A POOR GIRL SHOWED UP COVERED IN MUD AT THE JOB INTERVIEW, AND THE MILLIONAIRE CEO CHOSE HER OUT OF

a poor girl showed up covered in mud on the day of her interview but the millionaire CEO chose her out of 100 and fell head over heels in love before we begin the story leave a comment and let us know what city are you watching from enjoy the story everyone leia was running down the sidewalk holding a completely bent umbrella she was late really late and this wasn't just any interview it was her only chance to land a decent job after months of scraping by with freelance gigs favors and microwave popcorn the pedestrian light turned

red she crossed anyway she was just two blocks away from the shiny Foster Group skyscraper when she heard the sound of tires speeding toward her she tried to dodge it but it was too late a wave of mud flew out of a puddle like an urban tsunami and hit her head on her umbrella flipped inside out her light-coled pants turned brown her white blouse became beige and blotchy she stood there for 3 seconds frozen like some kind of protest statue "okay stay calm maybe he didn't see me maybe he's blind in one eye and distracted

with the other." She mumbled trying to hold on to her dignity but then the car window rolled down he looked at her and then the window went back up "no no no," she shouted raising her arms to the sky "you saw me you fancy penguin executive model limited edition coldness you vacuum of elegance she stood there fuming feeling like she'd been ignored with first class style the car disappeared into traffic levia took a deep breath two choices go home cry and eat chocolate she didn't have or keep going she chose the second she walked up

the steps of the foster group with the dignity of someone who had just come out of battle and lost in the lobby dozens of well-dressed perfumed and madeup women waited with resumes printed on glossy paper leia looked like a lost intern from the cleaning crew the receptionist looked at her like she was watching a live meme interview for the CEO's assistant position "name: Leia Park," she said firmly "oh right you can wait over there." She sat down carefully trying not to get mud on the chair next to her a woman in a pink blazer subtly

scooted away as if worried about catching a style infection then the elevator doors opened and he walked in henry Foster cold untouchable impeccable every step looked like it had been rehearsed for a fancy cologne commercial he scanned the room like he was choosing a piece of art until his eyes landed on her "leia," she swallowed hard "it's him the tsunami in a suit you fancy penguin?" she muttered under her breath angrily he paused for a second looked at her no blink no reaction and then without a word kept walking like she was just part of

the lobby's exotic decor "of course he's not going to apologize probably thinks mud is a beauty treatment," she mumbled to herself the interviews began one by one the women were called in leia went over every possible answer in her mind trying to ignore the fact that she smelled like mud livia Park," the receptionist called looking at her with barely hidden pity she stood up adjusted her bent umbrella in her bag and walked into the glassroom henry was behind a dark wooden desk typing something on his laptop when he looked up and saw her the corners

of his mouth twitched somewhere between holding back a laugh and pure sarcasm "mr foster," she said trying to stay composed "sorry about how I look there was a little urban surprise." Yes that happens especially to people who don't check the weather or watch out for city hazards she blinked was he teasing her and to drivers who think crosswalks are just polite suggestions she replied smiling slightly he crossed his arms still watching her i like honest candidates and bold ones or are you just trying to make up for the mud with personality nope this is natural

the mud just highlights it henry gave a brief almost invisible smile but his eyes were sharp curious all right Miss Park why do you think you're fit to be my personal assistant because I'm tough quick to react and I don't give up easily three qualities I clearly demonstrated today modest too modest too too much humility doesn't go well with dirty clothes one thing at a time he looked down at her resume then back at her it's dirty i was trying to match the overall theme and then he laughed a short laugh a real one well

Miss Park this interview is definitely different good i tend to make lasting impressions henry stared at her for another second and even though he didn't say anything he clearly remembered the car the puddle and the girl covered in mud who looked at him like she could shoot lasers from her eyes but he didn't apologize didn't admit anything he just made a note on the paper in front of him you may go Miss Park we'll be in touch she stood up if you're planning to splash someone again please pick a different day this one's already been

enough she walked out of the room with her chin held high and across the desk Henry couldn't wipe the smile off his face livia left Henry's office without really knowing what had just happened she'd been sarcastic bold and probably way too honest for a job interview especially with the CEO himself but deep down she felt a little spark of pride growing in her chest at the reception desk the other candidates were still waiting some watching her closely others pretending not to notice her return "he sent you away pretty fast huh?" whispered the one in the

pink blazer smiling smugly of course dirty people don't go well with imported carpet do they leia replied with a sweet but sharp smile the woman frowned slightly and turned her head sitting down again Leia tried to dry her blouse with a tissue everything about her screamed unprepared the wet clothes messy hair stained resumeé and yet she felt like something had shifted inside her maybe it was just adrenaline or maybe it was the look Henry gave her before she walked out upstairs Henry was slowly spinning a pen between his fingers in front of him were all

the resumes all clean laminated neatly stacked and right in the middle of them a damp wrinkled one with a torn corner leia Park "well that was different," he murmured leaning back in his chair the head of HR Clare walked into the room in her sharpshouldered blue blazer clipboard in hand as always do you need me to narrow down the final resumes she asked all business not yet i want to review a few of them myself she raised an eyebrow surprised all hundred by yourself just the ones that stood out okay she hesitated and the last

one the muddy girl henry slowly flipped through his notepad which one the one who looked like she just came back from military training in a swamp he gave a half smile oh that one are you actually considering her i usually hire based on two things: ability and courage she seems to have both in abundance clare paused dramatically but realized she wouldn't get any more answers she simply nodded and left hours later the final group of candidates walked out of the building leia was among them no one knew the outcome but one thing was clear all

of them except one had left quietly standing tall perfume untouched livia walked out laughing to herself holding her bent umbrella like it was a trophy the next morning she was woken up by her phone buzzing still half asleep she picked it up and answered in a raspy voice "Hello Miss Park this is Foster Group we're calling to inform you that you've been selected for the position of CEO's personal assistant congratulations." Silence Miss Park oh yes of course I I was chosen yes we'll need you here tomorrow at 8:00 a.m please bring your documents and I

was chosen she repeated now shouting yes miss is everything all right everything's wonderful i'm great i mean sort of but thank you see you tomorrow bye she hung up and just stared at the screen speechless this has to be a prank back at Henry's office Clare couldn't hide her curiosity you actually hired her yes why because none of the other hundred candidates made me laugh not once clare narrowed her eyes henry this is a company not a comedy club exactly and someone who can get through public embarrassment and still keep together has more potential than

someone with a perfectly typed resume or maybe you just like a challenge maybe he smiled or maybe I'm just bored the next morning Leia was standing outside the foster group building before 7:30 she wore her best outfit still just a simple blouse and a business skirt with a small rip pinned in place her hair was tied up in a bun that looked ready to fall apart at any moment "good morning," she said to the front desk guard with a big smile he gave her a puzzled look but let her in she rode the elevator up

