Valerie went back to her grandmother’s room. Mrs. Miller had already changed her clothes and was sitting on the bed, holding her phone and showing it to the assistant.

“He is handsome, right? They would suit each other,” she said.

She noticed Valerie standing by the door and quickly got up. The Household manager and the assistant followed as she wrapped an arm around Valerie’s and guided her toward the entrance. She tried to hand her the phone, but Valerie ignored it.

They stood near the doorway, waiting for the assistant to bring the car around.

“At least give him a chance,” Mrs. Miller said. “Go on a date. You are already thirty, and I am old. I want to see you find someone before I go meet your grandfather in the afterlife.”

Her voice softened more and more as she spoke. Valerie finally had enough.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” she said. “Stop looking for potential husbands for me. I already found someone.”

Both the Household manager and Mrs. Miller froze. They stared at her in disbelief.

“It is true,” Valerie continued. “I fell in love at first sight. He was just too…”

She paused, remembering his words.

“…too charming.”

Her grandmother snapped back to reality. Seeing Valerie speak of love with a frozen, empty expression, as if the emotion had nothing to do with her at all, only made her more suspicious. Who would believe a sentence that placed Valerie and love side by side? For more than three years, Mrs. Miller had tried to match her with suitable men, only to be met with indifference and refusal. And now this same granddaughter claimed she had fallen in love at first sight.

Questions poured out immediately.

“Who is he? When did you meet? Where? How? I need details. What if you are deceiving me?”

“Today, he helped me when I lost my balance and was about to fall. I am sure you are going to like him.”

Valerie carefully avoided mentioning his name, just in case he failed the inspection or decided not to accept the offer at all.

“What, he saved you?” her grandmother exclaimed. “Did he look like Prince Charming rescuing the beauty?”

Valerie turned a deaf ear to the question and checked her watch, silently wondering what Lukas, the assistant, was doing and why he was taking so long.

Just as she was about to call him, a loud motorcycle roared nearby. She lifted her head as a figure in black flashed past. A short time later, footsteps approached, and a pair of long legs in black pants came into view.

She looked up.

Their eyes met.

Julian stood in front of her.

He smiled politely at her grandmother before turning to Valerie. “Sorry to interrupt your time with your family,” he said. “I just realized I forgot to ask. What are your favorite flowers? And are you allergic to any?”

Her grandmother gasped.

“I did not know my granddaughter knew such a handsome gentleman! Why did you not tell me?” she said, already beaming.

Julian straightened slightly. “Hello, I am Julian,” he said warmly. “I am having lunch with Valerie tomorrow.”

Mrs. Miller said, “That is lovely,” then turned to look at Valerie. Covering her face with her hands, she mouthed, Is this him?

Valerie nodded and, without hesitation, said to him, “Anything but roses works.”

“Noted,” he replied. “It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Miller. I can see where Valerie gets her beauty. I won’t bother you anymore. Have a safe ride home.”

“Oh, what a sweet talker,” Mrs. Miller said, noticing the helmet he was holding. “You too—be careful on the road.”

He nodded with a smile and turned to Valerie. ‘See you tomorrow,’ he said, before walking off.

The car finally pulled up. As he disappeared, Lukas stepped forward apologetically. “Someone had parked in the way and was obstructing the car. I had to deal with it, which is why it took so long.”

The following day at the M&Y Group headquarters, the front desk receptionist, with only ten minutes left before her lunch break, was wondering what to order when a young man in his twenties approached the front desk.

His dark black hair was styled in a layered flow cut, soft layers adding volume from the crown down, slightly messy in a way that felt intentional. It matched his outfit perfectly. A white shirt with the first button undone, paired with a dark gray casual suit that framed his broad shoulders and emphasized his long, lean build.

She stopped her inspection and finally looked at his face.

Sure enough, he was handsome. His features fit together effortlessly, especially his long shaped eyes, slightly upturned at the corners. The soft gray color held a watery sheen that invited anyone looking at him to linger a little longer.

“Hello.”

The sound of his gentle voice snapped her out of her daze.

“Yes,” she said quickly. “How can I help you, sir?”

“I am here to see Ms. Valerie Miller.”

Her gaze dropped to the bouquet in his hands. “Do you have an appointment?”

“I believe so. I am supposed to meet her at 12:30. Julian Gill.”

“Let me check the schedule for you.”

She turned to the screen, curiosity buzzing in her chest. The domineering, ice-cold CEO had suitors now? Were they really having lunch together, or was this just the wishful thinking of a naive man?

She found nothing. No appointment. No name.

“I do not have a record of this meeting,” she said. “Let me check with the personal assistant.”

She picked up the desk phone and dialed a short extension. A few seconds later, the line connected.

“This is reception,” she said. “I have a gentleman here asking to see Ms. Miller. His name is Julian Gill, but I do not see him on the schedule. Could you please confirm?”

The voice on the other end answered calmly. “Yes, he is expected. Please have him wait. I will come get him.”

A minute later, the personal assistant, Lukas, appeared and guided Julian toward the executive elevator. By then, the receptionist was already typing furiously in a private company group chat, narrating what had just happened and asking other departments to confirm what they were about to witness.

Ding.

Julian stepped out of the elevator and was led down a quiet corridor to an office. The nameplate on the door read CEO.

He glanced around, mildly surprised at how easily he had been allowed into a place that clearly housed company secrets. His eyes caught more than one surveillance camera, silently recording every angle.

He sat down on the couch just as Lukas asked what he would like to drink.

“Room temperature water, please.”

Another employee brought it moments later, carefully placing the glass on the table.

“Ms. Miller will see you shortly,” she said. “The meeting before yours took longer than expected.”

Julian nodded, settling back as he waited.

Ten minutes later, the door opened and Valerie walked in. Julian rose to greet her.

Her hair was secured with a claw clip, keeping loose strands from falling into her face. The black, longline three piece suit she wore gave her a composed, mature air that suited her role perfectly.

He handed her a small bouquet of multicolored daffodils. “Here. This is me hoping for a successful cooperation with you.”

She hesitated for a brief moment before accepting them. As she lifted the bouquet closer, the fresh, sweet fragrance reached her senses, and the slight crease between her brows slowly eased.

“I need to deal with something for a few minutes,” she said calmly. “Then we will head to the restaurant.”

He nodded and sat back down.

As she tapped on her laptop, his gaze never left her. He studied her serious expression, her eyes fixed on the screen, eyelashes fluttering now and then, and each small movement felt as if it brushed directly against his heart.

His gaze traced the sharp line of her nose, lingered on the faint pallor of her cheeks, and finally settled on her lips. Their natural downward curve only deepened the air of distance and untouchable elegance she carried so effortlessly.