He grabbed a notebook and scribbled down key phrases, flipping through articles and piecing together ideas with the same focus he used to dismantle his rivals. Except this time, the battlefield was different, and the person he was trying to reach wasn't an opponent, but the woman who wanted nothing to do with him.
As he browsed, he jotted everything down, carefully drafting his to-do list and noting Noah's advice: be gentle, listen, don't overwhelm her. He added his plans, determined to avoid scaring her away again.
Hours passed while he hunched on the couch, surrounded by notes and scribbled ideas. Immersed in this new mission, he didn't even think about sleep.
When he finally stretched, his back, shoulders, and neck cracked in dull protest at the stiffness. But it was nothing compared to the weight in his chest.
"This is the only challenge I don't want to lose," he thought, letting out a slow exhale.