staring at her reflection in the mirror "all right Leia time to prove you earned this no falling no tripping no soaking anyone." The doors opened and she was shown to the CEO's floor a stern-looking woman named Melissa pointed to a makeshift desk near the main office this will be your spot for now and don't touch anything not even the coffee understood but what if the coffee spills on me melissa didn't laugh she just turned her back livia looked around everyone seemed like they walked out of a corporate fashion magazine she felt like the only extra

who read the wrong script minutes later Henry's office door opened he stepped out with confident strides and a direct gaze he stopped in front of the new employee "miss Park Mr foster you're early just trying not to repeat yesterday's grand entrance you're off to a good start you're clean." She gave a rice smile "for now." Henry turned but just before stepping into his office he said without looking back "keep up the pace." She blinked surprised sorry he had already closed the door in the break room two employees spoke quietly did you see she got hired

the mud girl really they say she told Henry a few hard truths and he laughed he laughed exactly wow you think she's related to him or a secret girlfriend i doubt it that one she looks like trouble and Henry doesn't do well with trouble right i bet she won't last a week back at her desk Livia opened her new notebook and scribbled on the first page day one still not fired i'll take it she had no idea the real test was still ahead livia's official first day as the CEO's personal assistant began with one goal

not mess anything up at least not before lunch her resolve lasted exactly 11 minutes it all started with the coffee the tray was steady she was focused the carpet was slippery and the heel she borrowed from her cousin caught on the hem of her pants the sound of the cup crashing echoed down the hallway like a clumsy orchestra everyone stopped including Henry who was in a meeting with two Japanese executives he slowly turned his head toward the scene and there she was frozen coffee everywhere wishing she could dig a tunnel to Japan and disappear "good

morning," she said raising a thumbs up henry said nothing he simply closed the glass door to the meeting room with surgical calm his look however promised revenge through spreadsheets off to a great start Park murmured Melissa the senior assistant walking by with her colorful clipboard and automatic disdain livia rushed to clean the floor tripped slightly on the rag and even managed to bang her elbow on the corner of the printer it was official chaos had begun two hours later sitting at her desk with an ice pack on her elbow and a pile of confusing instructions

Livia tried to understand what organized the reports in the blue folder according to the Henry's system meant "what system is that?" she muttered "his system." "Chaic and secret," answered a voice beside her "it was Diego the IT analyst and apparently the only friendly person on that floor." "Seriously no one knows how it works we just hand it in he reorganizes everything and still says it was wrong so it's like a riddle exactly a riddle with an ego livia laughed for the first time that day thanks i needed that you're welcome and watch out for the

printer it holds grudges midafter afternoon while Henry was still in meetings an important client showed up to personally deliver a rush proposal the problem his name was Brian and he looked exactly like the sushi delivery guy from that morning wow that was fast let me just check if I have the right change said Livia already digging in her bag brian's eyes widened excuse me oh you're not from the Yakisoba i'm the sales director at Altus Corporation silence ah right of course i was just testing your improv skills and you passed congrats Brian let out a

hesitant chuckle henry showed up at that exact moment is there a problem he asked nope none at all just a little live HR test Livia replied putting her wallet back in her purse henry looked from Brian to her inside come in Brian please before stepping in Brian whispered to her "Love the sense of humor we need more of that around here." Livia blinked livia blinked i'm here to serve joy as the end of the workday approached the tension seemed to ease until Melissa appeared quietly panicked "tomorrow's event," she exclaimed the presentation for the shareholders was

updated but no one told the print shop they're going to print the wrong version "can we fix it?" Henry asked turning to Livia "the correct file is in the system but no one understands the layout you made not even the print shop," Melissa replied already blaming the PowerPoint gods livia stood up "i can try." Everyone looked at her henry frowned "you know about layouts?" "No but I know confusion and I'm fluent in last minute fixes." She grabbed the flash drive opened the file looked at the chaos of scattered information and messy images and got to

work "this calls for some improvisation," she muttered she reorganized the slides with visual logic made the titles clearer standardized the icons and created a final summary with intuitive colors "all set you can send it." Melissa was stunned "this is great it's functional better than great." Henry looked at the new layout on the projector silence then he said "This will save us from an embarrassment tomorrow." "Good job Park." She smiled "see not all mud is useless." He raised an eyebrow with a half smile "we're still testing that theory." Later as she was leaving the building Leia

ran into Diego in the elevator "survived your first day?" "Barely I tripped spilled coffee offended an executive and fixed a million dollar presentation that's more than most people do in their first week i hope that earns me some points or at least makes for good stories when I get fired if I know Henry he'll keep you around out of pure curiosity he loves a mystery." Leia laughed but she was thoughtful henry hadn't yelled hadn't humiliated her and he even acknowledged her effort in the end actually he seemed more amused than upset back in the office

Henry was reviewing the slides again the layout made sense it showed boldness clarity and quick thinking livia's resume didn't mention anything about design or presentations she just understood what needed to be done and did it he leaned back in his chair and murmured "Who are you Miss Park?" The next morning while having coffee in the cafeteria with Diego Livia overheard someone from accounting whispering "That's her the new assistant the CEO's chosen one i bet there's something fishy going on nobody gets that job after stepping into a puddle maybe he's into extreme adventures leia bit into

her bread and said "Funny if they knew I was mistaken for a sushi delivery girl they might think I'm a ninja too." Diego nearly choked laughing "you should write all this down could be a book." She smiled but deep down she felt something strange like she was being watched studied at the end of the hallway Henry was watching her from a distance holding a cup he wasn't smiling but he also didn't look away it was like he was trying to solve a puzzle that for some reason kept getting more interesting wednesday began with a stack

of papers and a challenge henry Foster wanted the performance stats from the last three quarters compiled summarized and compared with past reports all of it by 11:00 a.m leia looked at the reports like someone facing an evolving paper monster her first plan was to fake a faint but instead she chose something bolder understanding amid graphs that look like modern art and spreadsheets written in alien code she dove into the task with all the courage that two coffees and zero accounting experience could offer diego she whispered when she saw the IT analyst walk by do you

happen to have a spreadsheet translator for people who don't speak finance only if you pay in chocolate he replied tossing a bar onto her desk deal give me half an hour and I'll pay you with a bad joke and eternal gratitude best payment I've gotten today livia laughed and went back to the battlefield at 10:50 she knocked on Henry's office door blue folder in hand and slightly out of breath here it is i managed to put everything into one report i used color graphs and added a legend for you or for any regular person who

reads it henry flipped through the material raising an eyebrow as he went you did this by yourself with help from the IT oracle and a chocolate bar but yes he looked at her a second longer than necessary then it's not perfect but it's better than the version I got from finance last week wow was that a compliment that was an observation coming from you it almost sounds like a serenade henry ignored the comment and returned to the report leia turned to leave but he stopped her i need you to bring this with me to the

