The early morning air in Shanghai carried a quiet stillness, a stark contrast to the usual hum of the city. At the airport, the departure gate loomed ahead, a reminder that Sienna's time here had come to an end.

Li Wei walked beside her, his expression unreadable, but the weight of their unspoken emotions hung between them.

When the final boarding call echoed overhead, he turned to her. He wrapped her in a warm embrace, his hands cupping her face with a gentleness that made her chest tighten.

"See you later," he murmured, his lips brushing against hers in a lingering kiss.

Sienna swallowed against the lump in her throat. "See you later."

Sienna felt something she hadn't felt in a long time, an ache and longing pulling her to not let go. But, she turned, walking toward the gate, feeling his eyes on her until she disappeared from view.

Back in New York

The moment her feet touched American soil, Sienna plunged right back into work. Meetings, designs, and deadlines consumed her days, a welcome distraction from the memories of Shanghai.

Fortunately, her team had laid most of the groundwork while she was away, allowing her to jump right in. Still, the familiar rhythm of work left little space for anything else—at least, that's what she told herself.

Her latest project with Richard Lennox was a series of high-end loft apartments in Lower Manhattan, designed to blend luxury with modern, sustainable living.

While she was focused on her project with Li Wei in Shanghai, she juggled this one with her team from across the globe.

She had spent months conceptualizing the layouts. Her vision was to incorporate floor-to-ceiling windows for natural light, custom-built shelving to maximize space, and warm, earthy tones to soften the industrial elements.

Her lead design assistant, Camille, had been on-site overseeing installations while she was in Shanghai, ensuring the design translated seamlessly from paper to reality. Sienna had worked remotely with the lead architect for the project Travis. Both Camille, Robert and Nia, her design assistant and virtual coordinator respectively, worked together, to finalize details while she was in Shanghai. Despite the distance, her team had executed everything flawlessly.

Still, there were finishing touches to refine.

"I want the accent wall in the penthouse loft to have that textured concrete finish we discussed," Sienna said to Camille during a walkthrough. "It'll add depth to the space without making it feel cold."

"Got it," Camille nodded. "Also, the custom lighting fixtures arrived this morning. Want me to oversee installation?"

"Yes, but make sure the dimmers are tested. I want the lighting to transition smoothly from day to night," Sienna instructed.

As much as she loved the creative process, her body ached from exhaustion. The thirteen hour flight from Shanghai was telling on her, not to mention the long nights with barely any sleep from her love affair with Li. But Sienna knew she had to push through to get this project done.

Three weeks had flown by in a blur of client meetings, site visits, and final revisions. But, through it all, Li Wei never failed to check-in. The time distance meant her nights were his mornings and vice versa.

Their conversations started with business—brief updates, polite check-ins—but always drifted into something more.

"You should come back," he said one evening, his voice smooth yet insistent.

"Li..." She sighed, rubbing her temples as she sat at her drafting desk. "You know I can't. I have too much going on here."

"You always have too much going on," he countered, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Still doesn't mean you don't want to."

Sienna hesitated, her mind drifting to memories of their stolen kisses and the way his touch set her skin ablaze.

"Of course, I want to," she admitted softly.

There was a pause before he spoke again, his voice quieter now. "Just know that you always have a place to stay when that happens."

She closed her eyes, absorbing the sincerity in his words and visualizing their moments together.

She didn't answer. She didn't have to.

By the end of the third week, the loft project neared completion. The final furniture pieces were installed, and the once-empty spaces now exuded a refined, modern elegance.

At the last project meeting, Richard Lennox clapped his hands together, beaming at the polished interiors.

"You really outdid yourself, Sienna," he said, turning to her with admiration.

Sienna smirked, arms crossed. "Richard, you've worked with me before. You know how I operate."

He chuckled. "I do. But this—this topped the cake Sienna."

She tilted her head, sensing something in his tone. "What are you getting at Richard?"

Richard leaned in slightly. "We might have more opportunities for you soon."

"Thank you Richard. You are too kind and you know Sienna Designs is always up for a challenge."

A spark of pride ignited in her chest, but even as she nodded in gratitude, a familiar ache settled in. No matter how accomplished she felt, she couldn't shake the thoughts of Li Wei creeping into the back of her mind.

Later that evening, she reached out to Liz to finalize her travel plans back to Orlando.

"Hey Liz—I've missed you guys. Can you arrange a flight back for me to get out of New York by the weekend? I sent Camille back today" she told her over the phone.

Liz clicked her tongue. "I'm so excited that you will be back Ms. Carter! We've missed you here at the office. Are you finally ready for a break?"

Sienna exhaled. "If you call it a break" Sienna chuckled slightly.

She didn't mention how she wasn't sure if going back home would feel like a break at all.

The day came when it was time for Sienna to finally head home—to her own bed, her own space, the safe haven she had made for herself in Orlando.

She took a redeye flight back, when the New York airport was the least busiest. The hum of the plane's engines filled the cabin as Sienna settled into her first-class seat, gazing out the window. The city lights of New York faded into the distance as the aircraft climbed higher into the night sky.

For the first time in weeks, she had nothing to do. No meetings. No deadlines. Just time.

Time to think. Time to rest. Time to reflect.

But for some reason, she couldn't do any of that. She reached for her phone, scrolling to her last conversation with Li. His message was simple:

Safe travels, Sienna. Talk soon.

She traced her thumb over the screen and went to her photos. She took small glances of snapshots in her phone over the past three months—photos of the penthouse reno, silly selfies she did with Li, a group photo she took with him and Chen, candid photos of Li deep in thought. Sienna couldn't believe in three months she found herself falling harder than she has ever in her 32 years of life. She hesitated before locking her phone and leaning back in her seat.

Outside, the clouds stretched endlessly, illuminated by the faint glow of the moon. She should have felt at ease, but an uneasy sensation settled in her gut.

Something was coming.

She didn't know what, but she could feel it—the weight of something shifting in the distance.

She closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment of stillness.

For now.

Because soon, reality would come crashing in.

And she had a feeling the storms were just beginning.