The morning sunlight streamed softly through the half-drawn curtains of Andrew's penthouse. The world outside was alive with noise — traffic humming, the city yawning awake — but inside, everything was unusually still.
For once, Andrew Vele wasn't preparing for work. His suit hung untouched on the chair. The files he usually reviewed over breakfast sat closed.
He leaned against the balcony railing, a cup of untouched coffee cooling in his hand. Below, the city stretched endlessly — the same skyline that had always made him feel powerful, now only reminding him of how exhausted he was.
He'd barely slept. His father's harsh words still lingered, tangled with the memory of Selina's calm face and the way she'd said, "Parents rarely stop thinking that way."
For the first time in years, Andrew admitted to himself that he didn't feel like being the "perfect Vele" today.
He let out a long sigh and muttered, "Just one day off won't kill anyone."
....
Meanwhile, across the city, Selina Whyte was already on her way to work. She held her phone to her ear, a bright smile lighting her face.
"Elena! Tell me you didn't oversleep again."
Her best friend's laugh echoed through the line. "Not today, madam secretary! I'm actually on my way to my new job. Can you believe it?"
Selina chuckled. "At Gabrielle Designs, right?"
"Yes!" Elena said, her voice a mix of nerves and excitement. "It's still hard to believe I'll be working under the Gabrielle Rios. You've seen his interviews — the man's a perfectionist."
"Oh, trust me, I have," Selina teased. "You'll be fine. Just don't show up late on your first day."
"I won't," Elena promised, then lowered her voice. "How's your boss? Still brooding and handsome?"
Selina rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help the small smile. "He's… complicated. But let's talk about yours after today. Deal?"
"Deal. Wish me luck!"
"Good luck, Elena. You've got this."
......
At Gabrielle Designs, the lobby was sleek and modern, filled with models, stylists, and assistants bustling about. The air smelled faintly of expensive perfume and fresh coffee.
Elena adjusted her bag nervously as she waited for the elevator. Her heart raced — this was her first real job in a top fashion company, and she didn't want to make a single mistake.
The elevator doors slid open, revealing Gabrielle Rios himself — tall, confident, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, phone in one hand and an expression that screamed don't waste my time.
Elena froze. She hadn't expected to meet the boss like this.
Gabrielle looked up briefly, his sharp brown eyes landing on her. "You're blocking the door."
"Oh! I—I'm sorry!" she stammered, quickly stepping aside.
He brushed past her, the faint scent of cologne trailing after him. "If you're new, try not to stand in people's way. This isn't a museum."
Her cheeks flushed bright red. "Noted," she murmured under her breath as the doors closed.
The woman beside her whispered, amused, "Welcome to Gabrielle Designs. That was your first test."
.......
By midmorning, Elena sat at her small desk near the design floor, pretending to focus on orientation materials while silently replaying the encounter.
Seriously? He couldn't even say good morning? she thought, tapping her pen impatiently.
Minutes later, the same deep voice called out, "You. The new assistant."
She looked up to find Gabrielle standing by her desk, holding a file.
"Yes, sir?"
"Follow me."
She did — though her stomach churned with nerves. He led her into a glass-walled office filled with sketches, fabrics, and mood boards.
"I need these designs delivered to the production team before noon," he said briskly, handing her a folder. "Don't mix them up. Last intern nearly ruined a whole line."
"I won't," Elena replied quickly, clutching the file like it was sacred.
He studied her for a moment, then said, "You're Selina Whyte's friend, aren't you?"
That caught her off guard. "You know Selina?"
A faint smirk crossed his lips. "Everyone knows her. She's working with Andrew Vele. Word travels fast."
"Oh," she said awkwardly. "Well, yes. She's my best friend."
"Then I suggest you don't learn her work habits," he said dryly, turning away.
Elena's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"
"She's meticulous. Too polite. You'll never survive in fashion with that."
Her irritation flared. "And being rude helps?"
Gabrielle looked back, slightly amused by her courage. "Depends who you're rude to."
Then he left the room, leaving her fuming and oddly determined to prove him wrong.
........
Later that afternoon, Elena called Selina during her break, still frustrated.
"Selina, I met your designer friend. He's impossible!"
Selina laughed softly. "Let me guess Gabrielle gave you his famous cold welcome?"
"Oh, it was freezing. I swear he doesn't blink."
Selina smiled. "He's tough, but he respects people who stand their ground. Just do your best."
"I will," Elena said. "Still, I'm starting to see why you said you're always tired. These bosses of ours are something else."
Selina chuckled, glancing toward Andrew's empty office. "You have no idea."
......
Meanwhile, back at the penthouse, Andrew sat in his living room, laptop open but untouched. A half-finished breakfast sat beside him. He'd ignored a dozen calls from work.
When Scarlett called, he almost didn't answer.
"Skipping work now, big brother?" she teased the moment he picked up.
"Don't start," he muttered.
"I'm serious. You look exhausted. Maybe rest is what you need."
"I'm fine."
She sighed. "Liar. Father's lecture got to you, didn't it?"
Andrew stayed silent.
Scarlett's voice softened. "You don't have to keep proving yourself, Andrew. Not to him. And not to anyone else."
His chest tightened. "You sound like Selina," he said quietly.
"Maybe she's smarter than both of us," Scarlett replied before hanging up.
........
That night, Andrew finally opened his laptop and checked his emails. There was a message from Selina with the subject line: "Summary of pending meetings."
He read through it, noting her neat organization, her attention to detail. At the end of the email, she'd added a single line:
Take your time, sir. The company will still be standing when you return.
A small smile tugged at his lips. For the first time in a while, the heaviness in his chest lifted — just a little.