By the end of April, the weather had already started to feel stifling. After solving just two problems, Avery Bennett could feel beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She took off her blazer, folded it neatly, and changed into a T-shirt and shorts, instantly feeling cooler.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed with another text notification. Avery frowned, finished the multiple-choice question she was working on, and then reached for her phone.
It was Ivy Black again: “Did you see my text? Why aren’t you replying?”
Avery couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head. She quickly typed back, “Saw it. Nothing to say. I’m busy studying. Turning my phone off now…”
As soon as she sent it, a furious emoji popped up in response. Avery made up her mind to shut off her phone. If she let Ivy keep distracting her, she’d never finish her tasks for the day. She had already missed prime study time because of her date with Eli Morgan, and she couldn’t afford to waste any more time.
The next morning, Avery woke up late and rushed to the office. By the time she arrived, the elevators were packed. Frustrated, she stomped her foot and noticed a private elevator nearby that was empty. Without thinking, she pressed the button.
The elevator arrived quickly, and to her relief, it was completely empty. Avery stepped in, feeling a wave of relief—her perfect attendance bonus for the month was still within reach.
“Wait!” A voice called out urgently. Avery figured it was another colleague in a hurry and kindly pressed the “open” button.
He was tall—taller than Avery by a head and then some. It seemed like the top of his head could almost touch the ceiling of the elevator.
And then there was his face—it was unforgettable.
His features were sharp, as if carved by a sculptor. For a moment, Avery was captivated by his eyes, a light shade of blue that was both classically elegant and understated.
Fortunately, she wasn’t as boy-crazy as Ivy, so she quickly pulled herself together, tearing her gaze away from those eyes that seemed to drown her.
His eyebrows were thick, arching sharply toward his temples, yet they were clean and well-groomed. His nose was straight, and his lips, though slightly thin, were a vivid red.
A faint hint of disdain flickered across his face, but it was gone as quickly as a breeze. By the time Avery noticed it, it had already vanished, leaving behind only an air of natural ease and grace.
Sensing his aloofness, Avery decided not to strike up a conversation. Sometimes, enthusiasm met with cold indifference wasn’t exactly pleasant.
She lowered her gaze, focusing on the floor indicator, treating the handsome stranger beside her as if he were invisible.
Her floor arrived first, and Avery stepped out without looking back, hurrying to her office to clock in. She thought she heard a faint “hmm” from behind her but didn’t pay it any mind.
Once settled at her desk, she realized she had lost her employee badge—it must have fallen in the elevator. She felt a pang of annoyance but quickly reminded herself it wasn’t a big deal. Getting a replacement from HR would only take a few minutes. With that, she focused on her work.
It was the end of the month, and the finance department was in chaos. While passing files around, someone casually mentioned the grand reception for the CEO the day before.
“Avery, you weren’t there yesterday?”
Avery hummed in response, joking, “I’m more practical. I didn’t waste time yesterday, so I could leave on time.”
“True, but you missed out. He’s one in a million. It’s a shame you didn’t see him.”
Avery chuckled. “It’s not a big deal. Eye candy doesn’t pay the bills.” Suddenly, she thought of the man from the elevator and shook her head, laughing at herself. Where had her mind wandered off to?