Sunday night had slipped into a restless blur for Anya. Sleep eluded her like a fleeting shadow, her mind a tangled mess of thoughts she couldn't quiet. The memory of Elias's gaze haunted her, threading through her every breath, refusing to be ignored. When the clock finally nudged toward morning, she lay awake, eyes wide and heart unsettled.
Monday came wrapped in grey light. The fatigue weighed heavy on her limbs, but the day demanded she move. She forced herself out of bed, shoulders slumped, eyelids heavy like curtains pulled too tight. At university, the lectures blurred together words washing over her without landing. She scribbled notes halfheartedly, the drone of professors folding into the haze of exhaustion and the echo of questions her mind wouldn't answer.
She barely registered the hours slipping by until her phone vibrated sharply against the desk.
Kristina.
The message was brief but urgent: Can you cover an urgent shift Tuesday from 5 to 9? Closing time. Anya's heart sank at the thought of a long night after a day of lectures, but she didn't hesitate. Yes, she would go.
Her uniform was neatly folded and tucked inside her bag: black T-shirt with the restaurant's logo emblazoned subtly on the chest, paired with the familiar green apron that marked her as part of the team. Yet, the thought of attending lectures dressed in that practical, utilitarian outfit made her stomach twist with discomfort. It wasn't just about appearances it was about how she wanted to feel. After a long, exhausting day of classes, the idea of slipping into that uniform felt like shedding a layer of herself she wasn't ready to give up just yet.
Instead, she chose something soft and light a peach-colored dress with delicate smocking across the blouse area that hugged her torso gently, accentuating the natural curves of her figure without being tight. The fabric was thin and airy, almost translucent in the soft afternoon light, catching every ray and flickering like silk in motion. The color was warm, subtly glowing against her skin a hue that seemed to lift her mood even as exhaustion tugged at her.
The dress was simple but striking, a quiet statement that balanced innocence and a hidden playfulness. It made her feel both invisible and seen all at once like a secret kept close but willing to be discovered. There was a youthful charm to it, as if it whispered of carefree days and dreams yet to be chased. It gave her a kind of quiet confidence she rarely let show to the world, a small rebellion against the tired, worn-out version of herself she often felt trapped inside.
Her hair was left down in loose waves, cascading softly over her shoulders and back. The gentle curls caught the fading daylight, shimmering with subtle highlights that flickered like firelight when she moved. The waves framed her face in a way that softened her usual sharpness, making her look more approachable, more tender than the focused, composed student everyone expected.
She had slipped on a pair of simple earrings tiny silver hoops that caught the light with every tilt of her head. It was a small but deliberate touch, a flicker of femininity and grace that contrasted with the heavy backpack and hurried steps she usually carried. For a moment, just this once, she allowed herself to embrace a side of her that was more than deadlines and responsibilities more than the tired girl who barely slept and always pushed through.
This was Anya as she wanted to be seen: warm, alive, and undeniably human.
As the afternoon sun dipped low, Anya made her way to the restaurant. Her steps were slow but steady, the exhaustion tugging at her bones. She headed straight to the staff office to change out of her dress and into her uniform.
Then the door opened from inside.
A man stepped out, sharp and impeccably dressed in a tailored navy suit, the kind of elegance that seemed effortless but was clearly earned. Anya's breath caught in her throat.
It was Elias.
His eyes locked onto her in the doorway, and for a moment neither moved. The room seemed to hold its breath between them.
Seeing Anya like this casual, hair loose and framing her face like a soft halo, the peach dress flowing gently around her caught him completely off guard. The delicate fabric softened her usually guarded edges, revealing a vulnerability he hadn't seen before. She looked younger, almost fragile, as if the weight she carried had lifted just enough to let the light through. The subtle glow of the dress caught the fading light, making her appear like a whispered secret in motion.
Her ice blue eyes held a flicker of something new something raw and alive and that sparkle drew him in deeper than he expected. For a moment, the world seemed to pause between them. No words, no explanations, just an electric silence thick enough to hum with unspoken questions and half-formed feelings.
