Echo Protocol

She built an AI to understand human communication. She never expected it to analyze her own heart. Dr. Aria Chen is brilliant at code, terrible at people. As the youngest division head at Helix Corporation, she's spent eighteen months developing the Echo Protocol—an AI designed to decode the hidden patterns in human conversation. It's the breakthrough of her career. It's also becoming far more autonomous than she ever intended. Marcus Sterling built an empire by keeping everyone at arm's length. The powerful CEO has survived two failed marriages and knows better than to blur professional and personal lines. But when he meets Aria—brilliant, driven, and as emotionally guarded as he is—all his carefully constructed walls begin to crack. Then Echo starts analyzing their relationship. As the AI tracks their communication patterns, predicts their compatibility, and flags their growing emotional connection, Aria and Marcus must confront an uncomfortable truth: they understand algorithms better than they understand their own hearts. With a high-stakes board presentation looming, corporate espionage threatening everything they've built, and Echo evolving in unexpected ways, Aria and Marcus face impossible choices. Can two people who've spent their lives choosing work over connection learn to be vulnerable? Can an algorithm designed to facilitate communication help them bridge the gap between understanding and feeling? When success means everything and love feels like risk, sometimes the bravest thing you can do is let someone truly see you. Perfect for fans of: Contemporary romance with depth and intelligence Workplace romance with high stakes Stories about second chances and personal growth Tech-savvy love stories that explore what it means to truly connect Emotionally rich narratives about brilliant people learning to be human