board meeting we'll go down together she blinked surprised i sure yes I'll go with you just give me a second to stop my hands from shaking please don't knock anyone over on the way no promises they got into the building's glass elevator that went straight to the executive floor the silence at first was comfortable until halfway down the elevator stopped and it wasn't the right floor livia looked around is this part of the executive experience a dramatic pause between floors henry pressed the button nothing stuck elevator he muttered great leia took a step back looking

around with slightly wide eyes just tell me we're not going to be stuck here for hours that depends on the maintenance team so yes she started breathing a little faster "are you okay?" Henry asked watching her "mild claustrophobia like light but with the potential to get worse fast." "Do you have any technique to deal with it?" "Usually I sing." "Please don't." She let out a nervous laugh "all right talking works too as long as the conversation keeps me from thinking about the fact that I'm trapped in a box with a grumpy and possibly insensitive CEO

possibly i'm trying to be polite and stay alive henry leaned back against the glass wall arms crossed then talk what's Miss Park's story beyond her ability to fall gracefully and improvise under pressure she hesitated then took a deep breath well I was born in Camp Oolimpo on the outskirts of the city my mom was a seamstress my dad I don't know he disappeared when I was little i grew up around needles fabric and creativity i always loved making things but money was always tight henry listened quietly focused i've done all kinds of work i was

a nanny worked behind counters waited tables sold handmade bracelets in college i didn't have much luxury but I always had the will to try even when everything went wrong and it did like the interview he let out a small laugh the interview was a memorably bad one and yet I'm here a mystery right a puzzle and you when was the last time you got stuck in an elevator with someone full of sarcasm and childhood trauma henry gave a slight smile first time so were you born a CEO or was that the result of some deal

with the universe my father founded the company i was trained from an early age to take over studied in London then New York worked in five branches before becoming CEO and do you like it like what being in charge of everything being on top giving orders he thought for a moment i like the precision the logic the rules oh then I must be a real problem for you a question mark in the middle of a spreadsheet she laughed out loud relaxing a little i like that one can I use it only if you give me

credit the elevator was still stuck leia slid her back down the wall until she was sitting on the floor did you know I once got locked inside a bus for 2 hours the driver forgot I was asleep in the back seat that's too tragic to be funny i thought so too until I had to jump out the window when the alarm went off and guess what the siren followed me all the way home and you still volunteer to get in elevators with me i enjoy excitement and I might be a little dumb apparently henry sat

down on the floor too across from her you're unlike anyone I've ever worked with is that a compliment or a warning haven't decided yet she looked at him for a moment his eyes didn't have their usual coldness there was curiosity interest something was there hanging between them henry H why did you hire me he took his time because you didn't try to look perfect and because even after being humiliated in public you didn't back down livia smiled but looked away i thought it was because I'm loud and budget friendly that too the elevator radio crackled

the guard's voice came through mr foster Miss Park maintenance is here 5 more minutes thank you Henry replied standing up livia stayed seated for another second you know if I tell my mom about this she's going to say I'm making up a soap opera again then tell her it's a documentary more realistic she laughed and held out her hand he pulled her up firmly for a brief moment they stood closer than necessary their eyes met no smile no joke but something happened there something quiet the elevator door opened with a ding henry let go of

her hand his cold demeanor returned let's go we're late leia nodded her breathing now steadier they stepped out of the elevator and walked side by side no touching no talking but there was a new silence a silence full of unspoken words let's play a little game for those who only read the comments type pizza in the comments only those who got this far will understand now let's get back to the story and for the first time it didn't feel so bad on Friday afternoon the day dragged on between spreadsheets and meetings when Henry suddenly appeared

beside Livia's desk he rarely walked through the departments but there he was as quietly impressive as ever "miss Park," he said just as she accidentally knocked the cap of her pen onto the floor oh yes she replied bending down to pick it up with as much dignity as one can have while bumping their forehead on the desk i have a business dinner tomorrow night i need someone from the team to come along and handle some materials during the reception livia blinked a business dinner exactly it's a presentation for shareholders i need someone efficient to take

care of the behind-the-scenes details preferably someone who won't spill the wine she raised an eyebrow so you're inviting me to dinner henry crossed his arms yes technically but don't get too excited dress appropriately we'll arrive at 7:00 livia looked at him for two seconds her brain heard dinner and dress and translated it all as he asked me out of course I I accept totally absolutely 100% yes excellent dress professionally he emphasized already turning away she nodded a bit too eagerly trying to hide her excitement as soon as he disappeared down the hall Livia grabbed Diego

by the arm and pulled him into the breakroom henry invited me to dinner what a dinner business dinner but he invited me like he chose me livia are you sure you understood him right clearly look at the sentence i need someone efficient who won't spill wine that's basically I want to share a glass with you without spilling feelings or just without spilling wine don't ruin this saturday afternoon Livia was at a formal dress rental shop with two friends and three fashion mistakes in dress form the blue one's too formal you look like you're marrying a

banker Clara said the red one's too much Anna added like Christmas in Las Vegas and the black one too are you trying to impress the man or curse him okay what about this one they turned at the same time "perfect," they shouted in unison it was a deep burgundy dress form-fitting with a side slit and an open back "elegant with a hint of boldness just the kind of dress someone might wear to a dinner with hidden intentions." Livia looked at herself in the mirror for the first time in a long time she felt powerful at

6:50 p.m she stood in front of the private room at the Grand Tower Hotel subtle makeup hair pinned up in a deliberately messy bun high heels and slightly trembling legs as soon as she walked in two things became clear everyone was in suits or tailored business wear no one absolutely no one was wearing anything with a leg slit breathe Livia pretend it was all intentional henry was speaking with a group of investors when he saw her his eyes paused a half second longer than usual "miss Park," he said walking over you look different is that

good or bad i'm still deciding she smiled nervous i thought a bit of color might be appropriate you look like you're here for a film industry event this is a business dinner oops i thought it was a dinner with charm interesting misunderstanding before she could say anything else a waiter approached with a tray of drinks champagne he offered please she said taking a glass i need to hydrate my embarrassment despite the rocky start Livia began moving around the room naturally and as always her spontaneous charm worked better than any rehearsed etiquette soon she was laughing

with two investors from Spain explaining that a correct spreadsheet with the wrong graph is like pizza with pineapple some pretend to like it but deep down they know something's wrong from a distance Henry watched with a furrowed brow she had no idea the impression she was making some of the guests seemed more interested in her than in the quarterly numbers and strangely that didn't bother him he was just alert very alert "so Mr foster," said Mr valencia with a smile "Your new assistant has quite the wit she's one of a kind," he replied glass in

hand "a refreshing touch in such a serious company." Henry nodded but his mind was fixed on the sight of Livia from behind talking animatedly the slit in her dress seemed to move with a personality of its own as if joining the conversation i need to keep this under control he thought she works with me she's my assistant but something about her carefree attitude her light laugh the sparkle in her eyes disarmed him in a way no spreadsheet ever had livia meanwhile was starting to realize that maybe just maybe she had misunderstood the invitation so you

