That night felt like a dream to Anna.
After returning to her apartment, she barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, Daniel's face appeared in her mind—those deep, intense eyes, the feel of his long fingers as they held her, the sensation of his lips... and the look in his eyes before he left.
She didn't fully understand what he meant by all of it.
After that night, Anna threw herself into her work, burying her thoughts in the jewelry project. Her role, which involved testing the quality of raw gemstones and finished pieces, kept her busy. Every day, she examined raw stones, semi-finished products, and gem analysis reports. The job required using various instruments, from spectrometers to microscopes, meticulously evaluating each gem's clarity and discussing cutting angles and craftsmanship with the lead designers. The intensity of the work allowed her to forget about that night for a while.
By early January, the project she was working on finally wrapped up. It had been her biggest assignment to date, acting as the lead tester for a batch of high-end gemstones. The workload had been exhausting, but she gained invaluable experience.
Once the project was complete, she organized her files, said her goodbyes to the team, and headed back to the company's headquarters in New York.
However, she was taken aback by the success the project received after it launched. The collection of high-end jewelry she had worked on became a hit, especially the gemstones she had tested, which were praised for their exceptional quality and precise grading.
Out of curiosity, Anna checked the company's internal network and various jewelry enthusiast platforms. Experts and consumers alike praised the quality of the pieces from the collection. Even her detailed reports were being discussed, with many commending her meticulous approach.
The attention was overwhelming. She hadn't expected her technical work to receive such recognition.
On one social media platform, she noticed her name had skyrocketed in searches. While some had initially doubted her due to her relatively young age, more voices soon started praising her professionalism. Some even referred to her as "the rising star in the gemstone world."
"My god, this Anna girl is amazing! Her reports are so detailed, they capture every nuance of the stones," one blogger wrote, sharing photos of the gems Anna had tested along with her name.
Reading this, Anna blushed. She never imagined her behind-the-scenes work would garner this much attention.
As she scrolled further, she realized she had gained a following of jewelry lovers. She set up a social media account, verified her profile, and within hours, had tens of thousands of followers.
She posted a short video thanking everyone for their support, and to her surprise, the comments were overwhelmingly positive. Many praised her expertise and expressed excitement for her future projects.
All of this attention left Anna a little bewildered. She had never expected to receive such recognition for what she considered purely technical work.
Amid this flurry of new attention, a major industry shake-up occurred. Joshua Marks, a top executive at a luxury brand in Los Angeles, had left to join a new up-and-coming company. Despite being new, the company had deep pockets and was aggressively aiming to dominate the jewelry market, covering everything from design to raw material procurement and processing to finished product sales.
The scale of the company's ambition sent shockwaves through the industry, forcing many established players to rethink their strategies.
One day, Anna's boss, Anna, approached her with an unexpected proposition: she wanted Anna to leave with her and join Joshua Marks' new company.
"You're doing great work here," Anna began, "but this company isn't going to take you as far as you deserve. They don't prioritize gemstone testing enough. But Joshua's new firm? They've got the money and vision, and there's so much more opportunity for growth. I want you to come with me."
Anna hesitated. She had just started gaining momentum in her current position. Would leaving now be too risky? And what about the hefty penalty for breaking her contract?
Sensing her doubts, Anna smiled. "Don't worry about the penalty. Joshua's company will take care of it. A few hundred grand is nothing to them."
The offer was tempting. After weighing her options, Anna decided to take the plunge and follow Anna to the new company.
Just as Anna had promised, the transition was smooth. Anna's contract was easily settled, and the new company even provided her with a sleek apartment in Manhattan—a major upgrade from her previous place. Still, she found it hard to say goodbye to her old colleagues and didn't move into her new apartment right away.
Later, there was a big networking dinner hosted by a high-end jewelry brand, and Anna was invited to attend. She picked out a sleek, blush-pink dress from the company's collection. It was gorgeous, but the thin fabric made her regret her choice on a cold New York winter night.
"You really went all out, huh?" one of her coworkers teased, pulling her heavy coat tighter around her.
Anna glanced down at herself, shivering, her legs exposed beneath her sheer tights. "You wouldn't happen to have an extra scarf, would you?"
Her coworker laughed. "I'm wrapped up like an Eskimo. You're the brave one."
Though the dinner was primarily a networking event, Anna was only attending as an assistant to the designers, with the senior designers being the stars of the evening. Still, she hoped to use the opportunity to make an impression.
Throughout the evening, Anna smiled and made small talk, but her mind was elsewhere—until she saw Daniel by the elevators.
He stood among a crowd of executives, effortlessly commanding the room. In that moment, all her memories of that night came rushing back.
"It's freezing, and you're dressed like that?" Daniel's deep voice cut through her thoughts.
Startled, she turned to find him approaching her. Without a word, he took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
Surprised by the gesture, Anna stared up at him. "I thought you'd already left?"
Daniel gave her a brief glance. "Let's go." His hand rested gently on her shoulder as he guided her toward the exit.
His hand was warm and firm, and though his touch was light, Anna felt an odd sense of comfort. Flustered, she followed him into the elevator.
By the time they reached the ground floor, Daniel's driver had already pulled the car up to the entrance. He opened the door for her, gesturing for her to get in.
The warmth of the car was a relief from the biting cold outside. Anna settled into the back seat, finally able to relax. After standing in heels all night, her feet were killing her. She discreetly slipped off her shoes and placed her feet on the soft carpeted floor.
Just as she exhaled in relief, Daniel reached into the front seat and pulled out a bag. Inside was a pair of women's slippers.
"Put these on," he said.
Anna hesitated for a moment but complied. Once she slipped on the soft shoes, her feet finally felt comfortable again.
As they drove, Anna realized they weren't heading back toward her apartment. Confused, she glanced at Daniel. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see," he replied with a hint of mystery in his voice.
Anna had only ever heard of the place they were going to—an exclusive skyscraper downtown that housed the most powerful companies. She never imagined she'd actually step foot inside.
The elevator ascended swiftly, finally stopping at the top floor. When the doors opened, she was led into a grand office, the kind you only see in magazines.
It was her first time in Daniel's office.
The décor was a blend of timeless sophistication and modern design. Expansive windows showcased a stunning view of the city skyline. A vintage leather sofa and a grand mahogany desk gave the room a luxurious, yet understated, feel.
"Take a look around," Daniel said, settling at a sleek bar cart to pour himself a drink.
Anna stood awkwardly at the entrance, unsure whether she should sit or explore.
Daniel, on the other hand, seemed perfectly relaxed as he poured a glass of whiskey and took a sip, watching her with a quiet intensity.
"Want something to drink?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Anything's fine," Anna replied, trying to steady her voice.
He poured her a glass of wine and handed it to her. "This is from a special vineyard. Try it."
Anna took a small sip. The wine was rich, smooth, and unexpectedly sweet. It wasn't like anything she'd tasted before.
"This is... amazing," she said, caught off guard by how much she liked it.
"Only the best," Daniel said with a small smile.
As Anna settled onto the couch, she couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was happening. Daniel didn't seem like the kind of person who brought just anyone to his private space.
"What are we doing here?" she asked, her curiosity finally getting the better of her.
Daniel smiled but didn't immediately answer. Instead, he took another sip of his drink, watching her intently.
Anna mentioned the recent progress of the company's project, going into detail about her involvement in the design process. She assumed Daniel wouldn't be interestedsince their fields were so different. But, to her surprise, he listened intently, occasionally asking insightful questions as if he genuinely cared about her work.