Breaking Through the Ice
The private elevator chimed softly as it reached the top floor of Hart Corporation. The doors slid open with a quiet hiss, revealing a sleek, modern hallway with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the sprawling city skyline. Elena stepped out gracefully, her heels clicking softly on the polished floors, Mason following closely behind.
Mason led her through the executive corridor until they reached the towering double doors of the CEO's office. He gave a light knock before pushing one door open. "Mr. Hart, Madam Elena is here."
Sebastian glanced up from his desk, the blue light of his computer screen casting a sharp glow over his chiseled features. His eyes, usually cold and detached, flickered with something unreadable as they landed on her. Slowly, he closed his laptop and leaned back in his chair.
"Come in," he said simply, waving Mason off.
Elena walked in, placing the food containers gently on his massive oak desk. The office smelled faintly of cedar and leather, the atmosphere intimidating but strangely intimate with just the two of them.
Sebastian arched a brow. "What's this?"
"A peace offering," Elena replied, removing the lids to reveal the meal she had prepared. The rich aroma of seasoned grilled chicken, perfectly steamed vegetables, and fresh strawberry tarts filled the space, momentarily softening the rigid atmosphere.
Sebastian's jaw flexed, an internal debate flickering in his eyes. "Since when do you cook?I thought you disliked the kitchen atmosphere...hmm?"
Elena met his gaze squarely. "Since I decided to start living for myself."
The words lingered between them. He studied her for a long moment, then pushed his chair back and stood, walking around the desk. His movements were slow, deliberate, as if trying to decipher a puzzle.
Elena stood her ground, refusing to shrink beneath his sharp gaze. She wasn't the spoiled woman he married, nor the weakling he expected to break under pressure. She was someone else entirely, and every moment she was proving it.
Sebastian finally reached for the utensils and sat down on the couch by the side, motioning for her to sit opposite him. "Since you went through all this effort… I might as well try it."
A small, satisfied smile curled on Elena's lips. "That's the spirit."
---
The first bite was slow, deliberate. Sebastian's expression remained stoic at first, but a flicker of surprise crossed his features before he schooled them back into indifference.
"Not bad," he murmured. "Better than I expected."
Elena chuckled softly. "High praise from you."
What was not known to many about Aria the business woman ,was that cooking was one of her many skills.
They ate in silence for a few minutes, the atmosphere shifting from stiff formality to something quieter… calmer. Halfway through the meal, Sebastian leaned back, napkin in hand, eyes pinned on her.
"I don't get it," he admitted, his voice low. "You used to threaten to fire the kitchen staff for putting parsley on your plate. Now you cook like a Michelin chef and act like you actually… care."
Elena's smile didn't waver. "Maybe I am tired of pretending. Maybe I've found it's easier to be human when you stop chasing empty status."
Sebastian's brows knit slightly, a rare flicker of curiosity stirring. There was an honesty in her voice, a quiet strength that contradicted everything he'd known about her.
"People don't change overnight," he said bluntly.
"No," Elena agreed. "But life has a way of shaking you awake. Maybe I just opened my eyes."
A silence fell again, but it was no longer uncomfortable. The tension between them wasn't born from hostility anymore—it was something else, a subtle pull neither could quite name.
Sebastian cleared his throat, straightening up. "Since you're here… you might as well join me for the next hour. There's a quarterly review I need to go through. It'll give you a glimpse into the… less glamorous side of running a business."
Aria blinked in surprise but nodded, intrigued. "Lead the way, Mr. Hart."
His lips twitched—almost a smile. Almost.
As they moved toward the adjoining conference room, Mason peeked into the office, eyebrows practically touching his hairline when he saw the empty food containers and the two of them walking together.
Sebastian Hart wasn't known for personal interactions, especially not with his wife. But something was shifting, something slow and unpredictable.
In the heart of a corporation built on cold calculations and power struggles, a spark was beginning to flicker.
And it was only getting started.