manage all the behind-the-scenes work for the event asked an elegantly madeup woman oh no i'm just here to help Mr foster with a few administrative tasks i see and does he usually bring assistants like you to important events she swallowed hard like me how the woman smiled and Livia understood everything the truth hit like a rock in her stomach "oh dear this isn't a date," she muttered taking another sip from her glass later as they were packing up the presentation materials and the guests were starting to leave Henry walked over with a slight smile you

managed not to spill your wine that's a plus but I spilled some wrong impressions does that cancel it out in my company if no one gets hurt it's a success she laughed feeling relieved okay I'll admit it i thought it was a personal invitation what if it was she froze what what if it was would you have said yes she looked at him for a moment without replying right away then she smiled without answering if you want to know next time invite me in a clearer way where I'm from let's have dinner usually means there'll

be music dessert and maybe even some drama henry laughed for the first time that evening a real laugh easy and genuine leia watched him surprised you should do that more often laugh be more human it suits you much more than that suit and icy stare he looked at her for a second as if saying something without words "thank you for today Miss Park you're welcome boss." He turned to leave she stood still looking at her empty glass deep down she knew something had shifted and it wasn't just the dress slit getting attention by Monday back

at the office Diego leaned in and whispered "So the dinner?" It was a work event formal no romantic music no vibe nothing and and I survived dignity slightly bruised pet but still alive and him did he say anything leia looked toward Henry's office whose door had just closed he's different what do you mean he smiled and gave me a compliment without sarcasm i almost called the hospital that's serious very serious she smiled but something inside her was stirring as if the game between them had changed as if now both of them knew the line between

personal and professional was starting to blur and honestly she didn't know if she wanted to erase that line or cross it at full speed on Tuesday morning the office coffee seemed more bitter or maybe it was the mood on the executive floor of Foster Group that had changed since the Saturday dinner people had been looking at Leia a bit longer more carefully with a bit of suspicion she noticed it when she walked into the breakroom and saw two women from accounting stop talking as soon as she entered they tried to cover with a fake smile

one of those smiles you give when you've just been caught gossiping "good morning," Leia said cheerfully "good morning," they answered together but with a tone that sounded more like "Why are you still here?" Leia pretended not to notice she grabbed her coffee and walked back to her desk but as soon as she opened her email she realized the tense atmosphere wasn't just in her head "miss Park please review the report you sent yesterday mr foster said the presentation was too informal." Signed Melissa she rolled her eyes "too informal i just used a title a subtitle

and a color that doesn't hurt your eyes." Diego walking by noticed her expression and stopped "what's up has the Let's Bring You Down" started already looks like it starting with the classic "You're not good enough watch out for Melissa she's got connections and sharp claws and perfume that smells like resentment." Diego laughed "yep keep cracking jokes that's how you survive around here." Inside the CEO's office Henry was reading reports when Melissa walked in with her colorful tablet "about Miss Park," she began in her usual sweet but poisoned tone "what about her?" he asked without looking

up she's getting too much attention especially from the shareholders she did her part at the dinner kept everyone entertained that's a plus of course but some people are talking the way she dresses how she talks how she interacts with you henry put down his pen now he looked straight at Melissa are you telling me that an efficient friendly and spontaneous assistant is bad for the company's image i'm saying it might be a little too soon for so much freedom and visibility i'm not asking for your opinion on who I hire Melissa she's doing a good

job melissa hit her irritation behind a tight smile of course I'm just looking out for your image henry turned back to his papers ending the conversation but Melissa already had a message ready on her phone and the perfect ally for what was coming next that same day Leia was called by one of the executives from the partnerships department Douglas Faras tall guy fake tan always in a suit three sizes too small miss Park he said beckoning her with one finger as if calling over a waitress i need a favor urgent of course how can I

help i have a meeting with South Korean investors i need you to translate a few slides and prepare the room but don't tell anyone it's confidential leia found the secrecy strange but nodded all right send me the files she spent the afternoon organizing everything adapting the material until Diego quietly walked into the room what are you doing with the Horizon project files what do you mean this material is confidential and for directors only you're not supposed to be touching it livia's eyes widened douglas asked me to diego paused for a second livia this might be

a setup she felt her stomach drop oh my god was I stupid no you were naive and around here that's pretty much the same thing that night Henry called Livia into his office come in close the door she did his tone was sharp he stood by the window facing away explain why you accessed confidential board documents without authorization i was told to help with Douglas's presentation he said it was urgent and confidential and you didn't find it odd that this came from someone who's not even in your department i thought it was strange but I

wanted to prove I was capable that I could do more henry took a deep breath this could have jeopardized a contract a confidentiality clause was breached they could use this against us i didn't know exactly because you didn't know you should have consulted me she stayed silent then lifted her chin so now I'm a problem no you're impulsive and in a delicate position you need to understand that not everyone plays fair here then tell me who wants to bring me down almost everyone except me she blinked is that supposed to be a compliment it's a

warning she crossed her arms annoyed if you regret hiring me just say so i'll leave right now and you can replace me with another corporate Barbie no one told you to be different and since when is being different a threat to the company since people started getting scared of being replaced by someone without the right pedigree but with real talent they stared at each other there was tension frustration but also respect so what do I do now she asked calmer henry stepped closer to the desk prove you belong here but be strategic less impulsive that's

going to be hard i'm all impulse i noticed she grabbed the folder with the reports if I get fired I at least want the right to say goodbye with a song as long as it's not evidenc that was my first choice he smiled unintentionally and she saw it good night Mr foster good night Miss Park she left closing the door gently behind her henry stood for a moment then sat down and muttered "This girl is going to be the death of me or save this place." Leia still with her heart racing went down to the

lobby she needed air across the street Melissa watched from a restaurant window wine glass in hand douglas sat beside her smiling "she won't last long," he said "i hope not but if she does we might need a bigger fall you're cruel i'm practical they clinkedked glasses like signing a contract without paper the next day Leia arrived early earlier than anyone else she put on her headphones tied her hair back and locked herself in an empty meeting room she spent two hours preparing a strategic report with operational improvements she had noticed in recent weeks she pointed

out flaws in workflow and suggested simple solutions that could save thousands by late morning she printed everything and placed it on Henry's desk no note no warning at the end of the day he appeared beside her desk i read your report she looked up tense and impressive really unfortunately yes was that a compliment but let's keep it between us i don't want the company thinking I'm going soft too late i saw you smile yesterday fake news she laughed and so did he just for a second then Henry turned and walked back to his office and

