caroline grabbed her clutd turo leave, hesitating at the door. "Max… thanks. For, you know, being you."

  Max waved her off. "Don't get mushy on me. Now go before I ge my mind and start charging you for pep talks."

  Caroline ughed, stepping out into the hallway with a new sense of fidence. Max watched her go, a small smile tugging at her lips.

  "Strictly business," she muttered to herself, shaking her head. "Sure, Caroline. Sure."

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  [Alex's Penthouse - Night]

  Alex Wilson dressed up and stood on the baly for a few seds, his eyes drifting toward the sprawling view of the city skyline once more. Then he walked to the mirror.

  He fixed the sleeves of his white shirt, gave a little sigh, and looked at himself in the mirror. For tonight, he chose a smart but rexed outfit: a fitted navy jacket over a soft gray shirt, with dark jeans.

  "Rex, Alex," he murmured to himself, running a hand through his ly styled hair. "It's just a dinner. Business. Nothing motta plete the quest, but dang! Those two girls and that mature woman... Just... Sigh! It feels like yesterday I was watg that TV Show. Well, it's time..."

  A light buzz from his phone pulled his attention. It was a text from Marcus, his assistant.

  Marcus: Lumière reservation firmed for 8 PM. Your usual table by the terrace. Anything else you need?

  Alex typed a quick respohanks, Marcus. I'm all set.

  He slipped the phoo his pocket and grabbed the keys to his Porsche from the gss table by the door. As he made his way to the private elevator, a hint of anticipation stirred in his chest. He wasirely sure if it was the promise of business potential or the iious energy of Carolihat had him looking forward to this dinner. But he sure does know that it was the memories from his past life that were making him a bit more excited.

  [Parking Garage - Moments Later]

  The low hum of his bck Porsche 911 echoed through the nearly empty underground parking garage as Alex slid into the driver's seat. The car roared to life with a satisfying growl. Everything was ized acc to his past life's dream.

  He pced his hands oeering wheel, pausing for a moment. His mind fshed to Caroline. Her eager pitch, her unwaveriermination, and that spark of unpolished charm that had made her impossible to ighen there was Max and her unmatched beauty, but her expectations from life were too low and she was the plete opposite of Caroline.

  "She's got guts," he muttered with a small smile, shifting the car into gear.

  The way to Lumière was something Alex knew well, aook a moment to rex during the drive. The soft sound of the car and the city lights speeding by gave him a rare feeling of pea his usually busy life.

  When he arrived at the restaurant, the valet quickly came to meet him. Alex gave him the keys, and the quiet sound of cameras snapping nearby reminded him that he could never fully escape the public eye.

  "Good evening, Mr. Wilson," the ma?tre d' said with a friendly smile as Alex walked into the restaurant.

  "Evening," Alex replied, a polite nod. "I believe I have a reservation."

  "Yes, of course. Right this way."

  The ma?tre d' led him to his table oerrace, where the city skyline provided a stunning backdrop. Alex settled into his seat, the warm glow of the restaurant's ambient lighting casting soft shadows across the table.

  He g his watch. It was 7:55 PM. Caroline would be here any moment.

  For a brief sed, he wondered if this meeting would truly stay "strictly business. Should I take a little advask. I sound like a scum." Then he dismissed the thought.

  "This is about cupcakes," he reminded himself with a quiet chuckle.

  But as the miicked closer to eight...

  [Lumière - Entrance]

  Caroliood in front of the big, farance of Lumière, taking a deep breath to calm herself. The restaurant's tall gss doors and softly shining deliers looked so elegant, making her feel a little out of pce, even though she was wearing her best green dress.

  "You do this," she said quietly to herself, holding her small bck bag tightly.

  She walked forward, and the doorman smiled warmly as he opehe door for her. Inside, she heard the quiet sound of people talking and the gentle k of gsses. Caroline looked around i the luxury—the shiny marble floors, the simple but beautiful flower decorations, and the soft lighting that made everything look effortlessly stylish.

  "Good evening, miss. Do you have a reservation?" the ma?tre d' asked, his tone impeccably polite.

  "Uh, yes. I'm meeting Alex Wilson," she said, trying to sound fident.

  The ma?tre d' nodded. "Right this way, Ms. Calhan."

  Caroline walked behind him through the restaurant, her heels making quiet tapping sounds on the floor. She couldn't stop feeling a little nervous as people turo look at her—some seemed curious, while others barely noticed. When they got to the terrace, she caught her breath for a sed.

  Alex was already sitting at the table, looking rexed but stylish, as if fidence came naturally to him. The soft light from the city skyline gave him a golden glow, and for a moment, Caroli like she was in a movie se.

  "Mr. Wilson, yuest is here," the ma?tre d' said.

  Alex looked up and smiled warmly. He stood up and poio the empty chair across from him.

  "Caroline," he said, his tone genuinely weling. "You look great. Thanks for ing."

  She smiled, her earlier nerves easing slightly. "Thanks. And, uh, you weren't kidding about this pce being fancy."

  Alex chuckled as they both sat down. "It has its charm. I figured it'd be a good spot to talk without the usual diner chaos."

  A waiter appeared almost immediately, them menus and a sele of wine. Caroliated, unsure of what to order, but Alex quickly stepped in.

  "A gss of Sauvignon Bnc for her, and I'll have the Malbec," he said smoothly.

  "Good choice," Caroline said, smiling nervously.

  "I do my best," Alex replied, leaning back slightly.

  As the waiter disappeared, Alex turned his attention back to Caroline...

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