Love Behind Closed Doors

CHAPTER 3

It was In the evening, around four pm, the sun had started to set, Victoria had left her office after a day filled with meetings, emails, and lots of work as a secretary. Since she was still new to the company grounds, she thought it would be a good idea for her to explore the company's large area to get familiar with its surroundings.

So she began to walk through the well-kept lawns and paths, and her steps made soft echoes in the quiet lawn as she passed. The air smelled like night was coming, and in the distance she could hear the bustling sounds of the city outside the company gates.

Then, by accident, she found a part of the company grounds she had never explored before and was intrigued by it. When she turned a corner, she stumbled upon—a beautiful secret garden filled with colorful flowers, green bushes, and unique, rare orchids. It was like the garden was waiting just for her to discover it.

Victoria was really amazed by the garden's beauty. It was like stepping into a dreamland. But her curiosity grew more when she noticed a person gently tending to one of the rare orchids. It was Alexander Thornwood, her billionaire CEO, known for being both strict and hostile to everyone.

Right there he was alone, completely focused on the orchids. His usual stern expression had softened this time, and a faint smile seemed to appear on his face. It was a side of Alexander that she believed few people had ever seen—the side that showed his deep connection to the beauty of nature.

For a moment, Victoria watched him, feeling a mix of emotions. She had always heard and thought of him as a tough man, an unemotional CEO, but this unexpected glimpse revealed more of his complex and human side. Part of her wanted to stay and explore more, but she decided to leave quietly so as not to disturb his moment of peace.

As she began to step back silently in order not to create an awareness that she was there spying on him, her footsteps stepped on the gardens's pebble path making a faint sound. Immediately their eyes met each other, her heart raced and her thoughts were full of confusion and curiosity. Quickly she disappeared into the corner. Alexander Thornwood saw her disappear into the corner, with his gaze still fixed on her. The unexpected encounter sparked his curiosity but Alexander remained deep within the quiet beauty of his secret garden. Victoria left the garden and exited the company building, on her way home, then she began to feel a connection that she couldn't fully understand. She started asking herself: Would this unexpected encounter change her view of her CEO, or was it just a brief moment in the life of a man known for keeping his emotions hidden?