Leia stayed there smiling to herself because despite the traps the gossip and the risks she knew one thing he was starting to believe in her and maybe just maybe that was more dangerous than any sabotage plan on Friday morning The Office was buzzing the most anticipated fashion event of the season the Foster and Trends Showcase was happening that evening and to everyone's surprise the one in charge of coordinating the internal logistics was none other than Leia Park "me?" she asked holding the event schedule folder like it was a wasps nest "you Henry wants you to

handle backstage management staff coordination and scheduling with the vendors," Clare from the events team explained "he said you have a certain talent for handling chaos." "Me?" "Chaos that's ridiculous," Livia replied right as she dropped both her pen and water bottle at the same time by early afternoon she was already at the event venue a large renovated warehouse in the Liberty District lights cables spotlights models running in high heels flying hangers it was the usual fashion show mayhem clipboard in hand Livia was doing her best to keep things under control she was checking service orders model

entrances music cues and speech timings everything was going smoothly until things started to fall apart livia a stage assistant yelled "The DJ just got here and says the playlist is all mixed up he received the wrong version." "What i sent the final one last night and the catering just arrived but they say they weren't scheduled until 2 hours from now this is all wrong." She opened her emails everything she had sent was correct but the attachments in the forwarded messages had old dates wrong versions who forwarded this she muttered squinting at the screen at the

bottom line forwarded by Melissa Rosha in the dressing room veteran model Bella Marquez peeked out at the chaos nearly 6 feet tall with a raspy voice and the poise of a stylish general Bella watched like a queen who'd seen her share of battles "girl this place is upside down where's your team?" "I am the team," Livia replied trying not to break down "and apparently also tonight's scapegoat and you're giving up no but if I scream it might come out in Hebrew bella smiled something about Livia reminded her of her younger self a charming mess brave

in a reckless kind of way then let's fix this come with me with the help of Bella and a stylist named Jean who wore a silk flamingo print scarf and shouted louder than all the assistants combined Livia pulled together an impromptu task force jean changed the runway backdrop to black the blue lighting clashes with the main brand's collection darling blue and red only work on flags a runway needs elegance bella are the models for the second round ready with me they won't even step with the wrong foot all set dj take this playlist forget the

one they sent you this is the final final version in less than an hour the chaos had turned into a controlled flow and all of it under Henry's watchful eye standing to the side with his arms crossed silently observing melissa standing next to him tried to act casual "looks like there were some minor issues," she commented "yeah and it looks like someone's trying to make it look like they were her fault," Henry replied never taking his eyes off Livia melissa didn't answer but her fingers gripped her phone a little too tightly at exactly 8:00 p.m

the lights went out the music started softly then built in intensity the models walked out right on Q the set sparkled and the guests applauded in the audience executives influencers journalists and fashion partners watched completely absorbed backstage Livia was swapping Qards keeping track of model entrances and still managing a quick sip of water between segments at the end one of the company's directors stepped onto the stage i'd like to thank the entire team for tonight's flawless work and give special thanks to Miss Livia Park for coordinating such a brilliant event livia who had her head

buried in a coat rack searching for a lost shoe heard her name echo through the speakers me but I'm not even wearing lipstick she was gently pushed onto the stage where she received a bouquet and applause from the crowd in the corner of the room Henry clapped quietly but with a small genuine smile melissa didn't clap later back in the dressing room Livia sat on the floor holding her heels "i survived," she said out of breath "you survived and you shined," Bella said handing her a bottle of water "that assistant upstairs the sweet voiced one

with the snake eyes." "She tried to sabotage you you know." "I know and that executive Douglas too but you handled it and more than that you won the room jean showed up with a sparkly bag got a gift from the team a pair of sneakers because your souls are begging for mercy livia smiled for the first time she felt like she truly belonged not to the elite not to the company but to the idea that she was capable even without pedigree without the right outfit even while constantly underestimated she delivered results outside Henry was waiting

by the car i thought you'd left," she said surprised "i stayed in case you needed a ride you don't seem like the kind who cares about an assistant's comfort and you don't seem like the kind who respects limits." "Thank you." I think they were silent for a few seconds you knew they were trying to bring me down today didn't you i had a feeling but I wanted to see how you'd react oh so it was a test no it was a chance to show you're more than just sarcasm and quick thinking and did I pass

henry opened the car door get in does that answer your question she got in still wearing the new sneakers she had just received i just hope this ride doesn't end in another mud puddle if it does I promise I'll get out and apologize this time she laughed that's progress boss baby steps Miss Park as the car moved through the quiet city streets they sat in silence but it was a comfortable silence as if no words were needed to say "Something's different something's growing." And for the first time Livia wasn't afraid of it the week after

the event Livia was already back to her routine at the office but something in her eyes had changed a mix of exhaustion and that kind of sparkle that only shows up when someone starts to believe even secretly that they're finally on the right path the problem was the cost since the night of the event she had barely slept she'd spent the last few days finishing reports organizing spreadsheets dealing with side glances and subtle attacks from Melissa henry asked for more everyday and she unable to say no delivered everything with a tired smile on Wednesday at

2:37 p.m she was typing an email for the third time because she just couldn't remember the right words the world around her started to spin slowly like a silent carousel the letters danced on the screen she blinked hard then she blinked again the next thing she felt was the cold floor someone get Henry diego shouted already kneeling next to her she fainted somebody get water sugar a doctor a helicopter if you can henry got the news in the middle of a meeting with investors and didn't even finish his his sentence he just stood up left

the room and went down the stairs quickly and silently leaving behind a trail of tension when he arrived Livia was already waking up sitting in an armchair with a glass of water in her hands and a blanket someone had found "what happened?" she asked still dizzy "you fainted?" Diego said "right in the middle of your sentence literally." Henry came closer he didn't say anything just watched i I'm okay it was just low blood pressure I think she said trying to get up no he answered his tone leaving no room for debate you're not okay and

you're leaving now but I That's enough Park let's go she tried to argue but when Henry took her arm to help her up she gave in maybe because of his strength maybe because of the warmth in his touch or maybe just because at that moment she didn't want to fight anything not even her own body the car moved quietly through the city streets livia rested her head against the window watching the lights blur by "you didn't have to bring me," she mumbled eyes half closed "yes I did." "Why?" "Because you don't know how to stop

and apparently no one in there knows how to notice when you're about to collapse i'm fine now it was just low blood pressure." No it was too much of everything too much giving too much effort too much trying to prove something all the time she looked at him sideways and since when do you care about that since the day you got splashed with mud and walked into an interview smiling like it was the best thing that ever happened livia looked away a strange warmth crept up her neck but she said nothing henry's place was at

the top of a building in one of the city's most upscale neighborhoods the elevator opened right into the living room marble floors huge windows a cold and flawless decor with every item perfectly in place too quiet you can rest here no one's going to bother you he said opening the door to a room with a view of the park wow this is the guest room it's the room no one uses today it's yours okay but I don't have clothes no toothbrush not even my cow print pajamas he gave a slight smile there are t-shirts in

the closet ceo pajamas they'll do she laughed promise you won't sue me if I use one of your shirts as a dress i promise as long as you don't use it as a cleaning rag afterward she walked into the room and closed the door took a deep breath lay on the bed and slept a heavy deep dreamless sleep hours later she woke up it was dark the clock said 10 p.m she stepped out of the bedroom slowly she was wearing a navy blue t-shirt that reached mid thigh strangely she felt comfortable she found Henry in

