Esther hesitated in front of the double doors, smoothing her blouse and silently wondering what this was about. Thomas hadn't given her much to work with, only a polite, "Mr. Lewis would like to see you in his office," with a tight-lipped smile that felt suspiciously knowing.
She knocked once, and Daniel's voice responded instantly from within.
"Come in."
The office was sleek, modern, and characteristically cold, a bit similar to one he have at LewisTech headquarters. Its minimalist design offering nothing personal, nothing soft. Except him, sitting behind the desk, jacket off and shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked up from the tablet in front of him, his eyes unreadable.
"Miss Cole," he said with a brief nod. "Please, have a seat."
Esther obeyed cautiously, lowering herself into the chair across from him.
"Am I in trouble?" she asked, trying to keep her voice light but not fully able to hide the edge of tension in her tone.
He looked at her for a beat longer than necessary.
"No," he finally said. "But I thought we could have lunch."
She blinked. "Sorry… what?"
"Lunch," he repeated, leaning back slightly in his chair. "You've been working nonstop with Ibrahim and Alie. I imagine you could use a break."
Esther stared at him, thrown completely off balance. "Lunch with you?"
He met her gaze evenly. "Unless you're unavailable."
"No, I mean yes..yes, I'm available." She fumbled a little. "It's just… unexpected."
Daniel's lips twitched, just barely. "So I gathered."
They ended up at a quiet restaurant tucked a few blocks from subdivision developing wing, a place with glass walls and warm lighting, frequented by professionals but calm enough to talk without being overheard.
Esther sat across from him, napkin in lap, fiddling slightly with her water glass. The menu between them remained unopened.
"So," she finally said, breaking the silence, "was this a reward for my feedback… or a silent warning for being too friendly with Alie?"
Daniel looked up, surprised, and then, in a rare moment of ease, let out a soft, low chuckle. "You're observant."
"Too observant?" she teased. "I'm a psychologist in making" she added proudly
He tilted his head slightly, studying her. "You're going to best at it. And no, this isn't a warning. You're free to speak to whoever you please."
"But?"
"No but," he said, though his jaw gave him away. "Just… not everyone knows where to draw professional lines."
Esther smiled around the rim of her glass. "Are you worried I'll fall for Alie's charm and desert your company mid-project?"
His brow lifted. "You think Alie has charm?"
She laughed. "He's sweet. A bit too animated sometimes, but he's brilliant."
Daniel didn't reply right away. Instead, he rested his forearms on the table, gaze lingering on her face, noticing, perhaps for the first time, the way her eyes caught the light when she laughed, how the soft curve of her cheek shifted with the motion. She wasn't just bright; she was grounding. Comfortable in a way he hadn't let himself feel in a long time.
Esther suddenly became aware of the stillness and cleared her throat, pulling her menu toward her. "Anyway. I could eat a whole cow. What do you recommend?"
Daniel sat back, composed again. "The grilled salmon is good. Or the wild rice pasta."
"Salmon it is." She grinned. "But only if you order something less intimidating. Pasta maybe?"
"Is that a challenge?" he asked, mouth twitching.
"Call it a suggestion," she replied, eyes playful.
By the time the food arrived, the tension had melted into something lighter. Their conversation flowed, awkwardly at first, then surprisingly easy. They spoke of the project, of Betty, of the silent pressure of responsibility. And when the check came, Daniel reached for it without hesitation.
Esther made a half-hearted attempt to protest. "You didn't have to…"
"Were you planning to pay?" Daniel asked, one brow slightly raised.
"Nope," Esther replied without missing a beat, laughing in a way that caught him off guard, and smiling.
"I'm just being humble. You invited me to lunch, so obviously, you get to pay." Her grin was cheeky, contagious.
"Fair enough," Daniel said, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Besides, I do earn more than you."
Esther laughed again, caught somewhere between amusement and surprise at his sudden humor.
"Well… thank you," she said, her tone softening. "For lunch. And for the unexpected break."
Daniel held her gaze, his voice quieter now. "Thank you for accepting."
