The first few days passed in a quiet routine.
Elara buried herself in work, speaking little and keeping her distance. She handled schedules, coordinated meetings, and managed reports with flawless precision. Every interaction with Adrian was brief and formal with polite words, professional tones, nothing more.
He treated everyone with the same detached calm, his voice cool and efficient. But to Elara, every word carried the weight of what was missing. The warmth. The laughter. The tenderness he once shared so freely.
Watching him now being so composed and so distant broke her heart in ways she couldn't admit. She missed the man who used to smile when she entered the room, who once leaned toward her voice as if it anchored him.
One afternoon, she decided to eat in the company cafeteria instead at her desk. She sat quietly by the window, lost in thought, when a small group of colleagues from her department joined her table.
"I remember you," one of them said, setting down her tray with a friendly grin. "You used to help our CEO a year ago, didn't you?"
Elara froze, her fork halfway to her mouth. Someone still remembers.
"Yes," she said carefully, forcing a light smile. "I joined Reid Tech after that."
"Ah, so that's where you went," another colleague chimed in. "After you left, the CEO barely came in for months. When he did, he was… different. Quiet. Strict. Everyone walks on eggshells around him now."
Elara's chest tightened. "I've heard that too," she said softly.
They went on chatting about projects and deadlines, but Elara barely heard them.
After lunch, she walked out into the corridor, her thoughts heavy. Near the exit, a small sign caught her eye.
"Free special drinks today — limited batch!"
A table was set up with chilled bottles of yogurt drinks. She paused.
It was his favorite.
For a moment, she hesitated. Maybe it was foolish as he was her boss now, and their connection was supposed to be gone. Still, something inside her whispered that small comforts mattered, even if he never knew the meaning behind them.
So she picked one up and held it in her hands, the coolness pressing against her skin.
"Maybe this will lift your mood," she murmured quietly to herself, and turned toward his office.
"Elara?"
She turned at the sound of a familiar voice behind her.
"Elara?"
Her breath caught for a second before she recognized him. "Eric," she said, surprised. "It's been a while."
He smiled, easy and familiar, just as she remembered. "Yeah. Didn't expect to see you again here at Vale's."
"It surprised me too," she admitted, offering a polite smile. "I was with Reid Tech. And now after the merger, I am back here."
Eric nodded, looking genuinely pleased. "I hope you settle well."
"It's been busy," she said softly, glancing down, unsure what else to say. It had been almost a year since that night he'd invited her out, the one she never followed through on after Adrian's unexpected return.
Eric's gaze softened, as if he remembered too. "You look well," he said finally.
"So do you," she replied. "I'm glad things are going well for you here."
He gave a light chuckle, scratching the back of his neck. "Maybe we'll catch up properly another time. Coffee, perhaps as old friends."
Elara hesitated for half a second, then smiled. "Sure. Another time."
As Eric walked away, she exhaled quietly, her chest tightening with an odd mix of warmth and unease. It was strange that the past she thought she had left behind kept finding its way back to her, piece by piece.
*****
Elara was startled to see Adrian still in his office when she returned. The rest of the floor had already gone quiet for lunch, but his light was still on.
"Mr. Vale, have you had lunch yet?" she asked gently, stepping closer.
He didn't respond at first, his attention fixed on the stack of papers before him. The only sound in the room was the faint scratch of his pen against the page.
"The cafeteria had a special offer today," she continued after a moment, setting a chilled bottle on the corner of his desk. "It's popular. I thought you might like it."
Still no response. His expression didn't change, but she saw his hand pause briefly before continuing to write.
"I'll be at my desk if you need anything," she said quietly, retreating toward the door. Her hands were trembling slightly, though she forced her steps to remain steady.
Only when the door clicked shut behind her did she let out a long breath. She couldn't remember ever feeling this nervous around him before, not even in the days when she'd first cared for him.
Inside the office, Adrian finally set his pen down. His gaze drifted toward the small bottle she'd left. He reached for it, turning it over in his hand. The faint chill against his skin and the familiar label made something stir deep in his memory.
He opened it and took a sip. The taste was smooth, slightly sweet, and soothing. It hit him with a wave of familiarity he couldn't explain. For a fleeting second, he felt a trace of comfort, like something long forgotten brushing against his thoughts.
Fifteen minutes later, the door opened again.
Elara stepped back in, holding a sandwich on a small plate. "I wasn't sure if you'd eaten," she said softly, setting it down in front of him.
This time, Adrian looked up.
Their eyes met.
For an instant, the world seemed to fall away. His gaze, cool and sharp moments ago, softened with something he didn't understand, a recognition without memory.
Elara froze, her pulse quickening. Since she'd started working for him again, he had never once looked at her directly. Now he did and it felt as though her heart forgot how to beat.
"Thank you," he said quietly, his voice lower, rougher.
"You're welcome," she murmured, stepping back toward the door.
