Leia arrived at MMT Developers' headquarters forty-five minutes early.
Not because the meeting was scheduled that way.
Because she hated being late.
And because today mattered.
A lot.
The MMT project wasn't merely another contract. It was the biggest project Ben Architecture had ever won. One mistake could damage everything she had spent years building.
Including a successful architect who didn't actually exist.
"Relax," Colette said beside her as they entered the lobby. "You reviewed the plans until two o'clock in the morning. You're probably more prepared than everyone else in that meeting."
"I reviewed until three."
Colette groaned.
"See? My point exactly."
Leia smiled.
"I just want this to go well."
"It will."
The elevator doors opened.
A few minutes later, they were being escorted toward one of the executive conference rooms.
The moment the doors opened, Leia immediately spotted him.
Jack Garlan.
Of course he was already there.
He stood near the large digital screen at the front of the room, speaking with several engineers and project managers. Tall and composed as always, he somehow managed to look perfectly at ease while simultaneously looking like he owned the building.
He glanced toward the doorway.
Their eyes met.
And a smile immediately appeared on his face.
A genuine one.
Not the polite business smile he gave clients.
Why she noticed the difference, she didn't know.
"Morning, Leia."
Not Ms. Clark.
Just Leia.
Something warm fluttered annoyingly inside her chest.
"Good morning, Jack."
Colette's gaze bounced between them suspiciously.
Neither noticed.
The conference room slowly filled.
Developers.
Engineers.
Financial consultants.
Environmental specialists.
Construction experts.
By nine o'clock, over twenty people occupied the room.
At exactly nine, Matthew Towne entered.
"Good morning, everyone. Let's get started."
Conversations ceased immediately.
Matthew walked toward the head of the table.
"This development will be our largest residential community to date. Eight phases. Mixed-use facilities. Retail centers. Green spaces. Recreational hubs."
He smiled.
"And a ridiculous number of meetings."
The room chuckled.
The first hour focused mostly on presentations.
Budgets.
Deadlines.
Projected growth.
Population density.
Infrastructure concerns.
Leia listened carefully, writing notes and observations.
By the time discussion shifted toward site planning, she already had several concerns.
Unfortunately so did Jack.
"Given the land configuration," Jack said while gesturing toward the site map, "we should place the primary commercial district near the eastern entrance."
Several people nodded.
Reasonable.
Logical.
Efficient.
Leia frowned slightly.
Jack noticed immediately.
Interesting.
"Something you disagree with?"
Every eye in the room turned toward her.
Great.
Exactly what she wanted.
Public speaking before coffee.
Leia sat straighter.
"Not disagree."
A pause.
"I just think we're solving the wrong problem."
That got everyone's attention.
Including Jack's.
Matthew leaned forward.
"Go on."
Leia stood.
Walking toward the screen.
The room fell silent.
She could practically feel Jack watching her.
"The eastern entrance gives us the highest traffic volume."
She pointed toward the main road.
"That's why it seems like the obvious location for commercial development."
Several heads nodded.
So far so good.
"But people don't build communities around traffic."
She clicked to another map.
"They build communities around convenience."
Another click.
"And people don't stay where they shop."
Another.
"They stay where they connect."
The room became quieter.
Jack folded his arms.
Listening carefully.
Very carefully.
Leia continued.
"If we place all commercial spaces near the entrance, residents will have to leave the heart of the community every time they need something."
She zoomed into the center portion of the property.
"The community itself becomes fragmented."
Matthew looked thoughtful.
Several engineers exchanged glances.
"So your suggestion?" one executive asked.
Leia pointed toward the center.
"Create a central lifestyle district."
More murmurs.
"Restaurants."
She clicked.
"Cafes."
Another click.
"Retail spaces."
Another click.
"Community events area."
She looked around the room.
"Give residents a reason to stay inside the community instead of constantly leaving it."
Silence.
For several seconds nobody spoke.
Then Matthew leaned back.
Slowly smiling.
"I like that."
Several others nodded.
The momentum shifted rapidly.
Discussion exploded.
Ideas built on ideas.
Suggestions expanded.
Adjustments formed.
Within minutes people were debating details of Leia's proposal.
Not whether it should happen.
How it should happen.
Jack sat quietly.
Watching.
Listening.
Observing.
And becoming increasingly impressed.
Most people entered meetings prepared.
Leia entered meetings having already imagined six different futures.
She wasn't simply solving problems.
She was anticipating them.
Seeing opportunities before anyone else noticed they existed.
It was rare.
And damn impressive.
The discussion continued throughout the afternoon.
Several more times Leia contributed insights.
Every single time they were practical.
Well researched.
Immediate.
Never showing off.
Never trying to dominate the discussion.
She simply cared about the project.
The realization hit Jack harder than expected.
She wasn't ambitious because she wanted recognition.
She was ambitious because she genuinely loved creating something meaningful.
By the end of the meeting everyone looked exhausted.
Except Leia.
Who somehow looked energized.
Jack was beginning to suspect architecture functioned as coffee for her.
People began gathering documents and packing laptops.
Conversations resumed.
The room gradually emptied.
Jack remained near the conference table when Leia approached.
A folder tucked beneath her arm.
"You survived."
She laughed.
"Was that supposed to be difficult?"
"This meeting?"
Jack nodded.
"These people can turn a simple discussion about sidewalks into a six-hour war."
"I noticed."
"Still."
He studied her.
"You were impressive."
The compliment was simple.
Matter-of-fact.
Completely sincere.
Which made it surprisingly difficult to brush aside.
Leia looked away briefly.
"Thank you."
Then added,
"So were you."
Jack raised a brow.
"Now who's being polite?"
She laughed.
"I'm serious."
Her expression softened.
"I expected you to bulldoze everyone."
His eyes widened.
"Bull... what?"
"You're Jack Garlan."
"Should I be worried about that statement?"
"A little."
He laughed.
A deep, genuine laugh that immediately made her smile in return.
Dangerous.
Entirely too dangerous.
As they walked toward the elevators, Jack asked,
"Do you always come that prepared?"
Leia glanced at him.
Then shrugged.
"Only when something matters."
Simple answer.
Yet something about it stayed with him.
The elevator arrived.
The doors opened.
Leia stepped inside.
Then turned back.
"See you at the site inspection next week."
Jack nodded.
"I'll be looking forward to it."
For reasons neither fully understood, the statement lingered between them.
The doors slid closed.
Jack remained standing in the hallway long after the elevator descended.
Only when it disappeared did he begin walking toward his office.
A faint smile played on his lips.
The mystery of Benjamin Archibald remained unsolved.
But another truth was becoming increasingly clear.
Ben Architecture's success wasn't a mystery at all.
It had a name.
And her name was Leia Clark.