"You didn’t sleep well last night!" Hunter remarked when he saw Sienna yawning now and then at the breakfast table.

Sienna waved it off, barely looking at him as she reached for her bag lying on the chair beside her, "I’m fine. I just need coffee."

"You just had coffee," He pointed to her empty cup.

"I need another one, Hunter," She leaned her forehead on the table. Urgh. She wanted to go back to that inviting bed and lie there.

Ruby took most of her night to learn Spanish, and Sienna did her job well. Now she wanted the results.

Irritation flickered across her face when she saw Hunter placing a plate that had a piece of French toast, "I can grab something on the way, Hunter."

She hoped that she would be able to attend the meeting despite her exhaustion and sleeplessness. This was not a simple meeting, but also a million-dollar contract.

She couldn’t let this one slide under her nose.

She was on her feet with determination in her eyes, "We’re getting late."

"Sit down," He didn’t raise his voice, "You aren’t leaving unless you finish your plate."

Sienna made a face and dropped down on the seat, "You’re acting more like a mom..." Than a husband.

Of course, she couldn’t utter the last words.

Acting like a husband required love, compassion, and care.

Hunter had shown her all of it except one. Yeah. Except for love, he had proved to her what a great person her was.

He was nothing like Tom, nor like Ruby had portrayed him in her last life.

"Let me bring my wallet, and then we can leave right away," Hunter raced upstairs, leaving her deep in her thoughts.

Her stomach churned at the thought of today’s meeting.

I need this contract. At any cost. She reminded herself.

"Come on, let’s go, Firecracker," Hunter touched her elbow before moving ahead.

What’s with these pet names?

Sugar, menace, and now its firecracker. Interesting collection! She chuckled with a shrug and followed him.

I’m coming, Thomas Blackwell. Are you ready?

***

"You need to relax," Hunter felt her jumpiness, walking beside her. She was adjusting the file in her grip as she pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"I am relaxed," Her heels clicked against the marble floor of the hotel lobby. She barely slowed down, her eyes already scanning ahead.

"Yeah, I know. You’ve checked your watch three times, sugar," She rolled her lips between her teeth.

She wasn’t aware that he noticed her actions this carefully.

"Conference room, ma’am?" A staff member approached them with a polite smile. Sienna nodded at him.

"This way, please," He ushered them to the left corridor that led to a set of large doors. Sienna’s steps slowed a little as she stepped inside.

A group of four men and one woman was already seated inside, discussing something. Their voices dropped when Sienna and Hunter walked in.

And then she saw them.

Ruby, sitting right there. Beside Tom. Sienna gave them a polite smile with a polite nod and then approached her seat.

However, Ruby’s eyes widened in shock. Tom straightened in his seat as he tried to mask his surprise.

It was clear that neither of them expected her to be there.

She settled into her seat, but her fingers curled slightly over her file in nervousness. I don’t know if I’ll get this contract today. But there is no way I’m letting you two have it. I have taught Ruby enough Spanish not to get the contract. She thought with a smirk.

It was almost as if Hunter had heard her inner dialogues because a second later, his hand brushed against hers on her lap. He left it after giving it a gentle squeeze.

Sienna exhaled quietly, looking around. There were other delegations seated across the long table as well.

The Spanish people began the discussion with one group. They kept talking about their work and numbers.

"Sienna Blackwell? From Siahun Construction?"

She suddenly straightened in her seat, "Yes."

One of the men nodded, "Your company... Tell us... why should we choose it?"

Sienna leaned forward slightly, "Because we’re smaller. Which means we move faster. No delays, no unnecessary layers," She paused then added with a small smile, "Màs ràpido... y màs eficiente."

(Faster... and more efficient.)

The woman in the delegation raised a brow, slightly impressed. Sienna continued in Spanish, "We assure you that we will focus on practical execution. We don’t overpromise. We deliver what we commit."

She tapped slightly on the document that was placed on the desk. She couldn’t tell them about their past numbers because, as Siahun, this would be their first project.

"I assure you... you’ll get real results in no time. Or pull the contract midway if you aren’t satisfied," She said confidently in Spanish.

No one had ever given such a solid offer to the Spanish delegation.

A brief silence followed as the woman exchanged a glance with her colleagues. After her, they moved to the next delegation.

Sienna tilted her head to look at Hunter, whose expression was unreadable.

But...but... there was a faintest hint of approval lingering in his eyes.

She leaned towards him and whispered mischievously in Spanish, "Don’t sit there like a statue. Take notes."

She was taken by surprise when he whispered, "Lo harè, mi amor."

(I will, my love.)

Holy cow! He knows Spanish. And he just called me... mi amor.

After that, she couldn’t stop herself from smiling. The Spanish people had now moved to Ruby and Tom.

"Hello, Mr. Tom Blackwell,"

Tom cleared his throat and looked at Ruby to start. Ruby smiled and raised her shoulder in style, like she knew she had to take a lead from here, "Hola, excitados. Estamos muy... excitados de trabajar con ustedes."

She had learned it last night. It meant Hello, I’m excited to meet you, and we’re very excited to work with you.

There was a proud grin on Tom’s face.

Sienna pressed her hand over her mouth, holding back a laugh as the Spanish delegation stared at Ruby in horror.

Because the actual words uttered by Ruby were, "Hello, aroused ones. We are very... aroused to work with you."