THE FIRST SMILE SHE NEVER SAW COMING
By the third day, Emilia had learned how to breathe in the same building as Alexander Blackwood without panicking.
Mostly.
Maybe.
She still flinched whenever he said her name —
but at least she no longer expected him to fire her every hour.
At noon, she reviewed his schedule and realized he had back-to-back meetings for four straight hours… with no break.
Her eyes widened.
"No lunch?" she murmured under her breath.
Maya popped her head over the cubicle wall.
"Talking to yourself again?"
"He doesn't have a break today."
Maya scoffed. "He never takes breaks. He works like he's allergic to food."
Emilia frowned. "But that's not healthy."
Maya stared at her.
"You sound like someone's worried about him."
"Worried? No. Just—just stating a fact!"
Maya grinned knowingly.
"I've worked here four years. That man never gets concern from anyone except investors and accountants. Be careful. Caring is how it starts."
Emilia threw a paper clip at her.
But she was concerned.
It wasn't fair that he worked like that. Everyone needed to eat.
So, during one of his meetings, Emilia quietly walked to the break room and made a simple sandwich—cheese, tomato, lettuce. Nothing fancy. Just something he could eat fast.
She placed it carefully in a small disposable container and set it on his desk with a sticky note:
"You have a long day. Please eat something. —E."
Then she rushed out before he could return and find her there.
Ten Minutes Later
Alexander returned from his meeting, entered his office, and—
Stopped.
Emilia watched from her desk, pretending to type while her heart punched her ribs.
He stared at the sandwich.
Then the note.
Then the sandwich again.
For a moment, she thought he might throw it away.
But he didn't.
He picked it up.
Opened it.
Looked at the sandwich like it was some strange, rare artifact he didn't know how to react to.
Then…
he ate it.
Emilia's mouth fell open.
Maya nearly squealed across the room.
When Alexander finished, he picked up the sticky note again. His thumb brushed over the handwriting.
Then he looked toward Emilia through the glass wall.
Their eyes met.
Her breath stopped.
He didn't glare.
He didn't scowl.
He didn't look confused.
He looked… surprised.
Deeply. Quietly. Genuinely surprised.
And then—
It happened.
The impossible.
The unimaginable.
Alexander Blackwood… almost smiled.
Not a full smile.
Not even half.
But the corner of his mouth lifted just slightly.
Human. Soft. Real.
She blinked.
He blinked back.
Then he looked away quickly, clearing his expression as if the universe would end if anyone saw that moment.
Emilia's heart raced like she had just witnessed a secret.
---
Five Minutes Later
His office door opened.
Her stomach dropped again.
"Miss Grace," he said.
She stood. "Yes, sir?"
"Come in."
Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.
She followed him inside.
He held the empty sandwich container in his hand.
She prepared for the worst.
"Who told you to prepare lunch for me?"
Her heart sank.
"I—I'm sorry. I shouldn't have—"
"I didn't say it was a mistake."
She froze.
He continued quietly:
"No one has done that for me before."
Emilia blinked. "Ever?"
He glanced down at the container, expression unreadable.
"Not in this building."
Silence filled the room.
Then he held out the container.
"Thank you," he said.
Soft.
Genuine.
Almost gentle.
Emilia took it slowly. "You're… welcome, sir."
He nodded once and turned back to his desk.
She stepped out of the office, walking like her legs weren't fully connected to her body.
Maya practically leapt over her desk.
"Oh my God, WHAT happened?!"
Emilia whispered,
"He said thank you."
Maya's jaw dropped.
"HE. SAID. WHAT?!"
But Emilia barely heard her.
Because all she could think about was that almost-smile.
Small.
Hidden.
But real.
And the terrifying thought that came with it:
Her boss wasn't just noticing her.
He was changing.