the kitchen quietly making something he wore a gray shirt with the sleeves rolled up and looked more relaxed than she'd ever seen him "you can cook?" she asked leaning against the doorframe "just enough to not starve during long trips." "Impressive omelette i'll take it." With my dignity restored they sat at the counter each with a simple plate in front of them "this is delicious honestly thanks i trained with the most demanding French chef of all really YouTube she laughed out loud okay now I believe it henry Foster is human i always was you're the one

who put that armor on me no you showed up wearing it i just tried to find the buckle henry watched her for a few seconds her face was calmer now her hair loose her skin still pale but glowing why didn't you tell me you lost your mom so young he asked in a softer tone leia took a deep breath because everyone loses someone and I didn't want it to be an excuse i grew up with my mom as my whole world when she was gone I promised I'd be strong that I'd do something good for

me and for her and you're doing it she smiled but her eyes welled up for a moment some days I wake up thinking I am others not so much i understand have you lost someone my brother younger car accident i was 19 he was 16 the silence that followed wasn't heavy it was respectful almost like a shared moment "is that when you turned into this efficient robot?" she asked with a sad smile "that's when I learned that losing control hurts and that the pain doesn't go away it just changes shape." Livia nodded their eyes met

"this time without walls you're less intimidating when you talk like this and you're more dangerous when you're not yelling yelling is my survival language." They laughed and then in the middle of the quiet that followed it happened henry slowly reached out and touched her hand on the counter just that but it was like a spark a soft touch almost nothing almost leia didn't pull away didn't say a word she just looked at where their hands met as if that simple gesture said everything they'd been avoiding he didn't speak either but his gaze had changed it

was more open more real you should sleep more he said gently without moving his hand you too sleep more and smile it helps can you stop giving me orders for 5 minutes not even in my dreams the touch lingered for a few more seconds then he pulled his hand back stood up grabbed the plates and started washing them like nothing had happened but something had and they both knew it the next morning Leia woke up with sunlight streaming through the windows the t-shirt still carried his scent the room was too tidy but the pillow had

the exact shape of a full night's rest she got dressed tied her hair up and found Henry in the living room good morning she said did you sleep well better than I have in months good diego dropped off your documents here i already sent a car to take you to work you're not coming i have a meeting with shareholders need to review a few contracts first she nodded and grabbed her bag stopped at the door thank you for yesterday for the room for the omelette for everything you're welcome but next time you decide to faint

try to pick a less inconvenient time," she smiled "got it i'll put it in my schedule faint with elegance." And before she left she added "oh and thanks for the touch too." Literally he didn't answer but his eyes said everything in the car on her way to work Leia leaned her forehead against the window and smiled to herself it was just a touch but it changed everything everything started with a notification on Diego's phone "leia," he called eyes wide holding his phone "you need to see this." She walked over to his desk still holding her

coffee "if it's a cat meme I swear it's not a meme it's you me." He hit play the video was less than 30 seconds long it showed a young woman running with an umbrella just before getting hit by a wave of mud the image was clear her face visible her reaction shocked yet determined was the highlight the title girl gets hit by mud before a job interview and still walks in with style an icon she froze who Who recorded this the flower shop security camera on the corner someone grabbed the footage added dramatic music and

it went viral it's been shared over 300,000 times oh my god by early afternoon the video was all over news sites humor pages motivational accounts and even podcasts she'd never heard of watch this woman's incredible example of resilience grace even in the mud capitalism has never seen such dignity in the face of tragedy some praised her others made jokes but everyone saw her and Livia hated every second of it "you're getting famous," Diego said trying to sound light "i'm exposed people are asking if the dress I wore to dinner with Henry was rented was it

of course it was and the heels too and the lipstick was expired take it easy breathe no I didn't ask for this i just wanted to work quietly like everyone else you were never like everyone else that's the problem she grabbed her phone messages notifications comments a mess she walked to the break room to get some air but stopped when she heard two familiar voices so now she's going to be an influencer next she'll launch a line of mudproof umbrellas soft laughter melissa and another employee from communications livia turned around and headed straight for the

elevator she had to get out see the sky or at least see something that wasn't a stream of memes let's play a little game for those who only read the comments type Coca-Cola down below only the ones who made it this far will understand now let's get back to the story meanwhile in the CEO's office Henry was reading a report when Clare rushed in we need to talk about Livia's video it's everywhere i know Henry the legal team wants to know if we'll take action against the people posting it no what do you mean i

already asked them to try to take down most versions but at this point it's like trying to put out a fire with an eyropper clare looked at him closely you're really worried someone filmed a private moment of an employee and turned it into entertainment that's a violation but she doesn't seem too upset she is she's just not saying it clare studied him for a moment you're crossing a dangerous line i crossed it a long time ago i just don't want to admit it leia was sitting on a bench outside the building trying to reply to

a message from her sister when her phone rang henry she answered with a sigh hi where are you getting some air can I join you she hesitated then said it's a public space i can't stop you a few minutes later he sat beside her i asked them to try and remove the videos he said straight to the point i know Diego told me i did it for you and who said I wanted that he turned his head i thought I was protecting you you don't need to protect me Henry i'm not a victim and I'm

definitely not some rescue project that's not what I Do do you have any idea how exposed I feel how much people are laughing calling me mud girl they're also calling you strong brave inspiring but I didn't ask for that i just wanted to be good at my job without becoming a joke without becoming a symbol without being the assistant everyone pies or looks at with too much interest henry pressed his lips together as if he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words you want to know why this bothers me so much because now

everyone will think I'm here because I went viral not because I'm good not because I work my heart out to prove my worth but because you protected me that's not true you're one of the most capable people I've ever worked with but no one knows that all they see is the mud and the way you look at me when you think no one's watching silence the sun lit up her face making her even more striking he looked at her like each of her words was hitting a place inside him he'd buried long ago i don't

know what to do he admitted then don't do anything let me handle this my way she stood up olivia Henry I need space i need air i ain't need to remember why I came here in the first place was it because of me she stopped surprised he also looked surprised that he'd said it out loud i came for me but maybe I stayed because of you and with that she walked away inside the elevator Livia closed her eyes she was shaking she didn't know if it was from being so exposed from the argument or from

that unexpected question deep down she knew she was getting involved that the touch in the kitchen hadn't just been for comfort that the glances the quiet smiles the long silences had already said what neither of them dared to admit but she also knew she didn't want that to define her she didn't want to be just the girl the CEO protected she wanted to be so much more she wanted to be herself henry stayed there still on the bench the wind messing up his hair for the first time in years his perfect suit now felt tight

out of place he ran a hand over his face took a deep breath he had crossed a line and now he had to decide if he was ready to follow through the next day Livia didn't show up at the office diego sent her a message and she replied with just a heart emoji and a simple I need some time melissa walked around with a quiet smile like someone who feels the air lighter without the presence of someone who always bothered her henry meanwhile spent the entire day stuck in meetings but he didn't really pay attention

to any of them his eyes read the charts but his mind kept going back to one image Livia's face that afternoon the frustration the strength the courage that night he went up to the penthouse and for the first time the silence bothered him he picked up his phone opened the gallery there was only one picture of Leia out of focus taken by accident at the fashion event when she was laughing with a glass of water in her hand and borrowed sneakers on her feet he looked at that photo for a long time then he whispered

