The scent of sizzling butter and grilled meat filled the kitchen, blending with the gentle hum of the morning sunlight that slipped through the wide glass windows. Lea flipped the steak on the pan with practiced grace, her mint-colored apron tied snugly around her waist. She hummed softly — a tune that only surfaced when she was content — while the golden-brown crust of the steak crackled beneath her spatula.
Hugo sat at the counter, elbows resting on the marble surface, his chin supported by one hand. He looked impossibly relaxed for a man who could command boardrooms and crush enemies with a single stare. Here, though, he was just… watching her. His eyes followed every small movement — the way she brushed her hair behind her ear, the way she frowned slightly when checking the sauce consistency.
"You're staring again," Lea murmured without looking up.
"I'm appreciating," Hugo replied, his tone teasingly smooth. "You're more interesting than any breakfast I've ever had."
