Forgotten Memories Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Aurora Grand as another busy morning began.
Unlike Ava, who always seemed to be racing against time, Mia arrived at the executive floor with several minutes to spare.
She stopped outside Lucas Hawthorne’s office and straightened her blazer.
“Okay,” she whispered to herself.
“New day.
New attitude.” She knocked.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Silence.
Mia frowned.
“Mr.
Hawthorne?” Still nothing.
She hesitated before carefully turning the doorknob.
The office wasn’t empty.
Lucas sat behind his desk, flipping through a stack of reports as though he hadn’t heard a single knock.
Mia blinked.
Had he been there the whole time?
“Good morning, Mr.
Hawthorne.” Without looking up, Lucas simply pointed toward a towering pile of folders on the corner of his desk.
“I need all of those organized, summarized, and filed before you leave today.” Mia’s eyes slowly followed the direction of his finger.
Then they widened.
The stack was enormous.
It looked less like paperwork and more like a small mountain.
She opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Surely…
surely he doesn’t mean all of that.
She looked back at Lucas, prepared to argue.
Then she met his expression.
Calm.
Serious.
Unreadable.
“…Yes, sir.” Lucas nodded once and returned to his reports.
Mia sighed internally.
Fantastic.
I definitely offended him somehow.
— Hours passed.
One file became ten.
Ten became twenty.
By noon, Mia had completely lost track of time.
Her stomach growled loudly.
She ignored it.
She remembered Lucas’s instruction.
Before you leave today.
She interpreted it literally.
If she left—even for lunch—she might disappoint him.
So she stayed.
The office remained quiet except for the sound of pages turning and keyboards clicking.
Eventually Lucas stood.
“I’ll be back.” “Yes, sir.” Mia didn’t even look up.
— Nearly an hour later, Lucas returned.
He paused at the doorway.
She was still sitting exactly where he’d left her.
The mountain of paperwork had become noticeably smaller.
Her hair had started slipping from its neat ponytail, and she looked completely absorbed in her work.
Lucas checked his watch.
“…You haven’t left?” Mia looked up.
“You told me not to.” His brows drew together.
“You didn’t go to lunch?” She blinked.
“I thought you wanted everything finished first.” Lucas stared at her.
Then at the untouched bottle of water on her desk.
His expression softened almost imperceptibly.
Without another word, he turned and walked out again.
Mia frowned.
Was he angry?
Ten minutes later, the office door opened.
Lucas returned carrying two paper bags and a pair of iced coffees.
He placed one in front of Mia.
“Eat.” She looked at the food.
Then at him.
“For me?” “You haven’t eaten.” “You told me not to leave.” Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I meant don’t leave for the day.” “Oh.” “…” “…” “Oh.” Heat rushed to Mia’s cheeks.
Lucas sighed.
“That’s my fault.” Her eyes widened.
Did…
Did Lucas Hawthorne just apologize?
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
“I should’ve explained myself better.” Mia smiled awkwardly.
“It’s okay.” “No, it isn’t.” She stared at him for a moment.
He wasn’t nearly as intimidating as she’d first thought.
Just…
terrible at communicating.
As they ate in silence, Lucas suddenly spoke again.
“Mia.” She looked up.
“Yes?” “Do you really not know me?” She laughed lightly.
“Of course I know you.” “You do?” “You’re Lucas Hawthorne.” He shook his head.
“I don’t mean that.” She frowned.
“I mean…” He studied her carefully.
“Have we ever met before?” Mia searched her memory.
Nothing.
She slowly shook her head.
“I don’t think so.” A flicker of disappointment crossed Lucas’s face before disappearing.
“If we’d met,” Mia continued thoughtfully, “I’d definitely remember.” Lucas looked at her again.
“Why?” She answered without thinking.
“Because you’re handsome.” Silence.
“…” “And you’re exactly my type.” Another silence.
Longer this time.
Mia froze.
Her own words replayed inside her head.
You’re handsome.
You’re my type.
“Oh my gosh.” She covered her face.
“I didn’t mean—I mean, I did mean—but not like that—I mean—” Lucas laughed.
Actually laughed.
The sound caught Mia completely off guard.
“You should stop talking.” “I know.” “You’re making it worse.” “I KNOW.” Lucas couldn’t stop smiling.
She really didn’t remember.
That stung more than he expected.
But somehow…
Watching her panic over an accidental compliment made the disappointment a little easier to bear.
— Meanwhile…
On the other side of the hotel…
Ava Carter was determined not to look at Ethan Hawthorne.
Not once.
Not even accidentally.
She still couldn’t forget yesterday.
His raised voice.
The embarrassment.
The way he’d sent her away.
Even though she’d returned an hour later, something between them felt…
different.
So she kept her distance.
Whenever Ethan needed something— “Ava, could I have the guest file?” She handed it to another employee.
“Could you pass this to Mr.
Hawthorne?” Whenever he needed a pen…
A notebook…
A menu…
Someone else delivered it.
Ethan noticed immediately.
She wasn’t avoiding work.
She was avoiding him.
It bothered him more than he cared to admit.
Several times he caught himself looking in her direction.
Each time, she deliberately looked somewhere else.
He frowned.
Is she angry?
He couldn’t understand why.
— That evening, both young women practically dragged themselves into their apartment.
Mia collapsed onto the couch.
Ava dropped face-first onto her bed.
For nearly a full minute…
Neither of them moved.
Finally, Mia groaned.
“I think my boss is trying to kill me.” Ava’s muffled voice came from the pillow.
“Mine already started.” Mia rolled onto her side.
“He gave me enough paperwork to last a lifetime.” Ava turned her head just enough to look at her.
“Ethan yelled at me yesterday.” “He what?” Ava sighed.
“And today I ignored him.” Mia blinked.
“You ignored your boss?” “…Maybe.” “Oh, Ava.” “I was upset.” Mia laughed weakly.
“At least yours apologized with his eyes.” Ava frowned.
“What does that even mean?” “I don’t know.” “I’m too tired to understand you.” “Me too.” They looked at each other.
Then, at exactly the same moment, they said— “I don’t like my boss.” The apartment fell silent.
Then they both burst into exhausted laughter.
Neither of them realized that somewhere else in the hotel…
Their two very confused bosses were wondering why everything had suddenly become so much more complicated.