Elara's POV
The building was a tower of glass and steel, its windows catching the morning sun until it seemed like it was glowing. Veyra Enterprises. The name carved into the marble entrance made my knees weak. I clutched my worn bag tighter, my heart thundering as I joined the line of well-dressed applicants.
They looked perfect—women in sleek pencil skirts, men with polished shoes, each one exuding confidence I didn't have. My dress was plain, my shoes scuffed, and the only thing I carried besides my application was a small box wrapped carefully in cloth.
The pastries.The only thing I knew how to make well enough to be proud of.
The receptionist barely glanced at me before waving me to the waiting area. The air smelled of expensive cologne and fresh paper, and the silence was so heavy I was afraid even my breathing was too loud.
When my name was finally called, I stood on shaky legs and followed the assistant into an office so grand it didn't feel real.
And there he was.
Lucian Veyra.
The man behind the empire.
He sat behind a massive mahogany desk, dark hair perfectly styled, his sharp features carved with the kind of arrogance only power could buy. His suit looked like it cost more than my entire life. He didn't even look up when I stepped inside.
"Resume," he said flatly.
I placed it on his desk, my hands trembling. He scanned it in seconds, then set it aside.
"You've worked as a waitress, a cashier, and… a house cleaner?" His voice was smooth, but there was no warmth in it. Just steel. "No formal training. No recommendations."
My chest tightened. "I may not have the background others do, but I'm hardworking. Loyal. I'll give you everything I have if you just—"
"No."
The word cut me clean in half.
He didn't even look at me as he signed something on his desk. "You're dismissed."
Shame burned in my veins, but I forced myself to nod. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Veyra."
I turned to leave, my vision blurred with unshed tears. My fingers clenched the cloth-wrapped box until I realized how ridiculous it was to carry it in here.
I set it down on the corner of his desk without a word. Just a small offering, a piece of myself he didn't want but couldn't stop me from leaving behind.
When I walked out of that office, I felt like the city had swallowed me whole again.
Lucian's POV
The door clicked shut behind her, and silence filled the room. I reached for my pen, but my eyes betrayed me, drifting toward the small box on the corner of my desk.
Curiosity won.
Inside, neatly arranged, were golden pastries dusted with sugar. The scent was warm, familiar, like home—something I hadn't known in years.
I hesitated only a second before taking a bite.
Sweet. But not just sweet. Flavors layered with care, patience, love.
The kind of taste no training could teach.
I leaned back in my chair, the unexpected flavor lingering on my tongue. For the first time in weeks, the cold rhythm of my life cracked, just a little.
And the girl I had dismissed so easily… lingered in my mind.