Monday morning at Wolfe & Co. carried the usual buzz — heels clicking on polished floors, printers humming, and the faint scent of espresso wafting from the break room. But there was something different in the air.
Adrian Wolfe stepped out of the elevator in a crisp navy suit, the faintest trace of a smile touching his lips — subtle, but noticeable to those who'd spent years trying to read his moods. He nodded at the receptionist, didn't bark his usual orders at the junior staff, and even said a low "Good morning" to the head of HR.
By mid-morning, the whispers had started.
"He's… smiling?"
"Maybe the board meeting went well?"
"No. I heard something else. I heard he gave the cleaner an apartment in the tower."
"Talia?"
"Mmh. The quiet one. My cousin saw her shopping like she'd just won the lottery."
"What kind of shopping?"
"Groceries. Bags of them. And clothes. And perfume."
"Perfume? Ohhh…"
The gossip circled like perfume in the air — faint but persistent.
Down in the lobby, Alex leaned casually against the counter, pretending to scroll on his phone as he spotted Talia crossing with a tray of coffee for one of the managers. "Morning, Miss Weekend Glow," he teased under his breath when she passed.
She shot him a warning look. "Don't start."
"I'm just saying… that lipstick shade? Not your usual. Someone's been… inspired."
Before she could snap back, a voice cut through from behind.
"Alex."
Adrian stood there, one eyebrow raised, his tone cool but not loud enough to cause a scene. "If I see you bothering her again, we'll have a different conversation. Understood?"
Alex straightened immediately. "Yes, sir."
Talia didn't look at either of them, but her pulse was loud in her ears. She knew exactly when he'd started watching her — and the thought both unsettled and thrilled her.
As Adrian walked away, she caught the faintest hint of that same weekend energy between them. It was almost dangerous.
WOLFE TOWER—BOARDROOM—8:00a.m.
The long mahogany table gleamed under the soft overhead lighting as the board members filed in, portfolios and tablets in hand. Adrian Wolfe was already at the head of the table, reviewing the agenda, his usual steely expression noticeably softer today.
Talia had been in earlier, quietly setting out fresh coffee and pastries for the meeting. The moment she left, a few pairs of eyes followed her retreating figure before drifting back toward Adrian.
The meeting began — quarterly reports, profit margins, marketing projections. But even in the crisp exchange of figures, something felt different.
"Mr. Wolfe," one director said during a presentation, "are we proceeding with the restructuring timeline?"
Adrian glanced up, his tone calm, almost patient. "Yes. But let's ensure no department feels rushed. I want this done thoroughly, not aggressively."
A few board members exchanged looks. Not aggressively? That was new. Normally, he'd be pushing for tighter deadlines, sharper pressure.
Halfway through, the finance director leaned toward her neighbor and whispered, "You notice he hasn't barked at anyone yet?"
Her neighbor smirked. "Noticed? Everyone's noticed. He even gave one of the cleaners a whole apartment in the building."
The man across from them raised an eyebrow. "The young one? The one who always brings his coffee?"
"Mm-hmm," the finance director murmured, sipping her tea. "Guess kindness is contagious… or something else is going on."
From the far end of the table, Adrian's right-hand man, Alex, caught the exchange but kept his face neutral. They're already talking, he thought grimly.
Adrian, oblivious to the hushed gossip, continued discussing the international expansion plans — though, if anyone looked closely, there was a faint, uncharacteristic warmth in his eyes when his gaze lingered briefly on the empty seat by the coffee cart where Talia had been earlier.
By the time the meeting adjourned, the whispers had spread like a quiet current through the corridors. And by lunchtime, half the building already "knew" that Adrian Wolfe — the man who rarely even smiled — had given the maid an apartment.
An hour later, Alex sat in the break room, his untouched coffee cooling in front of him. His jaw tightened every time he thought about it — the way Adrian's voice shifted whenever he spoke to Talia, the way she looked at her boss without even realizing it.
He'd seen enough workplace crushes to know when something was brewing, and this… this was different. Adrian didn't do staff. He didn't even look at most people twice. But with Talia, there was something in his eyes — something possessive.
Alex had been interested in her from the first week she arrived, even if she kept him at arm's length. But now? She barely gave him the time of day. And the worst part — the absolute insult — was Adrian's warning. In front of her. Like he was some schoolboy being told off.
Alex gripped his coffee cup harder.
No. He wasn't going to let some rich CEO with a penthouse office get the girl without a fight.
That afternoon, he leaned against the supply closet door, scrolling through his phone, when a thought struck him. A dangerous one.
Cassandra.
Everyone in the building knew her — the glamorous, sharp-tongued girlfriend who showed up unannounced, dropped in as a designer, and acted like she owned the place. Alex had seen how quickly she could go from smiling to cutting someone to pieces with a single sentence.
He smirked.
If Cassandra knew Adrian's eyes were wandering… even towards a maid… there'd be fireworks.
Later, in the parking lot, Alex sat in his car, tapping Cassandra's name on his screen but not calling. Not yet.
No — this had to be done in person.
He'd wait for the perfect time, make it casual, and make it look like concern.
"Sorry, boss," he muttered under his breath, starting his engine, "but you're not the only one who can play the game."