Chapter 4: Late Night at the Studio

It was well past 9:00 PM. The main lights of Vance Global had dimmed, leaving only the soft glow of floor lamps and computer monitors across the

empty studio floor. Clara sat at her desk, typing furiously to finish the final renders for the morning presentation.

She rubbed her tired eyes, stretching her neck. Suddenly, a fresh paper cup of hot coffee was placed gently on her desk.

Clara looked up in surprise to find Ethan standing beside her, holding a black coffee mug for himself.

“You’re still here?” Clara asked, taking the cup. The rich aroma of hazelnut coffee filled the air. “I thought you left hours ago.”

“A CEO doesn’t leave while his lead designer is still working on his project,” Ethan replied smoothly, leaning against the edge of her desk.

“Besides, I wanted to ensure you weren’t working yourself to exhaustion.”

“I don’t give up easily,” Clara said, taking a sip and looking up at him. “Why are you always so relentless, Ethan? Is work the only thing that

matters to you?”

Ethan’s expression softened slightly, the usual icy guard dropping just a fraction. He looked out at the twinkling lights of the London skyline

visible through the glass window.

“When you build something from nothing, Clara, you learn that control is the only thing protecting you from failure,” he said quietly, his tone

surprisingly gentle. “People leave, plans fall apart. But work stays.”

Clara looked at him, seeing a flash of deep loneliness behind his successful exterior. “Not everything is meant to fall apart,” she said softly.

Ethan turned his head, his deep blue eyes meeting hers in the dim light. The distance between them felt paper-thin. “I’m starting to realize

that,” he murmured