The office was quiet, almost hauntingly so. The faint hum of the air conditioner was the only sound that filled the space after everyone had gone home. The glass windows of VELS Corporation reflected the golden hue of the city lights, shimmering against the night sky.
Andrew sat in his office, leaning slightly back in his chair. His hands rested on the armrest, his expression unreadable as he stared at the glowing skyline through the tall windows. His day had been long, demanding — meetings, calls, documents — yet his mind wasn't on any of those things.
It was on her.
Selina Whyte.
Even now, her voice, her nervous gestures, and the way she couldn't meet his gaze when she brought the coffee replayed in his head. He'd been angry — genuinely furious — when she walked in late that morning, but somehow, as he thought of her trembling voice and the way her eyes darted away, his anger had shifted into something else entirely.
He sighed, rubbing his temple. "What's wrong with me?" he muttered under his breath.
His phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen — Gabrielle.
A long exhale escaped him. "Of course," he said dryly before answering. "What is it this time?"
"Ah, Mr. Vele finally picked up!" Gabrielle's playful tone rang through the line. "Don't tell me you're still at the office working like some machine."
Andrew's lips curved slightly, the hint of a smirk appearing. "And you're still wasting your time calling at this hour instead of focusing on your own company?"
Gabrielle laughed. "Touché. But unlike you, I actually enjoy life. Speaking of which, I'm at Silver Leaf Lounge. Thought you might join me before you start rusting in that chair of yours."
"I'm not interested," Andrew said, but his tone lacked conviction.
"Oh, come on, Drew," Gabrielle teased, using the nickname only he dared. "You sound like an eighty-year-old man. One drink, and I'll stop pestering you."
Andrew sighed again, leaning forward on his desk. "You said the same thing last week."
"And it worked, didn't it?"
A moment of silence followed, and then Andrew gave in, shutting his laptop. "Fine. But only one drink."
"That's the spirit! I'll order your usual."
Andrew ended the call with a shake of his head. He grabbed his suit jacket and walked out, the echo of his footsteps following him down the silent corridor.
.........
At the Silver Leaf Lounge, the dim lighting glowed against the polished marble floor. The air was filled with low jazz music, soft and steady. Gabrielle was already there, lounging casually with a glass of wine in his hand, dressed in a dark blazer and an easy grin.
When Andrew arrived, Gabrielle raised his glass. "The ice-cold CEO himself! I was starting to think you'd forgotten how to have a life."
Andrew sat opposite him, unamused. "You talk too much."
"That's because you talk too little," Gabrielle shot back, chuckling. "So, tell me, what's keeping you chained to your desk this time? Don't tell me you've found a new project to torture yourself with."
Andrew gave him a pointed look. "Business doesn't run on charm, Gabrielle."
"Maybe not. But it does run smoother with less frowning."
Gabrielle leaned back, studying him. "You've been off lately. And don't deny it , I know that face. There's a woman involved, isn't there?"
Andrew's gaze flicked toward him, his eyes cold. "You've been drinking too much."
Gabrielle grinned. "Aha! That silence says everything. Who is she? Someone at the company?"
Andrew didn't answer. Instead, he sipped the drink the waiter had just placed before him. The warmth of the whiskey burned gently down his throat.
Gabrielle shook his head, amused. "Unbelievable. The great Andrew Vele, falling for a woman? Now that's a headline."
Andrew's lips twitched. "You imagine too much."
But Gabrielle knew that look , the one Andrew gave when he was avoiding something. "Fine, I'll drop it," Gabrielle said, though his smirk lingered. "But just know this — sometimes, it's okay to feel. Not everything has to be calculated."
Andrew didn't reply. His thoughts drifted again — to her nervous eyes, her trembling hands, the spilled coffee that had nearly hit his shirt. She had looked terrified then, and yet… something about that moment had burned into his mind.
After another hour of small talk, Andrew finally stood up. "I'm leaving."
Gabrielle raised his glass again. "Don't work yourself to death, my friend."
"I'll keep that in mind," Andrew replied, walking away.
.........
The drive home was silent. The city's lights blurred against the car window, streaks of gold and white blending into one another. When he arrived at his apartment, the tall gate opened automatically, revealing a sleek, modern building surrounded by quiet.
Inside, Miss Gloria, his long-time housekeeper, greeted him warmly.
"You're late again, sir," she said, crossing her arms lightly. "You haven't eaten, have you?"
Andrew removed his coat, his expression softening slightly. "I already ate."
She frowned. "You said that yesterday too."
"I mean it this time."
She sighed but smiled knowingly. "Alright then. But you should rest, Mr. Andrew. You've been pushing yourself too hard."
He nodded and made his way upstairs. The apartment was spacious, elegant, and quiet — too quiet. He loosened his tie and sank into the couch, staring blankly at the faint city lights through the glass wall.
He didn't know how long he sat there, lost in thought. But his mind, no matter how he tried, always circled back to her — the soft sound of her voice, the hesitant way she'd look at him as if she'd known him from somewhere.
"Selina Whyte," he murmured, the name rolling off his tongue like a secret he shouldn't be saying.
Something about her unsettled him. And yet, at the same time, she intrigued him.
He leaned back, closing his eyes briefly. For the first time in years, Andrew Vele wasn't thinking about deals, numbers, or board meetings.
He was thinking about a woman — a stubborn, nervous, beautiful woman who had somehow broken through the walls he'd built so carefully.
And that realization terrified him more than anything.