"No need, thank you!" he said, walking over to the bed. Sitting down gently, his long, slender fingers continued drying his hair with a towel. His calm demeanor only made Sherry feel more clumsy and childlike.
"Well... I'll leave you to rest. Good night!" she stammered, not daring to linger any longer. But as she turned to leave, Sherry could still feel Rye's gaze brushing past her, like a soft breeze—gentle but enough to make her heart race.
"Good night." Rye replied, his deep voice soft yet carrying an inexplicable weight, as if every word held a special meaning. Hearing his simple good-night wish only made Sherry's heart beat faster. She dared not look back, giving a small nod before hurrying out of the room as though afraid her emotions might be discovered.
Out in the hallway, she leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath to steady herself.
"This is ridiculous!" she muttered to herself. "It's just a job, Sherry Willows. Just a job!" But no matter how much she tried to convince herself, the image of Rye in his relaxed, charming state lingered in her mind, refusing to fade.
Inside the room, Rye stared at the door that had just closed, his gaze contemplative as though lost in thought. Standing up, he walked to the window and looked out at the quiet night. The faint glow from the streetlights softened his usual stern expression. For a brief moment, a small smile appeared on his lips.
"That flustered, huh?" he murmured, recalling Sherry's flushed expression. Part of him found her genuine and transparent emotions endearing—a quality he hadn't seen in anyone for a very long time.
Both of them, in separate spaces, were lost in their own thoughts yet shared an unusual stirring in their hearts. The walls they had built to protect themselves or to uphold the "contract" between them now showed tiny cracks, and both seemed aware of them but lacked the courage to act.
That night, Sherry lay in bed, tossing and turning. Rye's words echoed in her mind—not because of their meaning, but because his voice felt closer and warmer than she had imagined. Meanwhile, Rye sat by the window for a long time, staring into the distance, his thoughts drifting back to Sherry's clear and flustered eyes that he couldn't forget.
The next morning, Sherry woke to find Rye had already left, but he had thoughtfully prepared breakfast for her. A simple meal of crepes and strawberry jam, easy to eat yet enough to warm her heart. As she ate, Sherry pondered. It was the first day of the new year, and the Mavis Corporation's cafeteria was surely closed. Arden was on leave, and although her time with Rye had been brief, she had learned enough about the young CEO's habits to guess that he might skip lunch. Determined, Sherry decided to bring lunch to him. With that decision made, she quickly ran to the kitchen to start cooking.
Rye, meanwhile, was buried in the year-end data backlog. The annual Mavis family meeting was scheduled for that evening, where relatives always demanded detailed reports on the corporation's revenues and profits. He dreaded the event, even though these relatives no longer held any power in the company. The suffocating atmosphere and tension of the gathering felt no different from when he was a child. With his sister Caroline absent, Rye was even less inclined to attend. But skipping it would invite criticism and jabs at his parents, leading to inevitable phone calls of admonishment from them. Even though his parents no longer intimidated him as they had in his youth, Rye still disliked dealing with their scolding.
"Ugh, what now?" Rye muttered, rubbing his temples.
RING RING RING.
His phone rang, displaying an unfamiliar number. Only family, a few close friends, and his assistant had his personal number. Business matters were always routed through his secretary. Frowning, he stared at the screen before deciding to pick up.
"Hello, who is this?" Rye asked, his voice calm but tinged with caution.
"Mr. Mavis, it's me—Sherry!"
"Miss Willows? How did you get my number?"
"Assistant Arden gave it to me."
Well done, Arden. Daring to reveal my phone number—I'll dock your salary this month!
"Is that so? Do you need something from me?" Rye's tone remained steady.
"No, I... I..."
"You?"
"I brought you lunch..." Sherry's voice was barely audible, but her words were enough to leave Rye momentarily speechless. He glanced at the clock on the wall—it was indeed past lunchtime. Still doubting his ears, he asked again.
"You brought me lunch?"
Sherry's heart raced. Swallowing nervously, she tried to calm herself. "Yes... I thought you might not have eaten, so I prepared something for you. Are you busy?"
"You... really brought lunch for me?"
Her voice grew smaller, and she felt embarrassed at his repeated question. "Yes... I didn't mean to intrude, but I thought you might not have time to take a break, so..."
"Where are you? I'll come get you!"
"No... no need for that! Assistant Arden already brought me to the front of the building. He mentioned I'd need an employee's fingerprint to enter, but he had other matters to attend to, so he gave me your number. You're... you're not upset that I came unannounced, are you?" Sherry's voice grew quieter with each word.
"How could I be upset? Thank you for bringing me lunch. I'll come down to meet you right away."
"Thank you!" Rye could hear the delight in her voice over the phone.
Looks like Arden deserves a bonus after all. Rye thought.