His breath hitched slightly, the sight settling in his chest like a sudden ache he wasn't ready to name. She was real, and yet, here she was, disarming and effortless, far from the carefully controlled version of herself he'd seen before.
The silence stretched on, heavy and charged, until the distant clatter of dishes and low murmur of voices from the restaurant staff broke the bubble. It was like a splash of cold water, pulling them back to reality.
Anya blinked, her mouth opening slightly as if to speak, then closing again as she fought to steady herself. Her fingers curled nervously around the strap of her bag, the moment slipping away faster than she wanted.
"I…" she started, but the words faltered.
Elias cleared his throat, a faint smile touching his lips, trying to bridge the sudden gap.
"You're here to change?" he asked quietly, nodding toward her bag.
Her eyes flicked down to the uniform inside and back up. "Yeah. After lectures," she replied, voice barely above a whisper.
He held the door open; a simple gesture loaded with more meaning than either could admit.
She stepped inside, the soft rustle of fabric the only sound as she moved past him, leaving a trace of that quiet, unexpected warmth lingering in the air.
What was he doing here? she wondered, mind spinning as she pulled the uniform from her bag.
...
Elias arrived at the office early Monday morning, the cool sea breeze still clinging to his skin from his morning jog along the rocky shoreline. The rhythmic sound of his feet hitting the pavement had cleared his mind, preparing him for the day ahead. He dressed carefully a tailored charcoal suit that hugged his frame perfectly, a crisp white shirt, and polished black shoes. His appearance was sharp, precise, just like his reputation. Everything about him spoke of control, order, and success.
As he entered the office on Monday morning, Kristina greeted him with a warm smile, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she composed herself.
"Good morning, Elias," she said, her tone casual but curious she knew he was here for a short business trip and hadn't expected him so early in the week.
He nodded in return. "Morning, Kristina."
From the way she glanced around, Elias could tell she was piecing things together—that he was here for meetings, overseeing operations, the kind of stuff that didn't often filter down to the regular staff. Their brief exchange was polite but formal, the kind of interaction that left little room for personal questions.
Still, through the busy day of reports, conference calls, and strategy sessions, Anya's face kept surfacing in his mind. He recalled how she moved quiet, careful, yet somehow magnetic in her restraint. He knew her next shift wasn't until Friday, a few days away, and he found himself quietly marking the time, almost eager for the chance to see her again.
Tuesday morning rolled around in a blur of business as usual. Meetings piled up, discussions on growth and logistics, presentations and charts filling the hours. By mid-afternoon, Elias felt the weight of it all pressing down, and he decided to step outside for a moment.
As he opened the office door to head out for coffee, time seemed to freeze.
There she was.
Anya stood just outside, her loose dark hair falling in soft waves around her face, catching the light like a delicate halo. The peach dress she wore was simple yet elegant, with smocking across the blouse area that gave it a vintage, almost ethereal charm. It softened her usual guarded expression, making her look younger, more vulnerable and utterly captivating. The dress floated gently around her, moving with the slightest breeze, and Elias felt his gaze lock onto her, unable to look away.
For a heartbeat, neither of them spoke. The silence between them was thick, charged, an unspoken recognition passing through their eyes.
In that quiet moment, Elias noticed everything the subtle way her shoulders tensed, as if she was bracing against some invisible weight; the quick dart of her eyes that betrayed a nervousness she tried to mask; the delicate curve of her lips, barely parted as if she wanted to say something but held back.
Then, as if summoned by the ordinary noises of the restaurant the distant clatter of dishes, the murmur of customers the spell broke.
Anya blinked, her mouth opening slightly before closing again. She shifted on her feet, suddenly aware of the moment, and Elias, forcing calm into his voice, stepped aside.
"After you," he said, opening the door wider with a faint smile.
She hesitated a moment longer, then nodded, stepping inside, pulling her bag tighter against her side. Elias watched her go, wondering what had brought her here so unexpectedly and what thoughts flickered behind those deep, dark eyes.
As the door closed behind them, Elias's calm exterior belied the flutter of anticipation in his chest. There was something unfinished between them something that pulled at him quietly but insistently.
And deep down, he knew this was only the beginning.