The encounter with Alex left Snow unsettled. She spent the following days in a heightened state of vigilance, a nervous energy thrumming beneath her skin. Every unfamiliar car, every unexpected message, sent a jolt of anxiety through her. The comfortable routine of EdenTech suddenly felt fragile, exposed.
Andreas, sensing her unease, stepped up his subtle pursuit. He didn't bombard her with calls, but his presence was undeniable. Flowers, always white roses, arrived at her office. He sent articles he thought might interest her, always with a brief, insightful note. His business meetings with EdenTech grew more frequent, and Snow found herself looking forward to them, despite her lingering apprehension.
One rainy afternoon, a week after the encounter with Alex, Snow was alone in her office, the soft glow of her monitors reflecting in her raven hair. The "Dwarves" had left early, a rare luxury for them, celebrating a breakthrough in their latest formulation. Lost in a complex algorithm, Snow didn't hear the soft knock at her door.
"Snow?"
She jumped, startled, her heart giving a frantic flutter against her ribs. Andreas stood in the doorway, rain glistening on his dark suit, his hair slightly damp. He looked less formidable than usual, almost… vulnerable.
"Andreas?" she managed, her voice a little breathless. "What are you doing here?"
"I was in the area," he said, a faint, almost shy smile touching his lips. "And I thought… perhaps you'd like some company. Or at least, some hot coffee." He held up a disposable cup, steam curling invitingly from it.
Snow felt a surprising warmth spread through her. "That's… very thoughtful."
He walked in, the scent of rain and his subtle, expensive cologne filling the small office. He placed the coffee on her desk, his eyes taking in the organized chaos of wires and glowing screens. "This is where the magic happens, then," he murmured, a genuine admiration in his voice.
They talked, not about business, not about their families, but about simple things. The challenges of a startup, the beauty of coding, the satisfaction of creating something new. The rain lashed against the windows, a rhythmic drumming that somehow amplified the quiet intimacy of the moment.
Andreas leaned against her desk, his gaze fixed on her. "You know," he said, his voice a low rumble, "when I first met you, I thought you were just… different. Now, I see you're an entire universe."
Snow's breath hitched. His words, spoken with such sincerity, bypassed her carefully constructed walls. She felt a blush creep up her neck, a foreign sensation. "And I thought you were just… a very stern maître d'," she quipped, trying to lighten the sudden intensity, but her voice was a little shaky.
He chuckled, a rich, warm sound that sent a shiver down her spine. He reached out, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. His touch was light, almost imperceptible, yet it ignited a spark that sent warmth coursing through her veins. Her heart skipped a beat, then hammered against her ribs. She met his gaze, and for a fleeting moment, all her fears, all her past, seemed to vanish. There was only him, and the unspoken connection that crackled between them.
His thumb grazed her cheekbone, a tender, exploratory touch that made her skin tingle. His eyes, the color of a stormy winter sky, held hers, a silent question in their depth. The air was thick with unspoken longing.
Just as he leaned closer, a loud, insistent knock echoed from the door downstairs, followed by the jingle of the doorbell. The spell was broken.
Andreas pulled his hand back, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. Snow, mortified by her own rapid heartbeat, busied herself by picking up her coffee.
"Stay here," Andreas said, his voice now back to its usual authoritative tone, though a hint of lingering softness remained. "I'll see who it is."