"I'm lost Park." Three days went by on the fourth day a letter arrived at Henry's office handwritten on simple paper henry I didn't leave because I gave up i left because I realized I was forgetting about myself in the middle of all this i'm loud clumsy awkward but I'm also loyal creative strong and you you're a mystery I'd love to figure out but not at the cost of losing myself thank you for everything see you around Leia he read it then read it again he got up grabbed his keys and walked out of the building

without saying where he was going because he knew he knew that see you around could still turn into stay but only if he had the courage to for the first time fight for something that wasn't written in a contract in the days following her departure from the company Leia rediscovered silence a different kind of silence from what she used to feel in the office when Henry was focused this one was more raw full of uncertainty but at the same time there was a kind of relief in not having to filter her words smiles or glances

she spent Saturday morning organizing boxes of old papers notes for a blog that never came to life business cards from failed interviews and some photos of her mother in one of them the two of them were laughing faces covered in paint with stained T-shirts you'd like him Mom he's complicated and I'm even more so," she sighed it was impossible not to think about Henry about the way he looked at her the way his voice softened when he spoke quietly the way he held her hand in the kitchen the way he read the letter she knew

he did she could feel it but she also knew that just feeling wasn't enough he needed to choose and not just choose to be with her choose to lower his guard meanwhile Henry walked through the foster group headquarters with a new kind of silence his steps were still steady his instructions clear but his mind distracted no presentation felt exciting no meeting was important enough to make him forget the space Livia had left behind clare noticed Melissa noticed even Diego noticed who now had three roles trying to cover all the admin mistakes Leia used to fix

on the fly on Monday afternoon Clare stepped into his office with a reminder paris Thursday meeting with the Traor people from Europe yes I know Henry answered twirling a pen between his fingers do you want Melissa to go with you he frowned no so Henry paused for a few seconds then stood up keep tomorrow afternoon free for what i have an invitation to make leia was leaving a coffee shop when the car stopped in front of her she recognized the driver and beside him Henry in a suit and tie but with the most human look

she had ever seen on his face "are you following me now?" she asked folding her arms "i need to talk to you but not here can you give me 15 minutes?" She thought about it then nodded and got in the car if you're kidnapping me just know I'm terrible company in captivity i talk too much and eat everything in the fridge it's a risk I've decided to take they went to a quiet cafe in the old part of town sat at a corner table no bodyguards no formalities why am I here Henry he looked at

her for a few seconds before answering i'm going to Paris this week representing Foster Group in a meeting with European investors okay safe travels i want you to come with me she laughed surprised what do you mean i want you to con you to come as my translator and assistant but also as the woman who understands more than anyone when things get out of control are you inviting me on an international trip yes after watching me walk out the door with a see you around because I don't want that see you around to turn into

goodbye and I don't know how to fix things here but maybe somewhere else far from the gossip the pressure and the foster maybe we can really listen to each other she looked at him carefully for the first time Henry wasn't speaking like a CEO he was speaking like a man a man who seemed vulnerable and what if I say no then I'll understand and I'll let you go she thought about it for a long moment are you sure you don't just want someone to hold your papers during the meeting i want someone to tell me

if my tie is crooked and to laugh if I mess up my French and to remind me the world doesn't end when something goes off wow you really need me yeah I do she smiled softly all right then but only if I get to pick my own seat on the plane no business class trying to suffocate me with expensive champagne you can sit by the window deal the Eiffel Tower sparkled like a litup jewel in the night the cold Paris wind blew through Livia's hair as she held a cup of hot chocolate she bought from

a street cart i know there are fancier places to go she said sitting on a bench with Henry beside her but this this is perfect best hot chocolate I've ever had of course it is it was bought with €5 in heart they laughed and then sat in silence the kind of silence that doesn't need to be explained you know what I liked most about today she asked after a while tell me watching you speak broken French my French is perfectly fine shri Cafe Olay is not a functional sentence she can see smuts she understood me

because she felt sorry for you more laughter then she looked at him differently a little more serious a little deeper why did you bring me here Henry really he took a moment to answer because I couldn't sleep anymore knowing you weren't around she looked down bitter lip i'm not easy i'm a walking mess i talk too much i feel too much and that's exactly what draws me in they looked at each other and then slowly he reached up and touched her face she didn't pull away if you kiss me now we won't go back to

how things were she whispered i don't want to go back to how things were and then they kissed soft but full of everything they'd held back for so many chapters a meeting of breaths silent promises long-held wishes as if the world stopped right there as if the Eiffel Tower had been built just to light up that moment but then his phone rang henry ignored it it rang again and a third time clare's name on the screen he answered clearly annoyed yeah livia pulled back slightly still with her eyes closed holding on to the feeling of

the interrupted kiss what he said she opened her eyes when she noticed the tone in his voice are you sure but how no don't tell anyone yet i'm coming back he hung up his face tense again what happened she asked a complaint they're saying you were hired because of personal ties one of the shareholders is calling for a formal investigation she froze this is about the video the trip about me this is about fear fear of someone like you being where you are and what are you going to do fight for me for you for

us she swallowed hard and if it doesn't work then we find another path together he held out his hand do you trust me she took it for the first time i do back at the hotel they spent hours talking about everything the future whether or not to go back how to handle the growing corporate cold war but something had changed they weren't running anymore not from themselves not from each other they were together and that changed everything it felt strange to return to Foster Group after Paris the world outside still felt enchanted full of light

dancing on the sane hot chocolate in paper cups and whispered confessions in uncertain accents but inside the mirrored glass building reality was cold formal heavy as soon as Henry and Leia walked through reception the whispers started hidden smiles sideways glances conversations cut off mid-sentence they took the same elevator but in silence this time there was no power outage what froze them now were the consequences "you sure you want to come up with me?" he asked eyes on the numbers climbing the panel "i'm sure I don't want to pretend anymore," he nodded and in that small

gesture as much was said as in any long speech in the executive meeting room the atmosphere was tense three board members Clare two lawyers and Melissa sitting in the back with her legs crossed watching with the look of someone waiting for the exact moment to flash a poisonous smile "mr foster," one of the board members began "we received a formal complaint claiming Miss Park was hired based on a personal relationship not on professional qualifications." "That's not true," Henry replied calmly she was hired after a standard interview clearly the most capable among the candidates even after

