Ava stared up at the ceiling of her room at Twilight, her stomach making a low, persistent grumble. "Why didn't I eat earlier?" she muttered in frustration. Sleep was impossible like this.
After tossing and turning a few more minutes, she sighed, threw off the covers, and padded out of her room. The manor was silent, the moonlight painting long shadows through tall windows.
Navigating the unfamiliar halls was like navigating a dream. Finally, she found the kitchen—a pristine, cavernous space where the counters gleamed under silver streaks of moonlight. Not bothering with the lights, she tiptoed in, determined to grab whatever was easy.
"Anything will do," she murmured, opening the fridge and pulling out some green vegetables and eggs. She placed them on the counter and reached in for noodles.
Suddenly, she bumped into something solid, causing her to wince. "Ow—when did they install a pillar here?" she grumbled, turning.
Instead of a pillar, a tall shadow loomed over her.
Ava's breath caught. Panic spiked in her chest. Before she could utter a sound, a warm hand gently covered her mouth, and an arm circled behind her, steadying her against a firm chest.
"Do you want to wake everyone at this hour?" a low, smooth voice murmured against her ear.
Her heart raced, then slowed in recognition. Dominic Vale.
He removed his hand as she exhaled sharply. "You scared me half to death!" she whispered fiercely.
He tilted his head, amusement glinting in his obsidian eyes. "You're the one sneaking around in the dark."
"I wasn't sneaking! I—I was hungry," she huffed, averting her gaze. "And it's your fault. I couldn't eat earlier because someone insisted I serve them lunch."
His brow arched, a slow smile tugging at his lips. "My fault, is it?"
"Yes, your fault," she said, her arms crossing.
Then it happened. Dominic let out a low, genuine chuckle—a sound so rare and unexpectedly warm it sent a jolt through her chest. The amusement softened his usually hard, calculating features.
Ava's breath hitched. For a fleeting moment, she forgot her irritation, her pulse catching as she stared up at him. His smile wasn't just a rare sight—it was mesmerizing, like watching the sun break through storm clouds.
Her mind blanked, her cheeks warming. Stop staring, stop staring, she scolded herself, tearing her gaze away and stepping back hastily.
Dominic, noticing her reaction, let his smile linger a beat longer before offering, "Let me make you something as compensation."
Ava blinked. "You… cook?"
He smirked slightly, taking the ingredients from her hands. "Surprised?"
"More like… shocked," she admitted, watching him with disbelief. "The world's most powerful CEO knows how to cook, and I, a humble secretary, don't? That doesn't sound fair," she muttered, her last words said just under her breath.
But he heard them anyway. His chuckle deepened, sending another wave of warmth through the room. "Guess I'm full of surprises," he said, rolling up his sleeves.
Ava hesitated, her hunger winning the battle against her pride. She smirked slightly. "Alright, Mr. Vale. Let's see what you've got."
As Dominic moved confidently around the kitchen, slicing vegetables with practiced ease, Ava leaned back against the counter, watching. The sizzling of garlic and the rich aroma of broth filled the room.
Why does this feel so… intimate? she wondered.
When Dominic glanced at her, a rare softness in his gaze, Ava felt her breath catch again. She looked away quickly, scolding herself. Get a grip. It's just a midnight snack, not a date.
But she couldn't help noticing how the shadows danced around him, the moonlight glinting off his sharp jawline, the playful curve of his lips when he caught her staring.