The office was quieter than usual that evening. The usual chatter and footsteps had faded into silence, leaving only the faint hum of the lights above and the distant rhythm of the city below.
Aiden Ashford leaned back in his chair, stretching his shoulders as the last page of a report flickered on his laptop screen. His fingers rubbed at the bridge of his nose, exhaustion seeping into every movement. It had been another long day—meetings, revisions, and endless client calls—but at least the major project was finally taking shape.
He glanced at the clock. 6:47 p.m.
"Perfect time for some air," he muttered, standing up and slipping into his coat.
The corridor outside was dimly lit, washed in the soft glow of evening light streaming through the tall windows. As he walked past the row of offices, something caught his eye—Olivia's office.
He slowed down, glancing through the glass window.
There she was—head resting on her desk, glasses slightly askew, a soft rise and fall of her shoulders with each slow breath. Papers were scattered around her, her laptop half-open, and a pen still loosely held in her fingers as if she had fallen asleep mid-thought.
Aiden couldn't help the quiet sigh that escaped him.
"Of course," he murmured under his breath, pushing open her door with careful silence.
Stepping inside, he was met with the faint scent of her perfume—subtle and clean, like jasmine and paper. He walked closer, his usual sharp gaze softening as he looked at her face. The constant spark in her eyes was gone, replaced with a calm serenity that made her look almost… ethereal.
Her glasses were still on, and her cheek was pressed against her sleeve, a faint red mark forming on her skin. Aiden shook his head slightly, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
"You drive yourself too hard," he whispered.
He carefully reached down, removing her glasses and setting them aside on the desk. Then, without thinking too much, he shrugged off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. She barely stirred, only curling slightly into its warmth.
He lingered a moment longer—watching her sleep, the faint traces of exhaustion etched on her face. The last two weeks had been brutal. Olivia had been everywhere—checking designs, coordinating schedules, even messaging him at ungodly hours about project details.
He'd lost count of how many times she'd barged into his office unannounced, talking a mile a minute about sketches, layouts, and new ideas. Every time she opened his door without knocking, he'd practically jump out of his seat. And yet… he'd gotten used to it strangely. Her energy filled the empty spaces of the office—and maybe, just maybe, his life too.
He tore his gaze away and quietly left her office, heading out into the cool night air.
An hour later, Aiden returned with two cups of coffee in hand.
The office was still and hushed, only the low hum of the air conditioning breaking the silence. He gently pushed open Olivia's door again and smiled faintly when he saw her still asleep, his coat still over her.
He set one cup on her desk beside her before turning to leave with his own coffee in hand.
Olivia stirred sometime later, blinking groggily as the light from her laptop screen flickered across her face. Her head throbbed slightly, but something warm caught her attention—a coat draped over her shoulders.
She froze for a moment, then slowly recognized the fabric.
Aiden's coat.
Her eyes widened slightly. "He… was here?" she murmured.
Then she noticed the cup of coffee sitting beside her, steam still faintly curling from the lid.
Her lips curved into a small smile as she picked it up, taking a gentle sip. The coffee was still warm, the taste strong and slightly bitter.
"He really brought me coffee," she whispered, amusement and warmth flickering in her eyes.
For a long moment, she sat there quietly, staring at the cup in her hand.
She placed his coat neatly on the back of the chair, her mind oddly light.
After finishing her work and the coffee, the office clock struck 9:00 p.m. It was finally time to leave. Olivia grabbed Aiden's coat, hesitated for a moment, and then smiled to herself.
She should return it.
Standing in front of his office door, she took a deep breath. Normally, she would just barge in—but today was different. He had given her his coat and even coffee. The least she could do was be… polite.
So, she knocked.
A pause. Then his deep voice came from inside, "Come in."
She stepped inside, holding his coat in her hands. Aiden looked up from his desk, his brows furrowing slightly when he saw her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Olivia asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
Aiden leaned back, crossing his arms. "Are you sick?"
She blinked, taken aback. "What? No!"
"Sleepwalking, then?" he asked dryly.
She frowned, utterly confused. "No? What are you talking about?"
He tilted his head slightly. "You knocked."
Olivia stared at him for a moment, completely silent—then scoffed. "So now I'm getting questioned for having manners?"
Aiden's lips twitched in amusement. "Just didn't expect it. Usually, you prefer making my heart stop by bursting through the door."
Her eyes widened before she huffed. "Fine. Next time I'll make sure to burst in unannounced, just to maintain your daily dose of chaos."
Aiden straightened immediately. "No, no, that's not necessary," he said quickly, holding up a hand. "Once a day is more than enough."
Olivia smirked, enjoying the flustered look on his face before stepping closer and placing his coat on his desk.
"Anyway, here's your coat. And… thank you," she said softly. "For the coat. And the coffee."
Aiden's expression softened, his tone gentler than usual. "You're welcome. That's why I keep telling you to sleep on time."
Olivia pouted. "I tried! But I was too excited. I couldn't stop thinking about the project."
He shook his head, a small smile breaking through his calm demeanor. "You really don't stop, do you?"
She grinned. "Not when it's something I love."
He didn't say it out loud, but a thought crossed his mind: That's what makes you different, Olivia.
Aiden cleared his throat, shifting the topic. "Did you confirm the tickets for tomorrow?"
She nodded immediately. "Yes. I just talked to Claire. The hotel reservation and flight tickets are all set."
"Good," he said, standing and slipping into his coat. "Then we should call it a night."
Olivia followed him out of the office, both walking side by side through the quiet hallway. Their steps echoed softly, the silence oddly comfortable between them.
As they entered the elevator, Aiden pressed the button for the ground floor and turned slightly toward her. "What time is our flight again?"
"9 a.m.," she replied, glancing at him.
He gave her a look that was half stern, half concerned. "Then make sure you actually pack your things and sleep. If you faint in front of everyone, I'm not carrying you through the airport."
Olivia gasped dramatically. "Wow, you're so caring, Mr. Ashford."
He smirked faintly. "You have no idea."
She blinked, momentarily thrown off by the teasing tone, before smiling, shaking her head.
As the elevator doors opened, the two of them stepped into the parking lot. The night air was cool, carrying the faint hum of distant traffic.
"Well," she said, turning to him with a small grin. "Goodnight."
Aiden nodded, his usual calm expression soft. "Goodnight."
They parted ways, walking to their cars. But as Olivia got in and glanced at the passenger seat, she found herself smiling again—thinking about the coat, the coffee, and the quiet warmth in Aiden's eyes when he'd looked at her earlier.