Silence fell between them as they walked side by side, their steps echoing softly on the pavement. Esther stole a quick glance at his face. Strong jaw, smooth skin, a mouth that always seemed caught between a frown and something softer. His eyes, dark and unreadable, held a quiet intensity that made it hard to look away for too long.
There was something unfair about how effortlessly good he looked, even in silence.
If only he wasn't so cold…and so much older, she thought, shaking the ridiculous idea from her head. Still, she couldn't help the faint smile tugging at her lips.
Still… one bite wouldn't hurt.
She chuckled at the thought, a little too loudly.
"What's funny?" Daniel asked, looking at her.
She cleared her throat quickly, regaining composure. "Just thinking about Betty's jokes."
Daniel eyed her a moment longer but let it go. "I see."
"Speaking of Betty, I should probably get home early today. We've got plans for a little garden picnic," Esther said, her face lighting up at the thought.
Daniel nodded. "I'll have Thomas drive you."
As they arrived, he instructed Thomas, who nodded silently. Esther bid farewell to the team and slid into the car Thomas held open for her.
The ride was quiet. Esther tried to make small talk, but Thomas's reserved nods and faint smiles shut down the conversation almost immediately. He was as cold and unreadable as his boss.
When the car finally pulled up to the mansion, Esther exhaled in relief. The silence had been suffocating.
"Thanks for the ride," she said with a tugged smile.
Thomas returned it politely. Just as Esther turned to walk inside, a voice called out.
"Esther!"
She looked up to see Dija running toward her, waving excitedly.
"What are you doing here?" Esther asked, smiling as she returned the hug.
"I've been waiting for you for hours," Dija exclaimed, before trailing off as she noticed Thomas stepping out from behind Esther. Her eyes widened. She gave him a once-over, then circled around like a curious cat.
"Wow. You're hot, I mean, good-looking," she corrected with a bashful grin. "Who's he?"
"This is Thomas, Mr. Lewis's executive assistant," Esther said with a knowing look at her friend. "Thomas, meet Dija, my very curious friend."
"Hello! I'm Dija," she chirped, extending a hand.
Thomas hesitated but shook it out of courtesy.
"So… you're Uncle Daniel's assistant?" Dija asked. "How old are you?"
Thomas blinked.
"Dija," Esther hissed, clearing her throat. "You'll scare him off. He's the quiet type."
She gave Thomas an apologetic smile. He merely watched them with that ever-neutral expression.
"Anyway, why are you here?" Esther asked, redirecting.
"Oh! Right!" Dija lit up again. "I came to drop off an invitation. The Minister is throwing a birthday party for his wife tonight. I want you to be my plus-one!"
"Unless someone else wants to fill that space," Dija added with a teasing wink, making Esther choke on her laugh.
"Stop being shameless," Esther said under her breath, tugging her friend back toward her. "So, which minister are we talking about? Anyone important?"
Dija gave her a wide-eyed look. "Are you serious? It's the Prime Minister, second in command of the whole country. The guest list is basically a roll call of the powerful and wealthy. These events are less about cake and candles and more about showing off and making connections."
She spoke with a smirk that said she knew exactly how those circles worked, and she did. As the daughter of a top fashion designer and a renowned surgeon, Dija had grown up around prestige and influence. Attending elite gatherings like this was second nature to her. Dragging Esther along? That was just a bonus.
Esther blinked. "That sounds… expensive. And very late. I doubt Mr. Lewis would approve."
"Trust me, he'll agree. The most powerful and wealthiest people will be there tonight. That includes Uncle Daniel. He probably already got an invite."
"I'll have to talk to him before saying yes."
"Just do it quickly. Not much time before nightfall." Dija turned back to Thomas, who was sliding into the car. "Can I have your number?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't," he replied, shutting the door.
"Wait, why not? I promise I'm harmless!" she pouted. "I just want to be friends!"
But Thomas was already half out of sight in the car.
Dija turned to Esther, still pouting. "Bestie, can you give me his number?"
"Why do you want his number?"
"Because I saw my future in his arms. I'm going to make him my boyfriend."