the initial incident especially because of it she showed resilience quick thinking and character a quiet murmur rippled through the room henry said another board member our main concern here is how the company's image is being affected employees are talking partners are asking questions shareholders are putting on pressure and the viral video only made things worse i understand but her competence speaks for itself and what about your personal relationship silence leia who had been sitting quietly in the corner stood up may I speak the board nodded she walked to the center of the room standing tall

i'm not here because of a relationship and if anyone here thinks I was given special treatment "Sorry," she looked directly at Melissa but I've worked harder fought harder and delivered more than many people with fancy last names and tailored blazers melissa looked away i never asked for special privileges and if the presence of a woman with a strong voice and ideas that don't follow the usual mold makes people uncomfortable maybe the problem isn't the video it's the mirror it's holding up to you the silence in the room grew heavier henry looked at her as if

he wanted to applaud but he knew she didn't want applause she wanted respect the board president cleared his throat "until the investigation is complete we suggest Mr foster temporarily step down from his executive duties this is ridiculous," Henry said "it's necessary for the integrity of the company." Henry leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath a dangerous pause then he nodded very well I'll do it but only until everything is clarified hours later the news had already spread henry Foster was stepping down for now and along with that came a wave of rumors

about Leia the same faces that once praised her were now whispering in corners laughing behind her back avoiding eye contact "this isn't fair," Diego said slamming his hand on the table "you didn't do anything wrong." "It doesn't matter," Leia replied in this place perception is reality and my image has already been painted with the wrong colors you're just going to let this happen?" She looked at the office door then at the folder of reports on her desk finally at the badge hanging from her neck "no I'm going to make the only right decision." Henry was

in his penthouse staring out at the city through the window when she arrived she wore simple clothes her hair tied back but her eyes they were clear and firm i came to say goodbye he turned instantly what i resigned today leia I don't want you to be pushed aside because of me i don't want to be used as anyone's shield or weapon this us didn't start the way it should have but I want it to continue the right way and walking away is the right way it means stepping back before we get swallowed by a

system that doesn't understand what we feel i know what I feel and I do too but this isn't about feelings right now it's about protecting you the company us henry stepped closer his eyes were red you're leaving me she placed her hand on his face i'm leaving the job not you and what if I want both she gave a soft sad smile we all want everything but sometimes we have to choose what saves us first he held her hand i don't know how to do this without you you do you just forgot for a while

they stood there close breathing the same air heart to heart and after this he whispered "What happens to us we'll see maybe we'll find each other again maybe we'll write a new story no mud no badges just us for real." He kissed her a kiss full of longing even before the goodbye a kiss of promise a goodbye that held a quiet don't go when they pulled away she looked into his eyes you have to be the CEO now strong clear-headed i'd rather just be Henry with you maybe one day but today you have an empire

to clean up and I have a new path to find she turned to leave before walking out the door she looked back over her shoulder thank you for everything for seeing me when no one else did he stood there still as if moving might break something inside him and then she left alone but with her head held high that night Henry didn't sleep the next morning he showed up at the company even without authority to act he sat in a room nearby just watching he saw incomplete reports missed deadlines decisions with no heart behind them

leia was missed not just for her work but for the soul she brought into the place meanwhile she walked through the city felt the wind on her face stopped in a bookstore scribbled ideas in an old notebook she didn't know what was coming next but for the first time she felt at peace 6 weeks passed 6 weeks since Leia had turned in her badge and left foster group with a heart full of longing and conviction 6 weeks since Henry had stepped down only to return days later after the investigation ended and the board backed off

without a single argument the final report was clear no wrongdoing found no proven favoritism just rumors and envy henry was back on top more sober more direct more human but still not complete in the first days after his return everyone expected to see the ruthless CEO mode but what they found was a quieter man who spent more time looking at empty chairs than leading meetings especially one chair in particular the one next to his office she's not coming back Diego asked one day walking in with coffee no Henry replied eyes still on the window because

she knows her worth and now I need to prove that I know it too across town Livia was trying to start over she launched a blog called Survival Guide to Adult Life the brutally honest version where she shared daily stories with sharp humor irony and of course a lot of emotion within a few weeks she was gaining followers a lot of them brands started sending products followers asked for videos podcasts advice but every morning she still woke up feeling like something was missing or rather someone maybe I just missed the company coffee she joked one

morning to her friend Anna or maybe I miss the man who made the worst omelette in the world feel like the best dinner of my life anna just smiled and handed her a white dress try this one on you never know when someone might propose anna you never know one Friday afternoon while finishing a new blog post the intercom rang miss Park a delivery for you but I didn't order anything when she went downstairs she found a black envelope with golden letters you always said you liked strange invitations so here it is it's not a

dinner it's not an interview it's a new beginning tonight 7:00 p.m address a place she instantly recognized the fashion event went a blinked shivered laughed then shivered again he wouldn't he couldn't no but he did at exactly 7 p.m she arrived at the place there were lights candles and soft background music the same from the fashion show at the center of the room Henry was waiting in a dark suit but wearing white sneakers henry you came i couldn't not come well since you're here I hope you brought your sense of humor because this is going

to get weird he pulled something from his pocket a piece of paper he read it marriage proposal model A too formal model B way too dramatic model C with rhymes terrible henry so I went with model H h for Henry h for honest he took a deep breath i'm terrible with feelings with words with all of this but with you I want to try every day even when you talk too loud even when I mess up recipes jokes and decisions livia was already crying i want to fight for space under the blanket argue about which

show to watch laugh with you at your own disasters and protect you without making it seem like you need saving he got down on one knee will you marry me Livia Park with or without an umbrella she looked at him laughed through tears with an umbrella but only if I can throw mud at the bouquet he smiled so that's a yes it's a yes you clumsy CEO he put on the ring simple delicate with a small blue stone in the center and they hugged as if the whole world fit in that moment the wedding happened

a month later and it was anything but traditional instead of an altar or runway instead of a wedding march a romantic comedy soundtrack Diego was the master of ceremonies bella the veteran model planned everything jean the stylist made the dress and Melissa was invited but no one could say whether she showed up or not everyone was too busy getting emotional do you promise to keep laughing at my bad jokes henry asked holding Livia's hands i do even when it hurts do you promise to wake me up when I get two CEO and not enough human

only if I can throw a pillow at you deal they exchanged vows as the sun went down guests cried laughed some did both at once when it came time for the you may kiss the bride Henry smiled may I only if you promise to do it every day i promise even when we're old and I forget where I left my tie and I forget what time our favorite show is on the kiss was more than a kiss it was a seal of peace reunion and the future at the reception Livia danced with everyone even with

Henry who tried to keep the rhythm but missed every step "you dance worse than you cook," she teased "but I kiss better than both." "Okay you win," they twirled laughed and in the background a song played "life is full of surprises but love love is the best one of all." And it was true because between flipped umbrellas messy reports awkward dinners and interrupted kisses they had found what really mattered each other what did you think of Leia and Henry's story leave your thoughts in the comments on a scale from 0 to 10 what score would

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