Chapter 28

# Chapter 28 Claire's POV "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Claire. Your mother has told me so much about you." I forced a polite smile as I settled into my seat across from James Kim, the blind date my mother had so enthusiastically arranged. The restaurant was upscale—white tablecloths, crystal glasses, and waitstaff that seemed to materialize and disappear with practiced invisibility. It was clearly meant to impress. "Likewise," I replied automatically, though of course my mother had told me almost nothing about him beyond his profession and family connections. James was objectively handsome—tall, with neatly styled dark hair, pleasant features, and an expensive watch that caught the light when he gestured. Under different circumstances, I might have found him attractive. But as he launched into a detailed account of his career trajectory at First National Bank, I found my mind wandering. "I started in commercial lending, but personal portfolio management is where the real growt