The next morning arrived quietly over the city.
Sunlight stretched across the tall glass windows of Rivera Group headquarters, filling the office floors with soft golden light. Employees began arriving one after another, greeting coworkers and settling into their usual routines.
But the atmosphere inside the company had not returned to normal.
If anything, the rumors had grown stronger overnight.
By the time Sofia Mirano stepped out of the elevator that morning, she could already feel it.
The whispers.
Two assistants near the front desk stopped talking when she passed.
Someone from accounting glanced up from their computer and quickly looked away.
Sofia inhaled slowly.
Lucy's voice echoed in her mind from the night before.
"If you two accidentally fall in love, call me immediately."
Sofia shook her head slightly.
Impossible.
She walked toward her desk with her usual calm composure and placed her bag down neatly.
Professional.
Focused.
Unbothered.
At least on the outside.
Inside Leo Rivera's office, the CEO had already been working for nearly an hour.
He stood by the window reviewing a report, but his mind was not entirely focused on business this morning.
Because the memory of last night kept returning.
The quiet office.
The conversation.
The moment he almost said something he couldn't take back.
Leo exhaled slowly.
He rarely allowed emotions to interfere with decisions.
Yet lately, Sofia Mirano had become a very difficult distraction.
A quiet knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Sofia?"
"Yes."
"Come in."
She stepped into the office holding a tablet and a small stack of folders.
"Your morning schedule."
Leo walked back to his desk as she placed the files down.
"You have a call with the Singapore branch in thirty minutes," she explained. "Then a meeting with the finance team at eleven."
Leo nodded.
"And lunch?"
Sofia glanced at the schedule.
"Currently open."
Leo looked up at her.
"Good."
Sofia blinked slightly.
"Good?"
"Yes."
He paused.
"We should have lunch."
Sofia hesitated.
"Work lunch?"
Leo almost smiled.
"Yes."
Sofia studied him for a moment.
"Alright."
She made a note on the tablet.
"I'll schedule it."
Leo leaned back slightly in his chair.
For a brief moment the tension between them returned.
Not uncomfortable.
But noticeable.
Sofia cleared her throat.
"I'll prepare the documents for your call."
As she turned to leave, Leo spoke again.
"Sofia."
She looked back.
"Yes?"
Leo hesitated for a second.
"About the rumors."
Sofia sighed softly.
"Yes?"
"I spoke with HR this morning."
Sofia frowned slightly.
"You didn't have to do that."
"They'll remind employees about professional conduct."
Sofia crossed her arms lightly.
"That might make the gossip worse."
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"You think so?"
"Yes."
She gave a small smile.
"People enjoy secrets more when they think someone is hiding something."
Leo leaned forward slightly.
"And are we hiding something?"
The question hung in the air.
Sofia's heartbeat quickened.
She hadn't expected him to ask that so directly.
For a moment she searched his expression.
Was he joking?
Testing her?
Or asking something more serious?
Finally she answered carefully.
"No."
Leo watched her quietly.
But the look in his eyes said something different.
Later that afternoon, the office buzzed with activity as several departments prepared reports for the upcoming quarterly review.
Sofia had just finished organizing a stack of documents when Lucy suddenly appeared beside her desk.
"Sofia."
Sofia jumped slightly.
"Lucy!"
Lucy grinned.
"Miss me?"
"You scared me."
Lucy leaned casually against the desk.
"I was nearby delivering designs for a client."
Sofia narrowed her eyes.
"You came to spy."
Lucy gasped dramatically.
"I prefer the word observe."
Sofia sighed.
"What do you want?"
Lucy glanced toward Leo's office.
"I want updates."
Sofia lowered her voice.
"There are no updates."
Lucy frowned.
"None?"
"No."
Lucy leaned closer.
"You two are the most obvious slow-burn romance I've ever seen."
Sofia covered her face briefly.
"Lucy…"
Lucy continued happily.
"The entire company is talking about you."
"I know."
Lucy smirked.
"So?"
"So what?"
"Do you like him?"
Sofia froze.
The question was simple.
Too simple.
Lucy watched her carefully.
"Well?"
Sofia avoided her gaze.
"He's my boss."
Lucy groaned.
"That's not what I asked."
Sofia remained quiet.
Lucy's eyes widened.
"Oh my God."
Sofia looked up quickly.
"Lower your voice!"
Lucy whispered loudly.
"You do!"
Sofia shook her head quickly.
"I didn't say that."
Lucy grinned.
"You didn't have to."
At that exact moment, Leo's office door opened.
Lucy immediately straightened.
"Well, hello."
Leo raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Miss Hemming."
Lucy smiled brightly.
"I was just visiting Sofia."
Leo nodded politely.
Sofia could feel Lucy's eyes bouncing between them like she was watching a live romantic drama.
Lucy finally sighed.
"Well, I should go before I become part of the rumor mill."
She winked at Sofia.
"Call me tonight."
Then she walked away with dramatic flair.
Sofia rubbed her forehead.
Leo stepped closer.
"She seems energetic."
"That's one word for it."
Leo almost smiled.
For a moment they stood beside the desk together.
Several employees across the office pretended not to watch them.
Leo noticed.
Sofia noticed.
The attention was impossible to ignore now.
Leo lowered his voice slightly.
"Lunch?"
Sofia blinked.
"Now?"
"Yes."
She hesitated.
"People will talk."
Leo shrugged calmly.
"They already are."
Sofia sighed softly.
"You make a strong argument."
Leo gestured toward the elevator.
"Come on."
Sofia grabbed her purse and followed him.
As they walked through the office floor together, the whispers started again almost instantly.
But something about Leo's calm confidence made the moment feel less intimidating.
And as they stepped into the elevator side by side, Sofia realized something surprising.
For the first time since the rumors began…
She didn't really mind the attention.
Because spending time with Leo Rivera was becoming harder and harder to resist.
And the space between them was slowly disappearing.
Whether they admitted it or not.