Code of the Hearts

Chapter 27: Unlikely Connections

The sun was setting over Singapore, casting a warm, golden glow across the city as Ryan sat in a sleek, modern conference room, waiting for his next client meeting. His mind, as usual, was occupied with thoughts of New York—specifically, thoughts of Emily. The transfer to Singapore had been challenging, not just because of the physical distance, but because it felt like he was being sidelined in the very moments when Emily needed support the most.

Ryan had done his best to stay connected with Emily through emails and messages, but it wasn't the same. He could sense her growing stress, her isolation, and it frustrated him that he couldn't be there for her. He was lost in these thoughts when the door opened, and a tall, lean man in his early thirties stepped into the room.

"Mr. Kingston?" the man asked, extending a hand. "Lucas Hayes. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Ryan stood up, shaking Lucas's hand. "Please, call me Ryan. It's good to meet you, too. I've heard a lot about your startup—exciting things."

"Thanks," Lucas replied with a smile, taking a seat across from Ryan. "We're still in the early stages, but we're making progress."

As the meeting began, Ryan quickly realized that Lucas was not just another client. He was sharp, insightful, and passionate about his work, the kind of person Ryan found easy to connect with. They discussed business for the better part of an hour, exchanging ideas and talking about potential collaborations. But as the meeting drew to a close, something Lucas said piqued Ryan's interest.

"So," Lucas began casually as they wrapped up the business talk, "how are you finding Singapore? It's quite a change from New York, isn't it?"

Ryan nodded, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, it's been an adjustment, to say the least. I was transferred here by my company, and it's been a bit of a whirlwind. But, you know, life in New York never really leaves you."

Lucas chuckled. "I can imagine. I actually have some ties to New York myself. My girlfriend, Lily, is from there. Her sister still lives in the city."

Ryan's ears perked up at the mention of New York, and something clicked in his mind. "Lily... wait, Lily Carter?"

Lucas looked at him with mild surprise. "Yeah, that's right. Do you know her?"

Ryan couldn't help but smile. "I do, actually. I've known Lily's sister, Emily, for years. We were colleagues at DataVision. I didn't realize you were connected to them."

Lucas's surprise turned into a grin. "No way. You know Emily? Small world. Lily talks about her all the time. They're really close."

Ryan leaned forward, the initial surprise giving way to a sense of excitement. "This is... wow. I had no idea. Emily and I have been keeping in touch since I got transferred here. Things have been tough for her lately, with everything going on in New York."

Lucas's expression grew serious. "Lily's been worried about her too. She mentioned that Emily's been dealing with a lot of pressure, especially with her work. And I know that things have been complicated for her since... well, since Jake."

Ryan nodded, understanding the weight of that name. "Jake was... is, was one of the best. His disappearance hit everyone hard, especially Emily. She's been carrying so much on her shoulders, and with David Hargrove tightening his grip on DataVision, I'm worried about her."

Lucas frowned, leaning back thoughtfully. "I didn't realize how much was going on with Emily. Lily's mentioned bits and pieces, but it sounds like things are more serious than I thought."

Ryan exhaled, the sense of isolation he'd been feeling starting to lift. "They are. And honestly, I've felt pretty powerless to do anything from here. But knowing you and Lily are involved... maybe we can actually help her."