Eva Tramell recently moved to Manhattan from San Diego with her best friend and roommate, Cary Taylor. She begins a new job tomorrow at an advertising agency. In preparation for her first day, Eva maps her walking route to work in the Crossfire Building. Despite her connections through her wealthy stepfather, Richard Stanton, Eva has chosen to take an entry-level position she found on her own.

In the lobby of the Crossfire Building, Eva bends down to assist a woman who has dropped her belongings across the lobby. When she gets up, she collides with Gideon Cross. Magnetized by the instant attraction between them, Eva falls in front of him. Gideon helps Eva to her feet. Later, Eva attends a kickboxing class at her local gym. She meets a man named Parker Smith, who invites her to a Krav Maga class he teaches. The next day, Eva returns to the building for her first day at work. As she leaves for the day, she finds herself alone in the elevator with Gideon.

Eva and Gideon share pleasantries. He asks her about her first day at work. Eva wonders how Gideon knows it is her first day.