Chapter 5 WHEN THE WALLS CAME DOWN

The day started out ordinary - sunlight spilling across the glass walls of Cole Industries, employees rushing through the lobby with coffee and deadlines.

Elena had been assigned to clean the upper floors again. She moved quietly, headphones tucked into her pocket, her mind on her to-do list.

Everything was peaceful - until the sound of breaking glass shattered the calm.

She turned sharply. One of the interns had bumped into a display stand, sending shards of glass across the marble floor. The young man panicked, stepping back as the shards scattered near his leg.

Elena rushed over instinctively. "Don't move," she said gently. "You'll get hurt."

She knelt down quickly, gathering the larger pieces with her bare hands before they could cut anyone else. The intern protested, but she just smiled. "It's fine. I've done worse."

She didn't realize Adrian had stepped out of his office nearby, drawn by the sound.

"Elena," his voice cut in, low and firm. "Stop."

She looked up, startled, her fingers bleeding slightly from a small cut.

"I'm fine," she said quickly, trying to hide her hand.

He frowned, walking closer. "You're bleeding."

"It's nothing-"

But before she could finish, he took her wrist gently, inspecting the cut. His touch was surprisingly careful, not commanding - just... human.

"You should be more careful," he murmured.

"You can't fix everything by yourself."

His voice wasn't cold this time. It was warm, almost protective.

She tried to pull her hand back, embarrassed.

"I didn't want anyone else to step on it."

He sighed softly. "You think of everyone except yourself."

Before she could respond, he turned to his assistant. "Get the first aid kit."

The intern looked at them awkwardly before hurrying away. Elena's heart raced - not because of the cut, but because of how close he was. She could see the faint stubble on his jaw, the weariness in his eyes that most people probably never noticed.

He wasn't just the powerful CEO right now. He was just a man - tired, kind, and unexpectedly gentle.

The assistant returned, and Adrian took the kit from her, dismissing everyone else with a look.

He cleaned the cut himself, his fingers steady.

"Does it hurt?"

"A little," she admitted.

"You should have someone look after you when you're hurt."

Elena gave a small, quiet laugh. "People like me don't have that luxury. We just... patch things up and keep going."

He looked up then - directly into her eyes - and something in his chest shifted.

For the first time, Adrian Cole didn't see "the cleaner." He saw the woman - brave, kind, selfless - and he wondered how many people had overlooked her worth.

He finished bandaging her hand carefully, then said, almost to himself,

"You deserve better, Elena."

She blinked. "Better?"

"Better than working yourself to exhaustion just to survive. Better than being invisible to everyone around you."

Her voice was soft when she replied, "Being invisible isn't always bad, Mr. Cole. Sometimes, it helps you see the truth about people."

He didn't know how to answer that - because she was right.

That evening, as Elena clocked out and left through the lobby, she saw Adrian standing near the elevator, watching her go. He didn't say a word - just a small nod.

And for the first time, she realized something she hadn't before.

He wasn't just a man born with power.

He was a man who'd forgotten what real warmth felt like - until now.