Valeria had just finished plating the garlic butter pasta, wiping her hands on her oversized T-shirt, when Adrian's calm, commanding voice cut through the quiet.
"Let me help," he said, sliding on a pair of kitchen gloves.
Her eyes widened. "S-Sir… you don't have to! I'll do it. Really."
He smirked, teasing, his gaze sharp. "Just because I'm a CEO doesn't mean I can't wash a few dishes, right?"
Her cheeks heated instantly. As he rolled up his sleeves, the fabric hugging his forearms, muscles flexing with each movement, she felt her heart flutter. She quickly looked away, tugging at her T-shirt self-consciously.
The kitchen smelled of garlic, butter, and her simmering soup comforting, yet oddly intimate.
As they worked, Adrian's eyes flicked to her hands, how she carefully rinsed the plates, placed them on the drying rack, the faint blush on her cheeks when he glanced at her. He was quietly amused and intrigued.
Then, as she reached for a plate to put it away in the shelf, something else caught his attention. A small jar sitting neatly beside her other kitchen items.
"What's this?" His voice cut through the soft clatter of water and plates.
Valeria froze. Her cheeks instantly burned crimson. She had meant to hide it, but it had ended up in plain sight.
"I… oh, that…" She fumbled slightly, fingers brushing the jar as if to shield it. Then she straightened, trying to balance embarrassment with pride. "It's… um… my lip tint. The one I mentioned in the grant presentation."
Adrian's gloved hands paused mid-wash, and he tilted his head, examining the jar carefully. "I see." He turned it in his hands, the light catching the rosy pigment inside. "Looks… solid. Practical. Appealing. And natural, just like you said?"
Valeria nodded, still blushing, but there was a spark in her eyes. "Yes… I tested it myself. I wanted to make sure it's safe, easy to use, and… affordable. I thought… maybe people like me could enjoy something nice without spending a fortune."
Adrian's expression softened slightly, though he remained calm and businesslike. "You've actually made it," he said quietly, a trace of intrigue in his voice. "Seeing it here… it's different from the presentation. More real. Tangible. People can see it, feel it, use it…"
Her heart fluttered. She had been proud when she presented her idea, but seeing him handle the actual product, even so subtly, made her feel seen in a way words couldn't capture.
"I… I wanted to show it works," she admitted softly, glancing away for a moment. "I'm still… experimenting, but… I think it could be something people would like."
Adrian set the jar down carefully and gave her a small nod. "It's good. Practical. The concept works. The execution… I'm impressed."
She blinked, her face still warm, heart racing. She hadn't expected him to actually notice her little creation the one she had nurtured quietly in her spare time.
He returned to the sink, water running over his strong hands as he washed the stubborn pans. "Your idea is good," he said, his tone calm but firm. "But how will you implement it without enough budget?"
Valeria hesitated. She didn't have the money. She opened her mouth, then closed it. Words failed her.
"I see," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Silent because you can't answer?"
"I…" Her voice trembled slightly. "I… I want to do it myself. It takes years to earn…"
He studied her carefully, then leaned slightly closer. "Then let me make it simple. I'll invest."
Her eyes went wide. "I… I can't… you've already helped me so much. The grant, the penthouse… I'll move out once I get it. I can't—"
"You can," he interrupted, firm but calm. "I'm not giving charity. This is business. I'll take a share ten percent. When your business grows, that's my return. You won't owe me anything beyond that. In fact, you'll be repaying yourself too, by building something real."
Her hands shook slightly as she rinsed a plate, trying to calm her racing heart. "But… you're doing so much for me already… staying here, the grant… I don't want to take more."
"You're not taking more," he said firmly, rinsing a stubborn pan. "Think of it as a partnership. When you succeed, I succeed. This isn't about charity, Valeria. It's about business. And your idea is… good."
Her cheeks flushed again as she stole a glance at his rolled-up sleeves, the water running over his strong hands, the muscles shifting subtly. She couldn't help but feel… drawn. Embarrassed, yes, but also excited.
"Sir…" she murmured, voice soft. "I… I'll try my best."
He gave a small nod, finally removing his gloves. "Good. That's all I need. Focus on the work. I'll handle the rest."
Valeria's jars of lip tint simple, budget-friendly, yet full of potential suddenly seemed like treasures, and her dream felt closer than ever.
Adrian watched her quietly, eyes dark, calculating, intrigued. She doesn't know yet… she's exactly the kind of person worth betting on.
And somewhere deep inside, he realized helping her, guiding her… it wasn't just business. Something about her presence, her warmth, her small blushes when she noticed him… had already started to claim a part of him he couldn't resist.