The small, enclosed eatery Cassandra had chosen was dimly lit, its blinds drawn halfway against the glare of the afternoon sun. She sat in the corner, sunglasses shielding her eyes, her wine glass untouched before her. Every tap of her long, manicured fingers against the table betrayed her simmering fury.
At exactly noon, Alex walked in. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, his face flushed with tension. He spotted her instantly, slid into the booth across from her, and leaned forward.
Cassandra didn't waste time. Her voice was low, sharp, like a blade hidden beneath silk.
"Tell me, Alex… what do you know about Adrian's new behavior toward me? Who is the maid?"
Alex's jaw tightened. He hesitated only a moment before his frustration spilled over. His voice trembled with anger and resentment.
"She's more than a maid now. Adrian—he's… different because of her. I've seen it with my own eyes."
Cassandra arched her brow. "Be precise."
Alex's hand curled into a fist on the table. His words tumbled out, thick with exaggeration.
"He spent the whole weekend with her in her apartment—I saw the camera feeds. He had dinner with her, laughed with her… hell, I even caught them kissing in his office this morning. And that's not all." His eyes darkened. "He ordered funds to be transferred to her family. He treats her like… like she's his queen, while the rest of us barely exist."
Cassandra froze, her grip tightening around her glass until it threatened to shatter. The image of Adrian with that maid—the laughter, the intimacy—burned into her mind like acid. She forced herself to remain composed, but her voice broke through in a hiss.
"So… it's true."
Her lips curled into a bitter smile. She set the glass down slowly and leaned closer, her eyes gleaming with venom.
"Then he's forgotten who I am. Forgot what we had."
Alex's voice was low, dangerous now. "He's blinded by her. And if we don't stop it, you'll lose him completely. We both will."
Their eyes locked across the table, a silent pact forming between them—two wounded souls, bound by jealousy and rejection.
Cassandra's smile sharpened into something cold and merciless. "Then we plan. Quietly. Carefully. And when the time comes… she won't know what hit her."
Alex nodded, his expression grim.
"Yes. Together."
The air in the little eatery grew heavy, as though it, too, could sense the storm brewing. Outside, life went on as usual, but in that booth, Cassandra and Alex had just sealed an alliance that would change everything.
Back at Wolfe & Co., Alex returned to the office with his usual composed mask. He carried files under one arm, exchanged casual nods with colleagues, and even cracked a dry joke at the front desk. No one suspected the storm brewing beneath his calm expression. To anyone watching, he was the same diligent Alex, loyal to the company and its boss.
As the workday wound to a close, Adrian lingered in his office with Talia. The atmosphere was different now—gentler, warmer. Adrian leaned back in his chair, his tone unusually soft.
"You know, Talia," he said, his gaze lingering on her, "there's something about the way you make everything… lighter. Even my darkest days feel less heavy with you around."
Her cheeks warmed, but she smiled, lowering her gaze shyly. "I'm just doing my work, sir—"
He reached across the desk and tapped her hand gently, cutting her off. "No. I told you—don't call me that anymore. Not when it's just us."
The moment lingered, tender and unspoken. Outside, Adrian's driver sat patiently in the car, glancing at the clock but making no move to interrupt. He had grown used to waiting, understanding his boss's silences now carried a different kind of weight.
At last, Talia excused herself. "I should get back to my room."
Adrian nodded, his eyes following her with a mix of longing and restraint. "Goodnight, Talia."
"Goodnight, Adrian."
She slipped away, her heart racing, and Adrian finally left, sliding into his waiting car. The driver pulled smoothly into the evening traffic, leaving the company building behind.
In her small quarters, Talia's phone buzzed. It was her mother. She picked up immediately, her heart full of anticipation.
Her mother's voice was thick with emotion. "My daughter… blessings upon blessings has been pouring in. The groceries, the money… your father's medicine—he can finally start treatment! God has answered our prayers."
Her father's voice chimed faintly in the background, steady but teary. "Talia, you've changed our lives. You're our miracle."
Talia pressed the phone to her ear, tears spilling freely down her cheeks. "Mama, Papa… this is just the beginning. You'll never lack again, I promise. I'll come home this weekend. I need to see you both."
There was silence, broken only by her mother's quiet sobs of joy, and then a prayer flowed over her—her parents blessing her for the new dawn that had entered their lives.
When the call ended, sat quietly in her small room, clutching her phone against her chest. For the first time in a long while, hope didn't feel so far away. She whispered to herself, almost like a vow:
"Our lives have changed. And I won't look back."
When the call ended, Talia sat quietly in her small room, clutching her phone against her chest. For the first time in a long while, hope didn't feel so far away. She whispered to herself, almost like a vow: "Our lives have changed. And I won't look back."
Later that night, as the city settled into silence, Adrian lay in his bed. His mind refused to rest, replaying the softness of her smile, the way her voice trembled when she spoke of her parents. He reached for his phone and typed slowly, deliberately, as though each word carried weight:
Talia, I can't explain it, but I feel alive with you. I love you more than words can carry. Sleep well, my woman. ❤
A soft buzz vibrated on Talia's nightstand. She picked up her phone, and as her eyes read the message, her lips curved into the purest smile. Hugging the pillow close, she typed back only one word that carried all her heart:
Goodnight, Adrian.
She drifted to sleep with warmth in her chest, and across the city, Adrian closed his eyes, finally at peace, knowing she was his.