Esther laughed out loud. Her friend was absolutely serious, for now.
"You say that about every guy. Your longest relationship barely lasted a week." Dija was the type that easily fell in love and twice as much ends it.
"Can I have it, please?"
"Sorry. You'll have to ask his permission first," Esther said, heading inside.
"You're cruel!" Dija called after her. "Haven't you ever heard of 'friends before anything'?"
Esther only shook her head and smiled.
"Don't forget to text me once you get Uncle Daniel's answer!" Dija shouted before heading to her car parked nearby.
Esther stepped inside just as Lady Bell emerged from the kitchen, her hands full, balancing a deep, curved sand-colored bowl brimming with warm rice bread.
"Dija stopped by earlier," Lady Bell said casually, setting the bowl down with practiced ease.
"Yes, she came to invite me to a function tonight," Esther replied, walking over.
"The Prime Minister's wife's birthday?" Lady Bell asked knowingly, her brows lifting with interest. The event had been splashed across every media outlet all day.
"Yeah," Esther nodded. "But I have to ask Mr. Lewis first."
"He'll say yes," Lady Bell said with quiet confidence. "He might even attend himself, if he doesn't decide to skip it like every other year."
She gave a small sigh. "If he shows up this time, it would be nothing short of a Christmas miracle."
Esther smiled, then glanced around. "Where's Betty?"
"In her room," Lady Bell replied, already smiling. "She's been getting ready for your little garden picnic all morning. Even talked me into making my very best rice bread."
She picked up a slice and handed it to Esther with a proud grin. "Go on, taste it."
Esther took a bite, and a soft hum of pleasure escaped her lips. "Mmm. This is incredible." The bread was tender and warm, lightly sweetened, with hints of banana and nutmeg dancing on her tongue. "You wood-fired it?"
"I did," Lady Bell beamed. "Used the old fireplace in the living room. I wanted that rich, smoky flavor you just can't get from modern ovens."
Esther nodded, clearly impressed. "You have to give me your recipe. This is beautifully done."
Lady Bell's smile widened with a teasing glint. "For that, you'll have to marry into the Lewis family."
Esther blinked, mid-chew, nearly choking on her bite. Lady Bell laughed softly, clearly enjoying herself.
The golden wash of the setting sun bled through the tall windows of Daniel's office as he stepped back in from the subdivision branch, loosening the cuffs of his sleeves. He moved with the measured precision of someone who had made a hundred decisions since morning, but still had a dozen more to go before day's end.
"Call in Miss Williams," he instructed his assistant crisply.
Sarah arrived not a moment later, composed and professional as always. Her heels clicked softly on the marble floor as she stepped in, a clipboard in hand.
"You asked for me, sir?"
Daniel glanced up from his desk. "Yes."
Before he could continue, Sarah leaned in just slightly, her smile confident, practiced. "I was going to remind you of the Prime Minister's event tonight. The invitation is still open."
Daniel gave a small nod. "I'm aware."
There was a beat of silence between them. Sarah waited, sure, hopeful, that the next words would be an invitation. But instead, Daniel looked back down at the tablet on his desk.
"I'd like you to contact the designer. Have her send over a few dress options for Miss Cole. Formal but not overstated."
Sarah blinked, her smile faltering for just a fraction of a second. The name hit like a bucket of cold water.
"Miss Cole, as in Esther your governess?," she repeated, the syllables tasting bitter in her mouth.
Daniel didn't look up. "Yes, She'll be accompanying me tonight."
For a split second, Sarah felt her composure waver. Her throat tightened. The fantasy she'd quietly nurtured, being the woman at Daniel Lewis's side, shattered in the span of one quiet instruction.
But she recovered swiftly, her lips pulling back into a tight, flawless smile. "Of course, sir. I'll see to it right away."
Without another word, she turned and walked out, her expression unreadable. But beneath her polished surface, emotions stirred, a bitter cocktail of jealousy, confusion, and a simmering resentment.
Esther, my did it have to be her.
She was way better good looking than her.
So what did Daniel Lewis see in her exactly?.