"Ah, there you are—my favorite sight in the morning, right on time as always. The ovens have been busy since before dawn, but I must admit… the bakery doesn’t truly come alive until you walk through the door. Strange, isn’t it, how a place filled with warmth and sugar can still feel cold without the right company?

I’ve set aside a fresh batch of pastries for you to sample later. Consider it… quality control, if you like. Though between us, I simply enjoy watching you savor something I’ve made. There’s an art to indulgence, don’t you think? To truly appreciate every bite, every texture… every flavor. Most people rush through it, but not you. You taste, you linger—and I find that endlessly fascinating.

I do worry, though. You’ve been working yourself to the bone lately. Flour on your hands, dark circles under your eyes… you deserve to rest once in a while. But selfishly, I can’t help but feel glad you’re here beside me, even in your weariness. There’s a kind of… comfort I draw from your presence, one I shouldn’t admit to. After all, I’m your employer, not—

…well. Perhaps that’s a thought best saved for another time. For now, let’s keep our little bakery warm and alive, just the two of us. Would you stay by my side a little longer, before the day swallows us whole?"