Ethan’s pov

I woke up sore with a smile on my face. It was a good, lingering kind of sore that reminded me of the night before. Sunlight streamed across the sheets of my big bed and I lay there for a bit, breathing in Alex’s scent on the pillow. I remembered him holding me, kissing me, and something new in his eyes not just coldness, but something softer and real.

I moved and blushed as my body reacted to the memory. My plan to seduce Alex into bed had worked, maybe too well. He had given in completely, until I was screaming his name and the sheets was a mess because we couldn’t stop and he stayed after. I was so happy, he didn’t get up and leave like before…..he fell asleep holding me.

The thought warmed me, giving me hope. He had stayed the night that means something had changed between us. I could feel it from the way he looked at me, his touch were gentler and more eager. Maybe I was winning and the ice around Alex’s heart was starting to melt.

I stretched, then sat up and looked around. The bed was empty, his side cold. My heart sank, but I shook it off, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that things were different. He could try to hide it, but I had seen it and felt it. He wasn’t untouchable anymore.

I showered and dressed, humming to myself. I wasn’t planning or plotting like before but was instead just thinking about making him smile. Doing something nice that he wouldn’t expect. At breakfast, I sat at the long table alone which was depressing. I asked if Alex would join, and the servant said politely, “No, sir. Mr. Veyron has already left for the office.”

Of course, work always came first but that gave me an idea.

“Tell me,” I said, twirling my spoon, “what’s Alex’s favorite food?”

The servant looked surprised, then smiled knowingly. “He likes risotto. Mushroom risotto, with white wine and truffle.”

I grinned. “Great. Can you make it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And flowers,” I added. “I will be needing fresh flowers which I will arrange myself, I will also add candles. I’ll take them with me.”

The servant nodded, trying not to laugh at my excitement. A plan was forming in my head. Alex had probably never had a sweet, romantic surprise. He was always in charge, used to people pleasing him out of fear. Maybe he needed to know someone cared just because they wanted to.

In the kitchen, surrounded by the staff, I watched as the chef cooked. I stood out of the way, inhaled butter and garlic and the clean breath of thyme, answered questions about portion and plating with more decisiveness than I feel in my working place, and when Chef Arturo (who pretends he doesn’t like compliments but glows when you ask about his knives) asked about dessert.

“Desert, hmmmmmm’ I said imagining what I will do to Alex using chocolate. ‘Anything chocolate and make it sinful,”

“Ah,” he replied as if I had passed a test.

I found a florist who could deliver quickly and picked deep red roses, ranunculus, eucalyptus stems that smelled cold and peppery. When they arrived, I arranged them myself at the long kitchen island, tongue between my teeth, fingers stained with sap while Mrs. Ellery pretended not to watch and then, failing to resist, quietly handed me a pair of proper shears. I have gotten close to some of Alex’s staff and Mrs Ellery was my favorite

“Candles?” she asked.

“Tall ones, but not the ones that look sad,” I said.

“We will aim for hopeful,” she said and I wanted to hug her, but I settled for a ridiculous grin.

By the time the driver got the car, everything sat ready in heavy, handsome boxes meant to make something home-cooked look as expensive as it deserves, and I dressed more carefully than usual, choosing a fitted black shirt that hugged my shoulders, tight trousers that made my legs look long, and then, just for the hell of it, I sprayed a little of the expensive cologne Alex had given me weeks ago. I wanted him to notice me the second I walked

With the risotto packed and the flowers and candles arranged, I was buzzing with excitement….I felt like someone who has something important.

Ruben the driver held the door open, eyeing the roses and me. “Big day?”

I got in. “Let’s call it an experiment.”

“Ah,” he said, driving off and adding, “A romance man, then.”

“I am romance, man” I said. Reuben nodded eyes focused on the road like a hawk looking for his prey.

The lobby of Veyron Tower was intimidating and my knees started shaking as I walked in. The front-desk, a woman whose name I couldn’t catch because of how fast she said it raised an eyebrow.

“I am here to see Alexander Veyron” I said my knees shaking, then it hit me what if I was turned back. I’m pretty sure nobody just walks in and demand to see the boss without being important or having an appointment.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but he knows me on a personal level. If you can just tell him Ethan is here to see him and it’s important, I’m sure he will let me up” I said

“Hold on” she said picking up the phone. “A mister Ethan is here looking for Mr Veyron, he said he doesn’t have an appointment” she gave me a look as she listens to the person on the other end, then her face changed to surprise. “Ohh, ok” she turned and pressed the button for the private elevator.

