As the evening wore on, Elena decided to take a stroll through the Hartford estate's sprawling gardens. After a long day of meetings with Alexander and Nico, she needed a breather, some time to let her mind unwind and process everything. She marveled at the gardens' timeless beauty as the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting the hedges and statues in a warm, honeyed glow.
It wasn't long before she came across a secluded area with a fountain, surrounded by ivy-covered stone benches and hedges shaped like winding mazes. She almost gasped in delight, this hidden spot felt like her own private escape, a place she could retreat to without feeling like a guest or, worse, an outsider.
As she rounded a corner, she spotted a man seated on a bench near the fountain, seemingly lost in the pages of a book. He was dressed casually, yet there was an air of quiet sophistication to him. His face was partially hidden behind the book, but she could tell from his posture that he was relaxed, completely absorbed in his reading.
Not wanting to disturb him, Elena took a step back, but as she did, her shoe crunched on a dry leaf, causing him to glance up.
"Sorry!" she said quickly. "I didn't mean to interrupt."
The man lowered his book, offering her a calm, almost curious look. "No need to apologize," he replied, his voice soft but rich with a hint of humor. "It's not every day I meet someone else brave enough to wander these gardens alone."
Elena smiled, taking a step forward. "They are beautiful, but... intimidating. Like everything here," she added with a laugh, more to herself than to him.
The man's gaze softened as he closed his book, setting it beside him on the bench. "It's easy to get lost here, figuratively and literally," he said, patting the empty space beside him in invitation.
After a moment's hesitation, she accepted, sitting down at the far end of the bench, careful to keep a respectable distance.
"So," he began, studying her with a flicker of intrigue, "you're the new addition to the Hartford project?"
She raised her eyebrows. "You know about that?"
"Word travels fast around here." His lips twitched into a half-smile. "Plus, it's hard not to notice someone new."
Elena laughed, slightly embarrassed. "Yes, well, it's hard not to feel out of place. I've only been here a day, but it's already… let's just say, the Hartford family dynamic is interesting."
The man chuckled softly, and there was something deeply magnetic about his laugh—a quiet warmth mixed with a mystery that Elena couldn't quite place. "Interesting? That's one way to put it. Though I'd argue 'intimidating' might be more accurate."
Elena's shoulders relaxed as she nodded, feeling an unexpected sense of kinship. "Exactly! I mean, Alexander? He's all business, no-nonsense. And Nico… well, he's charming but impossible to take seriously."
The man raised an eyebrow, a glimmer of amusement in his gaze. "Oh? So you've already formed opinions on them?"
She tilted her head, considering him. "You sound like you know them well."
"More or less." He shrugged, folding his arms and leaning back. "But enough about them. What about you? What brought you here to work on a Hartford project?"
"Honestly?" She sighed, looking down at her hands. "It's a huge opportunity. Alexander Hartford sought me out, and I couldn't say no. The project is a dream for someone in my field. But…" she hesitated, not sure how much she wanted to share with this stranger.
"But?" he prompted, his eyes kind yet unreadable.
"It's awkward being in the same house with them," she admitted, laughing to ease the tension in her voice. "There's a strange pressure when you're trying to impress someone and not overstep any invisible boundaries. I'm trying to balance being professional while also being myself… It's exhausting."
The man's eyes softened, and he nodded knowingly. "You're brave, Ms…?"
"Oh, Elena. Elena Winters."
He gave a slight nod. "Well, Ms. Winters, you're braver than you think, and perhaps a bit more honest than is wise." His eyes danced with amusement.
She blushed, realizing she may have said too much. But before she could apologize, he stood up, brushing off his coat.
"I should go," he said with a slight smile. "It was a pleasure, Ms. Winters. Enjoy the gardens they're best when explored at sunset."
With that, he picked up his book, gave her a final, lingering look, and disappeared into the maze of hedges, leaving her alone with only the sound of the fountain for company.
———————————————
Dinner that evening was a formal affair, much to Elena's surprise. A grand table stretched across the dining room, adorned with gleaming silverware, crystal goblets, and a centerpiece of fresh flowers. The candles cast a soft, golden light over the table, giving the room an almost surreal elegance.
Elena took a seat near the middle of the table, feeling a bit like an intruder in such a grand setting. Alexander entered first, as punctual and composed as ever. He offered her a curt nod before taking his seat at the head of the table. Nico followed shortly after, giving her a mischievous wink as he slid into a chair across from her.
Elena's gaze flickered between the two brothers, feeling an odd sense of suspense hanging in the air. She had almost forgotten about her strange encounter in the garden until Alexander spoke up.
"Damien," he said, his tone neutral but unmistakably respectful, "thank you for joining us tonight."
Elena's heart skipped a beat as she looked up to see the man from the garden entering the room. He looked different in the dim lighting, the easy going demeanor replaced by something colder, more guarded. He gave Alexander a nod, then took a seat beside Nico, his gaze resting briefly on Elena before moving away, as if she were just another face at the table.
The pieces clicked into place, and her face flushed with embarrassment. Damien. She had unknowingly been spilling her heart out to Damien Hartford in the garden.
Nico, never missing a beat, seemed to catch her expression and smirked knowingly. "Elena, I don't believe you and Damien have been formally introduced," he said, a hint of mischief in his voice. "This is our youngest brother, Damien."
"Pleased to meet you again," Damien said, his voice even, but there was a hint of something else there, something that made her stomach flutter. "I hope you've found your first day here… enlightening."
Alexander looked between them, his brow furrowing slightly. "Have you two already met?"
Elena swallowed, trying to keep her voice steady. "We… briefly crossed paths in the garden," she said, feeling the weight of all three brothers' eyes on her. "Though I didn't realize…"
"Ah, the garden," Nico interrupted, leaning back with a grin. "One of Damien's usual haunts. If you wander out there at night, you're likely to find him with his nose in a book. I see he's already added 'charming the new guest' to his routine."
Damien shot him a look, his expression unreadable, though a hint of a smirk played on his lips. "I'm not the only one who finds time to 'charm' the new guest, I think."
Elena shifted in her seat, feeling heat rise to her cheeks. She felt like she was suddenly part of a game she didn't understand, where each Hartford brother had a hidden agenda.
"Alright, let's not make Ms. Winters uncomfortable," Alexander said firmly, though there was a trace of amusement in his voice. He turned to Elena. "You'll find Damien… unconventional, but trustworthy."
"Oh, I'm sure," she replied, her gaze flicking to Damien, who watched her with an intensity that made her heart race.
The rest of dinner was a blur of conversation and laughter, but Elena found herself sneaking glances at Damien. He was quieter than his brothers, but there was a subtle wit in his words, a sharpness in his gaze that made her wonder what he was hiding.
As she rose from the table at the end of the meal, she felt a hand gently graze her arm. She turned to see Damien beside her, his expression soft, almost apologetic.
"Thank you for the company in the garden," he murmured. "I didn't mean to mislead you."
"It's alright," she replied, heart pounding. "I think I needed the honesty."
He smiled, a small, knowing smile that left her with more questions than answers, then disappeared down the hall, leaving her standing alone, replaying their strange encounter over and over in her mind