When she left, Adrian picked up the sandwich. A small, inexplicable warmth spread through his chest. It had been a long time since anyone had thought to bring him something simple, something human.
He didn't know why, but the gesture lingered. So did the faint echo of her voice.
*****
That afternoon, Elara followed Adrian to the management meeting. She carried her laptop and notes, walking one step behind him as she used to years ago.
The meeting began with the department heads presenting updates. Elara sat beside Adrian, typing steadily while he listened with that unreadable calm that made everyone nervous.
"Sales growth for Q3 is projected at nine percent," the director said. "But Q4 depends on the new app rollout."
Adrian tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "Projected, not guaranteed. What's the actual risk margin if the rollout is delayed?"
The director stiffened. "We… we estimate around fifteen percent."
"That's too high," Adrian said. "Fix your timeline. And talk to IT about backup deployment."
His tone wasn't harsh, but it left no room for argument.
Next, the marketing director spoke. "Our new campaign is on track. We expect a stronger youth response—"
Adrian cut in. "Expected or measured?"
The director blinked. "W-we're still collecting data—"
"So it's guesswork," Adrian said. "Come back when you have something real."
Rowen hid a smile behind his coffee cup. "Be nice, Adrian. They're trying."
Adrian shot him a look. "Trying isn't the same as doing."
The tension in the room eased slightly. Everyone was used to Adrian's sharp tongue, but today there was no bite, only efficiency.
A junior manager cleared his throat nervously. "Um… Mr. Vale, the collaboration with Reid Tech is moving ahead. Elara has been coordinating with us."
Adrian glanced sideways at her. "Good."
Her fingers paused on the keyboard.
"You're handling it?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," she said.
"Any issues?"
"No, everything is on schedule."
His eyes lingered on her for a fraction longer than necessary.
"Report to me directly. I want weekly updates."
"Yes, Mr. Vale."
Rowen noticed the subtle shift in Adrian's tone whenever he addressed her. His words were the same, but the sound of them was softer.
As the meeting wrapped up, Adrian stood.
"That's all for today. Fix what needs to be fixed. We do things properly here."
The directors nodded quickly, gathering their files.
Rowen leaned close to Elara and murmured, "He's in a surprisingly good mood today. That's rare."
Elara whispered back, "He still sounds strict to me."
Rowen snickered. "Oh, trust me. This is practically gentle."
Adrian paused near the exit, turning slightly.
"Elara," he said, "let's go."
Her heart jumped, and she straightened immediately. "Yes, Mr. Vale."
The elevator was already crowded when Adrian and Elara stepped in after the meeting. People squeezed forward to make room, and Elara found herself pressed close behind him, clutching the files to her chest.
She kept her eyes lowered, trying not to bump anyone, but the space was tight. The soft scent of Adrian's cologne drifted toward her, painfully familiar. Her heart thudded at the nearness.
As the elevator descended, people began stepping out on different floors. Each stop forced a shift in the crowd. When a group exited on one of the lower levels, someone behind her nudged forward, making her lose her balance.
Elara stepped sideways to avoid colliding with a stranger, but her shoulder brushed Adrian's back. Before she could steady herself, she stumbled lightly again as the crowd continued to rearrange.
Adrian reacted instantly.
His hand slid gently to her waist, steadying her with a calm, instinctive firmness. The touch was subtle but protective. The action was natural.
Elara froze.
Her pulse jumped, heat rushing up her neck. She could feel his warm hand through the thin fabric of her blouse, and for a moment she forgot to breathe.
Adrian's brows pulled together slightly. The moment his hand met her waist, something inside him shifted. Her softness, her scent, the quiet way she leaned into his touch for balance all felt strangely right. Familiar in a way he could not explain.
He did not move his hand immediately. He held her steady until the elevator settled again.
"Sorry," Elara whispered, barely audible.
Adrian's hand slowly released her, but his eyes stayed lowered for a second longer than usual, as if trying to understand the sensation that lingered on his palm.
"It's fine," he said quietly.
The doors finally opened on their floor. The crowd thinned, and Elara hurried out, trying to hide her flushed face. Adrian stepped out after her, his expression composed but inwardly unsettled.
That simple touch stayed with him. More than he wished to admit.
And as they walked down the hallway together, neither of them spoke.
When they reached their floor, Elara retreated to her desk at once, head bowed, hoping the warmth on her cheeks wasn't obvious. She tried to focus on her computer screen, but her fingers trembled slightly over the keyboard. She could still feel the imprint of his hand on her waist, gentle and warm.
Elara took a quiet breath and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She forced her thoughts back into order. She had promised herself she would keep her distance.
But that touch in the elevator…
Her heart had reacted before her mind could stop it.
She glanced toward Adrian's office. His blinds were drawn. There was no movement inside.
Good. She didn't want him to see how shaken she was.