Friday, 1:15 P.M.
The hospital cafeteria was unusually crowded.
Doctors in white coats stood in line discussing complicated surgeries.
Nurses laughed over steaming cups of coffee.
Volunteers gathered around the windows, enjoying the warm afternoon sunlight.
Everything seemed normal.
Yet...
One name floated through almost every conversation.
"...Celina."
"Did you hear?"
"Mr. Steel personally invited her to the Community Hope Luncheon."
"I thought the newspaper article was just gossip."
"So did I."
"But why would he invite a cleaner?"
Their voices were hushed.
Curious.
Judgmental.
Somewhere between disbelief and envy.
At a quiet table near the window, Celina slowly stirred the soup in front of her.
She had barely taken two bites.
Emily noticed immediately.
"You're thinking too much again."
Celina forced a small smile.
"Is it that obvious?"
Emily raised an eyebrow.
"You've been stirring the same spoonful for almost a minute."
That earned a soft laugh.
"I suppose I have."
Emily leaned forward.
"You're worried about the luncheon."
Celina looked out the window.
Children were chasing soap bubbles in the hospital garden, their laughter floating through the open glass doors.
"I don't belong there."
She admitted the words so quietly they were almost lost beneath the noise of the cafeteria.
Emily frowned.
"Why would you say that?"
"Because everyone attending will be important."
"Doctors."
"Business leaders."
"Donors."
She looked down at her simple blue uniform.
"And then..."
"There'll be me."
Emily reached across the table and gently covered Celina's hand.
"Do you know why Director James chose you for Children's Hope Day?"
Celina shook her head.
"Because children trust people who are genuine."
Emily smiled warmly.
"And do you know why Mr. Steel keeps inviting you?"
Celina hesitated.
"I... don't know."
"Neither do I."
Emily laughed.
"But I know one thing."
"He has never looked at anyone else the way he looks at you."
Celina's cheeks warmed instantly.
"Emily..."
"I'm serious."
"You don't notice it because you're always looking away."
Before Celina could answer...
A familiar voice interrupted.
"Miss Bakers?"
Both women turned.
It was Ethan Brooks.
Impeccably dressed as always.
His polite smile never faltered.
"Mr. Steel asked me to deliver something."
He placed a large ivory-colored garment bag carefully beside her chair.
Celina looked confused.
"What is this?"
"A small gift."
"I can't accept—"
"It's not from Mr. Steel."
Ethan interrupted gently.
"It's from the Steel Foundation."
Emily looked unconvinced.
"Oh?"
Ethan cleared his throat.
"The Foundation believes every guest should feel comfortable during tomorrow's luncheon."
Celina slowly unzipped the garment bag.
Inside...
Hung an elegant champagne-colored dress.
Its flowing satin shimmered softly beneath the cafeteria lights.
Delicate floral embroidery traced the neckline with understated elegance.
It wasn't flashy.
It was timeless.
Beautiful.
Celina stared at it in stunned silence.
"It's..."
She struggled to find the words.
"I've never owned anything like this."
Emily gasped.
"Oh my goodness..."
"It's gorgeous."
Several nearby nurses had already noticed.
Whispers spread almost immediately.
"Did you see that?"
"That's designer."
"Who sends a cleaner a dress like that?"
Celina quickly zipped the bag closed.
"I really can't accept this."
Ethan's expression remained respectful.
"I expected you might say that."
He reached into his jacket pocket and handed her a folded card.
She opened it carefully.
The handwriting was neat.
Strong.
Simple.
A person should never feel out of place because of what they wear.
Come as my guest.
—Aaron Steel
Celina read the words twice.
Then a third time.
There was no mention of the dress.
No instructions.
No pressure.
Only consideration.
Somehow...
That touched her more deeply than the gift itself.
At the same moment...
On the sixty-eighth floor of Steel Global Headquarters...
Aaron stood beside the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Rosewood stretched endlessly beneath him.
Ethan's message arrived.
The dress has been delivered.
Aaron slipped the phone back into his pocket.
For reasons he couldn't explain...
He found himself wondering whether she would accept.
Not because of the luncheon.
But because accepting meant trusting him.
A soft knock came at the office door.
"Come in."
The door opened.
A graceful woman stepped inside.
She wore a tailored cream suit and carried herself with quiet confidence.
Her eyes immediately settled on Aaron.
"So..."
She smiled.
"I hear you've become the most talked-about bachelor in Rosewood."
Aaron sighed almost imperceptibly.
"Evelyn."
"What brings you here?"
She walked toward him without answering immediately.
Instead...
She placed the morning newspaper on his desk.
The headline showed the now-familiar photograph from the gala.
Then she looked back at him.
"I came because I wanted to meet the woman everyone says has captures Aaron's steels attention"
Aaron's expression remained calm.
But for the first time in years...
Evelyn Monroe noticed something she had never seen before.
He didn't deny it.