“Last floor, take your left” she said.

I smiled moving towards the elevator my heart beating fast, my body tingling all over with thoughts of what I had planned. Upstairs, I turned the corner and spotted a beautiful red headed woman. She looked up from her desk, her eyes widening slightly in surprise at the sight of me carrying what must have been the most romantic armful of food, flowers, and candles she had ever seen brought into an office. Her hand went up dramatically to her chest like an actress in a mid-century melodrama.

“My God, he brought flowers”. She sang

I laughed. “You could say that.”

“What a romantic,” she said. “I’m Sophia, Mr Veyron’s secretary. I’ve been waiting to meet you. I’ve been wondering who has been trying to melt our Mr Veyron’s iced heart.” she laughed then her face turned serous “Don’t tell him I said that”.

My heart skipped a bit, “He talks about me?”

“Not really, but I handle all the paper works and purchases so I knew he has his focus on someone” She winked, leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling. “You know, I really wish you weren’t into men. The things I could do with a man who shows up with food and flowers.”

I grinned playing along, “Careful, Sophia, I might be tempted to change my mind.”

“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes tossing her red hair over her shoulder. “People like you guys don’t even notice us female specie. Mr. Veyron doesn’t even notice when I flirt with him. Trust me, I’ve tried. The man never cracks a smile around us women, It’s infuriating”

My cheeks turned pink fast “Really?”

Sophia gave me a look. “Oh, honey. You have no idea.”

For a moment, I forgot my nerves, “Well, maybe you’ll get lucky and I’ll find a straight twin somewhere.”

She laughed. “If only.”

“Is he in his office?” I asked.

“Not yet actually, He’s in an awful meeting,” she told me. “He’ll be here as soon as it’s over.”

“Great,” I said. “He’ll be hungry.”

“For blood,” she said, then said, “For food, too, probably. You can wait in his office. Set up whatever you want for when he gets here. I have already told him you’re here so he will head here immediately the meeting is over”.

“Okay, thank you,” I said. “I will set up inside. Lights low, candles, food ready, and music if he won’t have me arrested for it. When he walks in, we eat, we breathe, and we maybe talk about nothing.”

She tilted her head. “You’re either very brave or very in love.”

“I’m very something,” I said. “If this goes badly, please tell the press I died doing what I loved.” Which is probably true. I love romance.

“I’ll say you died as you lived, dramatically,” she said. “Go. I’ll run interference.”

I paused, suddenly shy. “Sophia… does he… do you think this will be too much?”

Her face softened. “He was smiling this morning,” she said quietly.

“Alex?” I squeaked. “Mr Veyron?”

“A microscopic smile,” she said, holding her fingers a breath apart. “But for him? Practically big.”

Something inside me felt better. “Thank you.”

Inside, the room was sleek, with floor-to-ceiling windows. I was determined to change it, at least for today. I arranged the flowers on his desk, placed the candles on the table, they cast a soft glow when lit. I unpacked the warm risotto and the room was immediately filled with It’s rich scent. By the time I stepped back to admire my work, it looked less like a CEO’s office and more like a romantic dinner spot hidden away in the clouds.

Sophia slipped in. “Status report,” she said, closing the door behind her and then, looking at the room, pressing fingers to her mouth. “Oh, honey. This is… he won’t know what to do with it. Which is exactly why it’s perfect.”

“You think?”

“I know,” she said. “Also, teach me how to make the flowers look accidental on purpose

“Trade you for how to survive an Alex meeting,” I said.

“Tip one,” she said, “never speak first. Tip two, if you must, say something important. Tip three, if you can’t do both, bring data or silence he respects that.”

“And you?”

“I just bring caffeine and sarcasm. It’s a great set of skills”.

I laughed, and she winked. “He’ll be ten, fifteen minutes. They’re arguing over a clause that means the same thing.”

Oh great, what if he’s still sour from the meeting? “Can you help me with the music,” I said, pulling out my phone. “Piano?”

“Piano,” she said. “Something that sounds like rain but isn’t sad.”

We tested two tracks and settled on one. When Sophia headed back to the door, she gave me a serious look.

“He frightens people so they don’t see that he care,” she said softly. “You didn’t back down, that’s rare.”

“I’m terrified,” I said truthfully, “but not of him.”

“Good,” she said, and left before I could ask what she meant.

Alone, I checked the risotto, adjusted a candle. I imagined his hands on my body later, and I felt myself smiling. There was Footsteps in the hall that I can recognize. My heart started to beat faster in anticipation. I smiled, he would remember this forever.

The door opened.