The early morning sun struggled to creep through the half-torn curtains of the Whyte residence. The smell of burnt toast and frustration hung in the air. Linda Whyte's voice echoed through the tiny living room, sharp and filled with exhaustion.
"Francis, how long will you keep doing this?!" she shouted, hands trembling as she pointed toward her husband. "Every month you promise to change, and yet you still waste everything on gambling!"
Francis Whyte, unshaven and already clutching a cheap bottle of beer, slammed it on the table. "Don't start with me, Linda! You think I enjoy this life? You think I don't feel useless already? You always talk like you're perfect!"
Their ten-year-old son, Sammy, hurried out of his small bedroom, fastening his worn school bag. His shoulders were tense, and his eyes were heavy with disappointment.
"Mom, Dad, please stop," he muttered softly. "You've been fighting every day. I can't even think straight anymore."
Linda sighed, trying to calm her voice for her son's sake. "Go to school, Sammy. Don't mind your father."
Francis scoffed, picking up his jacket from the old couch. "Yeah, go to school, boy. At least one of us is doing something useful."
Sammy didn't reply. He simply walked out of the door, his sneakers scraping the uneven floor. Their small house, with its faded walls and squeaky ceiling fan, felt like a box of echoes — filled with noise, pain, and tiredness.
.........
By the time Sammy reached the end of their street, he pulled out his phone and called his sister.
"Selina?" His voice was low. "They're at it again. Dad's shouting, Mom's crying."
On the other end, Selina closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. The noise of office chatter filled the background, but her world had gone quiet for a moment. "Sammy, just stay away from them, okay? I'll handle it later."
"You always say that," he said quietly. "But he won't stop, Selina. He'll never stop."
The line went dead. Selina sat still, phone in hand, trying to steady her breathing. Her mind drifted back to the tiny home she had left behind , the cracked plates, her mother's tired face, her father's angry words. She'd hoped getting this job would help fix things, but instead, it felt like the weight had doubled.
..............
At Vels Manson Corporation, the atmosphere buzzed with the rhythm of expensive shoes on marble floors. Aiden, Andrew Vele's assistant, was already going through a stack of documents when he noticed Selina sitting quietly by her desk. She wasn't her usual composed self. Her pen tapped rhythmically against the notepad, her eyes distant.
"Rough morning?" Aiden asked lightly, offering a small smile.
Selina blinked and quickly forced one back. "Something like that."
He nodded, sensing it wasn't his place to ask further. "Well, make sure Mr. Vele doesn't notice. He's not in the best mood today."
Selina gave a faint laugh, though her chest tightened. "When is he ever?"
Just then, the sound of slow footsteps filled the hallway — confident, steady, deliberate. Andrew Vele appeared, wearing a sharp navy suit, his expression unreadable. He paused briefly when his gaze landed on Selina. Their eyes met for less than two seconds, yet it felt like an eternity.
Something in her eyes ,something tired, something breaking — caught his attention.
He didn't say a word, only looked at her before entering his office. But that brief look said enough. Selina could feel her heart beating fast, not because she feared him this time, but because she hated how he could read her without a single word.
..............
Across the city, in a wide and elegantly designed living room, Scarlett Vele sat cross-legged on the couch, scrolling through her phone with a grin. The memory of the woman she met at her brother's office still lingered in her mind.
"Mom," she began, her tone playful, "you should have seen her. Beautiful, simple, but with this fire in her eyes. And guess what? Brother actually hired her as his secretary."
Mrs. Vele, dressed in a silk robe, turned from her dressing table, eyebrows raised. "Your brother hired a woman? That's new."
Scarlett laughed. "I know! I was shocked. You know how he always avoids female staff unless they're far from his office."
"Maybe he's changing," her mother said with a smile. "Or maybe this one isn't like the rest."
Scarlett tilted her head, remembering the way Selina had looked — a mixture of strength and quiet chaos. "Maybe. But there's something different about her. The way she looked at Andrew… I don't know, Mom, it was like she hated him and admired him at the same time."
Mrs. Vele chuckled softly. "Oh, darling, that's exactly how all stories begin."
Scarlett grinned. "Then I guess this story will be an interesting one."
.............
Evening soon settled over the city, and the last rays of sun painted the glass walls of Vels Manson Corporation in shades of gold. Most of the workers had already left. The soft hum of the air conditioner was the only sound left.
Selina was the only one still at her desk, packing her things slowly. She wanted to leave early but couldn't bring herself to. Her mind was too heavy, her heart too tired.
Then came the deep, calm voice that always made her freeze.
"Selina," Andrew called from his office door. "Come in."
She hesitated for a moment before walking in. He was standing by the window, hands in his pockets, staring at the skyline. The lights from the city cast a soft glow on his face.
"Close the door," he said without turning around.
She did.
After a long silence, he finally turned, his sharp gaze meeting hers. "You've been distracted lately. I don't tolerate that."
"I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again," she replied, keeping her eyes low.
He studied her for a moment. "You look… tired."
She swallowed hard. "Just a rough morning."
"Rough morning or rough life?" His tone was calm but cutting.
Her lips parted slightly, but she said nothing. She didn't want to talk about it. Not here. Not with him.
Andrew sighed quietly, looking away. "Whatever it is, don't let it affect your work. Around here, weakness is noticed faster than effort."
"Yes, sir."
She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her again.
"Selina."
She froze. "Yes?"
His expression softened, just slightly. "Get some rest."
For a moment, she didn't know how to react. She only nodded and walked out, her chest tightening with emotions she didn't want to name.
Behind her, Andrew watched the door close and exhaled slowly. Something about this woman made his walls tremble, and that unsettled him more than anything else.