Little Things The evening air was cool as Ava and Mia returned to their apartment after dinner.
The moment they stepped inside, Ava kicked off her heels with a relieved sigh.
“My feet are officially protesting.” Mia laughed.
“You complain every day.” “And every day my feet deserve justice.” Before Mia could reply, her phone began to ring.
She glanced at the screen.
A smile instantly spread across her face.
Ava narrowed her eyes.
“…Who’s smiling like that?” Mia quickly turned the phone around.
“No one.” “No one has a name?” Mia stuck out her tongue playfully before answering the call.
“Hello?” On the other end, Lucas’s warm voice greeted her.
“Did I call at a bad time?” “Not at all.” “I just wanted to know how your evening went.” Mia smiled.
“It was nice.” “Just nice?” She laughed.
“It was really nice.” “Better.” Ava watched from across the room, pretending to read a magazine while secretly listening.
Lucas continued talking.
His calm voice soon became teasing.
“So…” “Did Ava finally admit she’s in love with my brother?” Mia burst into laughter.
“I’ll never tell.” “You just did.” “I didn’t!” “You laughed.” “That doesn’t count.” “It counts.” The conversation drifted from work to childhood memories, embarrassing stories, favorite foods, and even ridiculous jokes.
Every few minutes, Mia’s laughter filled the apartment.
Ava slowly lowered the magazine.
“…Seriously?” Another burst of laughter.
Ava folded her arms.
“I’ve never heard this woman laugh so much in one night.” Mia didn’t even notice.
Nearly an hour later, she finally ended the call.
She hugged her phone to her chest.
Ava stared at her.
“…You’re smiling.” “I’m not.” “You absolutely are.” Mia quickly tried to straighten her face.
“I’m just…
happy.” Ava smirked.
“I noticed.” — The next morning…
Mia stood outside Lucas’s office.
She knocked twice.
“Come in.” When she entered, she immediately noticed something unusual.
Lucas wasn’t sitting behind his desk.
Instead, he was relaxing on the sofa with a cup of coffee in one hand.
The moment he saw her, his face lit up with a smile.
Not the polite smile everyone else received.
A genuine one.
“Good morning.” “Good morning, Mr.
Hawthorne.” Lucas frowned.
“We’re still doing the ‘Mr.
Hawthorne’ thing?” Mia giggled.
“Sorry.” “Good morning…
Lucas.” “Much better.” She walked closer.
Before she could ask why he wasn’t working at his desk, Lucas gently reached for her hand.
“Mia.” “Hm?” With one gentle tug, she lost her balance.
“Aah!” She landed softly on his lap.
Her cheeks immediately turned pink.
“Lucas!” “What?” “Someone could walk in.” “I locked the door.” “You what?” “I was expecting you.” She couldn’t help laughing.
“You’re unbelievable.” Lucas reached into his jacket pocket.
“I have something for you.” He removed a small velvet box.
Mia’s eyes widened.
“…What’s this?” “Open it.” She carefully lifted the lid.
Inside rested a delicate silver necklace with a tiny star-shaped pendant that sparkled beautifully beneath the morning light.
“It reminded me of you.” Mia looked up at him.
“It’s beautiful…” Lucas gently took the necklace from the box.
“May I?” She quietly nodded.
Carefully, he brushed her hair aside and fastened the necklace around her neck.
His fingertips barely grazed her skin.
Even that tiny touch sent butterflies dancing through her stomach.
When he finished, Mia instinctively touched the pendant.
“I love it.” Lucas smiled.
“A little gift.” “For what?” He shrugged.
“Our second day…” He paused dramatically.
“…of whatever this is.” Mia laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth.
“That’s so cheesy.” “It is.” “I know.” “And incredibly cute.” “I’ll take that as a compliment.” She admired the necklace once more before looking back at him.
“Thank you.” Lucas simply watched her.
Neither of them spoke.
Their eyes met.
His gaze slowly drifted to her lips.
Not demanding.
Not rushing.
Simply asking.
Mia understood.
She smiled softly.
Then leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.
It lasted only a moment.
When she pulled away, she whispered, “Thank you for the gift.” Lucas sat completely still.
“…” “…Lucas?” “I think my heart just skipped a beat.” Mia laughed.
“Drama king.” “You did that.” “I did.” “And I’d happily let you do it again.” She lightly tapped his shoulder.
“Work first.” He sighed dramatically.
“You’re no fun.” “I’ll remind you of that later.” — The rest of the morning passed surprisingly quickly.
Lucas wasn’t nearly as intimidating as he had been during Mia’s first week.
He explained things patiently.
She teased him whenever he became too serious.
He challenged her to organize reports faster than he could review them.
She won.
He insisted she cheated.
She demanded proof.
By lunchtime, both of them were laughing so loudly that an employee passing the office quietly smiled to themselves.
Inside those four walls, work no longer felt like work.
For Lucas…
Every meeting was brighter because Mia was there.
For Mia…
The hotel no longer felt unfamiliar.
It was slowly becoming a place she looked forward to visiting each morning.
Not because of the luxurious offices.
Not because of the Hawthorne name.
But because someone inside was always waiting for her with a smile.