Chapter 23: She joined for lunch.

Mark chuckled, recalling his first business deal with Emma that made them close as they are today. She had shown up casually dressed, without a hint of makeup, clearly having just rolled out of bed. Initially, mark had his doubts about her trustworthiness, but as they worked together more, he was pleasantly surprised by her qualities. Emma was refreshingly honest, always saying exactly what was on her mind, without any hidden motives. Mark found working with her easy and straightforward, appreciating the simplicity and clarity in their interactions. Their professional relationship blossomed into a solid friendship. They were quite alike in their approach to life, especially in matters of the heart. Neither of them was the type to rush into a relationship or marriage without being truly in love. That was why the idea of them as a couple never really came up; they were both too stubborn and independent. They both knew that if they ever tried dating, it wouldn't last long as eit