er fingers tightened around the handle of her tote bag as she inhaled deeply. She'd spent the night battling nerves, her

brow. "Miss Bennett? Mr. Vale is expectin

replied, her voi

, the more distance she felt from the familiar streets of her neighborhood flower shop. When the doo

named Lila, motioned her forward. "You

mile. "I figured it's

od. "He's in the bo

's gaze. He stood near the floor-to-ceiling windows, back straight, sui

ted, turning to face he

at dry. "You said you wanted

Have a seat. I had Lila bring your port

pounding, trying n

're g

o words, coo

inked.

ed. "Yes. You have a unique eye for spatial harmony. The natural elements in

cross her face. "I'

nager. You'll work under him but lea

it-you're trusting me w

e vision. I have the struct

er more-his confidence in her o

ou," she

s isn't charity, Miss Be

arely. "I wouldn't e

he tension wasn't hostile-it was

he window. "You'll be paid fairly. The

it here?"

t home. Read i

r chair squeaking beneath her

t his a

O

she hesitated, then sm

expression. "Maybe you ju

softly. "I

ave, Ethan's voice

voice felt str

es

unreadable in his eyes. "Don

ght in her thr

mained at the window, jaw tense. For the first

achines and the gentle beeping of monitors a familiar background hu

tonight," her

ntly. "Just ti

pen with the

"I got hired fo

O

ith Eth

Ethan Vale? That man who build

. not what I thought. He's not just

moment. "You sound like you'r

be I

ons. The more she interacted with Ethan, the more curious she became. He never smiled. He rarely joked. Bu

y the rooftop garden of the hot

e flowers type," she

hey're... interesting. Orderly. T

ey also need care. You can't

r. "And what do

tion dis

wha

mother, your customers, you

tightened.

n't the q

"I don't think anyone's ask

I'm a

one to believe in me. E

hen said something tha

me be th

what to say. So

ow cracks. Aria had returned to the office to retrieve a forgott

k late,"

ark circles beneath his eyes.

ing at the threshold. "Why

en what happens when you rely on people. They le

oser. "That's a lo

ly is

familiar. There

e different, Aria. You make me forget e

at faster. "That's no

her slowly. "It is when y

see the flicker of fear behind his e

e whispered. "That it's okay

e she was the only l

he leaned forwar

ent sha

he shutters slammi

ria," he sa

throat tight

ached-not from rejection, but fr

Ethan stared at

line. One he wasn't su

new the truth: h

fied him more