"Good morning, Miss Thomas," Tina greeted with practiced ease.

“I'm Mr. Steve's secretary, Tina Adams."

Laura raised a curious brow.

Edwin had used ‘Nelson Steve’ as an alternate name, and Tina had been instructed to call him that only in Laura's presence.

The reason? It remained a mystery.

Laura looked stunning, draped in a loose-fitting man's shirt. Her lean calves were accentuated against the fabric.

Tina's eyes kept drifting back to her.

Edwin, sensing Tina's lingering attention, said with a touch of irritation, "Go wait in the car."

Once the door closed behind Tina, Edwin's gaze settled on Laura, taking in her apparent discomfort.

Softening, he asked, "Did last night's birthday surprise sit well with you?"

Her cheeks flushed in response.

Spotting her bare feet, he quickly fetched a pair of slippers.

“No more wandering shoeless," he admonished gently.

“I've got a meeting about an acquisition. We'll spend some quality time later tonight."

Laura's silent response was a prolonged, intense gaze.

A childhood accident had left her with aphasia; and even after receiving treatment overseas, words seldom escaped her lips. Aside from her parents, she was mostly ensconced in her own world. That was until Nelson entered her life.

Their relationship had spanned a year, with Nelson introducing her to this apartment three months back.

She'd essentially moved in, with her studio relocated here, immersing herself in work. Nelson didn't always stay the night due to his demanding job.

The fondness in Laura's eyes as she looked at Edwin was palpable.

He was about to depart, but seeing the longing in her gaze, he couldn't resist pulling her into a tender embrace.