Sofia Mirano barely slept that night.
Not because of work.
Not because of the company party.
But because of Leo Rivera standing in Lucy's boutique doorway, watching her like he had forgotten the rest of the world existed.
Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered that moment.
The quiet way he had said, "That dress suits you."
Leo wasn't a man who gave compliments easily.
Which made it feel… important.
Across the room, Lucy groaned and rolled over in her bed.
"You're still awake, aren't you?"
Sofia sighed.
"Yes."
Lucy opened one eye.
"I knew it."
Sofia turned to face her.
"You're the one who started all of this."
Lucy sat up dramatically.
"I started nothing."
"You made that dress."
Lucy pointed a finger at her.
"And your CEO showed up like he walked out of a romance movie."
Sofia covered her face with a pillow.
"Lucy…"
Lucy laughed.
"I saw the way he looked at you."
Sofia peeked at her.
"He was just surprised."
Lucy stared at her.
"Sofia Mirano."
"Yes?"
"That man looked like someone stole oxygen from the room."
Sofia tried to hide her smile.
The next morning, Rivera Group felt unusually calm.
Sunlight poured through the tall windows of the office building while employees slowly returned to their desks.
Sofia walked in with her usual quiet confidence.
But something felt different today.
Maybe it was because she couldn't stop thinking about last night.
She placed her bag beside her desk and began organizing the morning documents.
A few minutes later, Leo arrived.
He stepped out of the elevator with his usual composed expression.
But the moment his eyes landed on Sofia…
Something shifted.
For a brief second, he remembered her standing in that blue dress.
The soft shimmer of the fabric.
The way her hair had fallen over her shoulders.
Leo forced his thoughts back into focus.
"Good morning, Sofia."
"Good morning, Mr. Rivera."
She handed him his coffee.
Their fingers almost touched.
Both of them noticed.
Neither of them said anything.
Leo walked into his office.
But instead of immediately sitting down, he paused near the window.
For the first time in a long time, Leo Rivera found it difficult to concentrate.
Later that afternoon, Sofia's phone buzzed.
Lucy.
Lucy:
Important question.
Sofia smiled.
Sofia:
What is it?
Lucy:
Did he stare at you today?
Sofia rolled her eyes.
Sofia:
Lucy…
Lucy:
Answer the question.
Sofia hesitated.
Because the truth was…
He had.
Several times.
Through the glass walls of his office.
Sofia:
Maybe.
Lucy immediately replied.
Lucy:
OH MY GOD.
Sofia laughed quietly.
Lucy:
The party is going to be interesting.
Before Sofia could respond, Leo's office door opened.
"Sofia."
She stood immediately.
"Yes, Mr. Rivera?"
"Come in."
Inside the office, Leo sat behind his desk reviewing several documents.
He slid a folder toward her.
"I need your opinion on this proposal."
Sofia walked closer.
"My opinion?"
Leo nodded.
"Yes."
Sofia sat down across from him and began reading.
For several minutes, the room stayed quiet.
But Leo wasn't reading.
He was watching her.
The small crease between her brows when she focused.
The way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Finally, Sofia looked up.
"There's a mistake in the financial projection."
Leo blinked.
"Where?"
She pointed to the page.
"Here."
Leo leaned closer.
Their shoulders almost touched.
Sofia felt her heart beat slightly faster.
Leo noticed it too.
But neither of them moved.
After a moment, Sofia cleared her throat.
"I'll correct it."
Leo nodded slowly.
"Good."
But neither of them pulled away immediately.
That evening, Lucy sat inside her boutique sketching new designs when Sofia walked in.
Lucy looked up instantly.
"Well?"
Sofia sighed and sat down.
"He's impossible."
Lucy grinned.
"What did he do now?"
"He asked for my opinion on a proposal."
Lucy blinked.
"That's normal."
Sofia shook her head.
"He sat very close."
Lucy leaned forward dramatically.
"How close?"
Sofia gestured with her hands.
"Like this."
Lucy slapped the table.
"I KNEW IT."
Sofia laughed.
"You're unbelievable."
Lucy rested her chin in her hands.
"You like him."
Sofia froze.
"I didn't say that."
Lucy smiled knowingly.
"But you didn't deny it."
Sofia looked away.
Because denying it suddenly felt harder than it should.
Meanwhile, in his apartment across the city, Leo Rivera sat alone in his living room.
The city lights glowed through the large windows behind him.
But his thoughts weren't on business.
They were on Sofia.
Leo leaned back on the couch.
He had built his entire life around discipline and control.
But lately…
Sofia Mirano had begun quietly slipping through those carefully built walls.
Her calm voice.
Her quiet confidence.
And the way she had looked in that blue dress.
Leo closed his eyes briefly.
The company party was still two weeks away.
But somehow…
He already knew it would change something.
Because the look he had given her in Lucy's boutique…
Wasn't something he could pretend hadn't happened.