"Tomorrow's his birthday," Lucas whispered.
Hazel blinked. "Wait… what?"
"Adrian. He turns thirty-two."
Hazel's jaw dropped. "No one told me?!"
Lucas shrugged. "He never celebrates it. Ever."
⸻
That night, Hazel paced the hallway like a caffeinated squirrel.
"No cake. No candles. No awkward happy birthday singing?" she muttered. "How is this man alive?"
She marched into her room and opened her notebook.
Mission: Birthday Surprise for the CEO Who Hates Surprises
Sub-goal: Make him blink. Or better—smile.
She had 12 hours.
Game on.
⸻
The next morning, the mansion staff acted like it was a normal Tuesday.
No decorations.
No gifts.
Not even a "Happy Birthday" text.
Hazel, on the other hand, was up at 5:30 AM with a glitter pen, baking gloves, and a Pinterest mood board titled "Birthday Ideas for Emotionally Repressed Billionaires."
⸻
By 7 PM, Adrian walked into his study as usual.
Only something was… different.
The room was dimly lit.
And on his desk, instead of reports and contracts—
Was a small table, set for two.
Candles. Napkins folded into little foxes. A slice of chocolate cake. A ceramic mug that read "CEO: Cold, Elegant, Obsessed with Plants."
And Hazel.
Wearing an apron over her dress. Flour on her nose.
She waved awkwardly. "Surprise."
He froze.
She gestured to the plate. "I know you don't like big parties or noise or people existing in your general radius. So… it's just this. Cake. Coffee. Me."
She bit her lip.
"I know I'm not much. But I remembered. And I thought maybe… someone should."
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
She sighed. "Too much? I knew it. The fox napkins were overkill—"
He stepped forward.
Reached into his pocket.
Pulled out a tiny folded paper.
And handed it to her.
Hazel opened it.
It was a sketch.
Her.
Hair tied up, flour on her nose, holding a whisk like a sword. Scribbled in pencil. Labeled at the top: "Birthday Surprise: Perfect."
Her throat tightened.
"You drew this?"
He nodded.
She looked up at him, eyes shimmering. "Adrian… are you blushing?"
He looked away.
She grinned.
Then stood on tiptoe and whispered near his ear, "Happy birthday, Mr. CEO."
He didn't speak.
But when she placed the first bite of cake near his lips—
He ate it.
And smiled.
Just a little.
Just enough.
And in that quiet, candlelit room…
Hazel swore she saw something else, too.
Gratitude.
And maybe—just maybe—
Love.