THE BLIND DATE

Rain poured over the city like silver threads as Maya Johnson tightened her grip on the handle of her old umbrella. The wind tugged at her worn coat, reminding her once again how difficult life had become.

Five years.

Five long years had passed since she had left the city with a broken heart...and a secret she had never told anyone.

Now she was back.

Not because she wanted to be.

Because she had no choice.

Her grandmother's hospital bills had drained every penny she had. After months of struggling, Maya accepted a job offer from one of the country's biggest companies—Kingston Holdings.

She looked up at the towering glass building.

"One interview," she whispered. "Just get through today."

Her phone buzzed.

It was her best friend, Jenny.

Jenny: "Don't forget your blind date tonight!"

Maya groaned.

"I already told you I'm not interested."

Another message appeared instantly.

Jenny: "Too late. I already paid for the reservation. He's rich, handsome, and apparently desperate."

Maya rolled her eyes.

"Desperate? That's comforting."

She slipped the phone into her pocket and walked into the company.

Inside the lobby, employees rushed from one meeting to another.

Everyone seemed nervous.

A receptionist whispered to another employee.

"He's coming."

"The CEO?"

"Yes."

"The young billionaire?"

"The one and only."

The entire lobby suddenly fell silent.

The sound of polished shoes echoed through the marble floor.

Everyone straightened.

Then he appeared.

Alexander Kingston.

Thirty-two years old.

CEO of Kingston Holdings.

One of the youngest billionaires in the country.

Tall.

Sharp grey suit.

Cold expression.

The kind of man who intimidated an entire room simply by walking into it.

He walked past everyone without a glance.

Until—

His eyes landed on Maya.

Time stopped.

His heartbeat skipped.

It couldn't be...

Her.

The woman who had disappeared five years ago without a word.

Maya recognised him too.

Her face turned pale.

Alexander.

The man she'd once loved.

The father...

No.

She couldn't think about that now.

Before either of them could speak, Alexander's assistant interrupted.

"Sir, the board meeting is waiting."

Alexander slowly looked away.

"Continue."

He walked into the private lift.

Maya finally breathed again.

"This can't be happening."

Hours later...

The interview ended successfully.

"You start on Monday," the manager smiled.

Relieved, Maya thanked everyone before leaving.

She checked the time.

7:15 p.m.

She was already late for the blind date Jenny had arranged.

"I'll stay for ten minutes," she muttered.

"Then I'll leave."

At an elegant restaurant across town...

Alexander had also been forced onto a blind date.

His grandmother had insisted.

"If you don't marry soon, I'll choose your wife myself."

To avoid endless arguments, he reluctantly agreed.

He entered the private dining room.

At exactly the same moment...

Maya opened the door from the opposite side.

Both froze.

"You?"

Alexander said quietly.

"You...are my blind date?"

Maya stared in disbelief.

"This has to be a joke."

Before either could leave, an elderly woman clapped her hands excitedly.

"There you are!"

It was Alexander's grandmother.

She smiled brightly.

"I knew destiny would bring you two together."

Neither of them noticed...

Across the restaurant...

Two adorable five-year-old twins peered through the glass window while holding the nanny's hands.

The little boy looked directly at Alexander.

"Daisy," he whispered to his twin sister.

"That man..."

"He looks exactly like us."

The little girl nodded slowly.

"I think... I've seen him before."

Neither child knew the truth.

Neither did Alexander.

But fate had just begun to reveal the secret that would change all of their lives forever.

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