A few hours later…
Nadira walked into Evan's office without any preamble.
He was seated behind his desk, eyes focused on his computer screen. But the moment he saw her standing at the doorway with that serious expression, he raised an eyebrow.
"Did you come to say thank you?" he asked casually.
Nadira crossed her arms. "Don't play dumb. It was you, wasn't it?"
Evan leaned back in his chair, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. "Are you sure it was me? Maybe there's another kind soul out there who—"
"Van."
Her tone left no room for games.
Evan looked at her, then let out a quiet sigh. "I just… didn't like seeing you frustrated over something I could help with. That's all."
She stared at him. Evan always carried himself with confidence—relaxed, even a little annoying at times. But behind the lightness of his words now, there was sincerity that couldn't be ignored.
"Why, Van?" she finally asked.
"Why what?"
"Why do you care?"
He paused for a moment, then offered a small smile.
"Because I like seeing you fight for something you believe in. And I guess… I want to be a part of that."
Nadira didn't say anything.
She wasn't sure how to respond.
All she knew was that her chest felt just a little warmer now.
Damn it. Evan was really starting to break through her defenses.
That day, the rain came without warning. The sky, which had been clear just moments earlier, turned gray in an instant, and before Nadira could react, a heavy downpour had already begun soaking her nursery.
She rushed to secure the smaller pots that hadn't been properly arranged. The newly transferred seedlings in their polybags needed extra care. Normally, she would've asked one of her staff to help, but they'd all gone home early due to the holiday.
As she was struggling to carry a tray of seedlings into the greenhouse, someone appeared beside her and took hold of the other side.
"Need a hand?"
Nadira turned quickly.
It was Evan—his suit jacket gone, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, hair slightly wet from the rain.
"Van? What are you doing here?"
He gave a small smile. "Just happened to be passing by. Then I saw you running around like your place was on fire, so I thought I'd give you a hand."
She snorted. "Passing by? Your office is nowhere near here."
"Well… maybe I found an excuse to stop by."
Nadira nearly tossed her gloves at his face, but Evan was already busy hauling another pot inside.
They worked together in the rain, saving her young plants from the risk of flooding. Even though her clothes were damp and the chill of the air was creeping in, Nadira didn't feel irritated. Somehow, there was something warm in the shared effort.
When the last of the plants were safely inside the greenhouse, they stood at the entrance, watching the rain continue to fall.
"You're unbelievable," Nadira muttered with a small laugh. "Don't you have better things to do? You should be at work, not helping me move plants around."
Evan glanced at her and said lightly, "I am working. I'm monitoring the vendor for the office garden project."
"Yeah, right."
He only smiled. But there was something in his gaze—something soft, unlike his usual playful self.
And for some reason, her heart skipped a beat.
From the beginning, Evan had always known that many women approached him not for who he was, but for what he represented—the heir to a massive corporation. He was used to people trying to win him over with smooth talk and calculated charm.
But Nadira was different.
She didn't shower him with fake compliments or excessive attention. In fact, from the very first moment they met, Nadira didn't seem to care who he was. All she saw was someone careless enough to step on her plants.
And after months of working together, that impression hadn't changed.
To her, Evan was just another staff member working on a landscaping project—someone trying to do his job well. She didn't treat him differently. If he made a mistake, she called him out. If he forgot something, she reminded him bluntly.
And yet, beneath all that, Evan sensed something genuine in her. Nadira might not realize it, but her authenticity only drew him in further.
With her, he could simply be himself—not the future CEO, not the corporate prince, just Evan.
And that was what made him fall for her.
One evening, they were sitting on the rooftop of a café, gazing out at the city lights. The gentle breeze made the atmosphere calm. Nadira was absentmindedly stirring her drink while Evan kept his eyes on her.
"Nadira," he said.
She looked up, one brow slightly raised.
He took a deep breath and said seriously, "I like you."
Nadira didn't reply right away. She studied his face, looking for signs of sincerity. Instead of reacting with surprise, she smiled faintly and returned to stirring her drink.
"You're saying this because you're happy the garden project turned out well, aren't you?" she teased.
Evan smiled. "No. I've liked you long before that project. Since the day we met—when you yelled at me for stepping on your plants."
She chuckled, recalling the moment. "So you like me because I was mean?"
He shook his head gently. "I like you because you're passionate about what you do. Because you know exactly what you want. And because you never saw me as just 'the company heir.'"
She fell quiet again. This time, longer.
She knew he was being serious—but she also knew she wasn't ready to jump into something just yet.
"Evan," she finally said, "I like you too… but I don't want us to rush things."
He nodded, unsurprised, his expression calm. "I understand. I'm not going to push you. I just wanted you to know how I feel."
Nadira gave a small smile. "Let's see if you still feel the same when you're stressed or having a bad day."
Evan let out a soft laugh. "As long as you're still as fiery as the day we met, I think I'll be fine."
She chuckled, then lifted her glass. "Well then, let's see how it goes."
They clinked glasses—no hasty promises, just a quiet beginning of something deeper.
They continued talking that night, the conversation flowing easily. After the confessions and emotional honesty, their chat shifted into something more playful, filled with laughter and curiosity.
"So you really don't have a favorite plant?" Evan asked as he sipped his coffee.
Nadira shook her head. "Nope. I like them all. Whether expensive or wild, as long as they're thriving, I love them."
Evan nodded thoughtfully and leaned back in his chair. "So… when should I give you a plant as a gift?" he asked, half-joking.
She narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "A gift? What's that supposed to mean?"