Chapter 3 THE MOMENT HE SAW HER DIFFERENTLY

The next few days passed quietly.

Elena kept her head down, worked her shifts, and avoided looking toward the top floors. It was easier that way. The less she thought about him, the better.

But fate - again - had its own plans.

That Wednesday, she was assigned to help tidy up after a board meeting. She arrived early, careful not to touch anything important. The long table gleamed under the soft lights, and the faint scent of expensive perfume and coffee filled the room.

She was halfway through arranging the chairs when she heard raised voices outside.

The door wasn't fully closed, and through the small gap, she could see two of the senior staff arguing.

"I told you I needed two more assistants for the client project," one of them snapped.

"And I told you we're already over budget," another fired back.

Then a third voice entered - calm but firm.

Adrian.

The tone of the room changed immediately. "Gentlemen," he said, voice steady. "We handle conflicts here with respect."

As he spoke, the door opened slightly, and he noticed Elena frozen in the corner, her cleaning rag still in her hand.

"Sorry, sir," she said quickly, trying to leave.

"It's fine," he replied. "You can continue."

The other executives filed out after the discussion, but one of them - a tall man named Mr. Hayes - muttered something under his breath as he passed her.

"People like her shouldn't even be up here," he sneered.

Elena's face went pale, but she stayed quiet. She'd learned to.

Until another cleaner, a timid woman named Grace, dropped her tray behind her and whispered, "Sorry, Elena, I'll clean it up."

Hayes turned and scoffed. "Maybe next time, you two can learn to use a mop properly."

That's when Elena finally spoke.

"Sir," she said softly but firmly, "we're doing our jobs. We might not wear suits, but we still work hard for this company. Please don't speak to her like that."

Hayes blinked, stunned - no one had ever talked back to him, especially not a cleaner.

Adrian, who had been standing by the window the whole time, slowly turned.

"Elena," he said quietly.

She froze. "I'm sorry, sir, I didn't mean-"

He raised a hand slightly. "No. Don't apologize."

His eyes shifted to Hayes. "Mr. Hayes, I expect respect for everyone in this building.

Whether they clean the floors or sit in the boardroom, they're part of this company."

The room fell silent. Hayes mumbled something and left quickly.

Elena's heart pounded as she turned to leave, but Adrian's voice stopped her again.

"Stay for a moment."

She hesitated.

He walked closer, the sound of his shoes soft against the marble. When he spoke again, his tone had changed - quieter, almost thoughtful.

"You didn't have to say anything," he said. "But you did."

She looked up, meeting his gaze for the first time since that night in the rain. "I don't like seeing people treated badly," she said simply.

"We all have something we're fighting for."

Adrian nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "You surprise me, Elena."

She gave a small smile. "Most people don't notice cleaners long enough to be surprised."

He actually laughed - a low, warm sound she didn't expect. "You're right."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them wasn't awkward this time - it was soft, easy.

Then she glanced at the time and took a step back. "I should go before my supervisor thinks I'm slacking."

He nodded. "Right. Of course."

As she left, Adrian's eyes followed her - not in the way a man watches beauty, but the way someone watches a mystery they suddenly want to understand.

And that evening, when he looked down from his office window, he caught sight of her again - pushing her cart across the lobby, humming quietly to herself, unaware of how deeply she'd already begun to change him.