nyone else in the office. It felt like a line had been crossed, one she wasn't sure she wanted to step back over. Monday morning arrived with the usual frenzy. Emma had barely set her bag down wh

receiving praise from Alexander, let alone such unwavering confidence. "Thank you," she murmured, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. The moment lingered, an unspoken connection passing between them. Emma looked away, focusing on her dessert to avoid the intensity of his gaze. As they left the restaurant, Emma felt both lighter and more confused. Alexander was an enigma-cold and demanding one moment, thoughtful and almost kind the next. It was as though he allowed glimpses of the man beneath the surface but never for too long. They returned to the office, and Alexander immediately threw himself into work, as though their lunch had never happened. Emma tried to do the same, but her mind kept drifting back to their conversation. For the rest of the afternoon, Alexander was his usual self-sharp, efficient, and focused. But there was a subtle shift in how he spoke to Emma, a softness in his tone that hadn't been there before. By the end of the day, Emma felt drained, both physically and emotionally. As she gathered her things to leave, Alexander called her into his office. "Emma," he said, looking up from his laptop. "Before you go, I need you to review the notes for tomorrow's board meeting. They're on my desk." She nodded, walking over to retrieve the file. As she did, she caught a glimpse of a photograph on his desk-a younger Alexander standing beside an older man who she assumed was his father. "That was taken before my father passed," Alexander said, noticing her gaze. Emma looked up, startled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-" "It's fine," he interrupted, his voice unusually soft. "He built Grey Enterprises from the ground up. Everything I do now is to honor his legacy." Emma hesitated, then said, "I think he'd be proud of what you've accomplished." For a moment, Alexander's stoic mask cracked, and she saw something raw in his expression. "I hope so," he said quietly. The vulnerability in his voice caught her off guard. She wanted to say more, to offer comfort, but before she could, Alexander straightened and cleared his throat. "Thank you, Emma. That will be all for today," he said, his tone back to its usual formality. Emma nodded and left his office, her heart heavier than it had been before. The days that followed were a blur of meetings and deadlines. Emma threw herself into work, trying to push aside the strange, growing connection she felt to Alexander. But it wasn't easy. Every now and then, she would catch him watching her with an expression she couldn't quite read. And when he spoke to her, his voice carried a warmth that hadn't been there in the beginning. One evening, as they were both working late, Alexander called her into his office again. "I'm ordering dinner," he said, gesturing to the takeout menus spread across his desk. "Join me." Emma hesitated. "Are you sure? I don't want to impose." "If I didn't want your company, I wouldn't have asked," he replied, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. She sat down, trying to ignore the flutter in