Late at night, the city hummed with distant traffic, but Alexander Rowe’s apartment was silent. He stood on his balcony, the cold breeze tugging at the sleeves of his shirt as his eyes wandered down to the floor below. There she was, his neighbor, bathed in the golden glow of her living room lamp. She laughed softly, unaware of his gaze, her head tilted as she tended to the small jungle of plants on her windowsill.

Alexander sighed, leaning against the railing. For years, he had commanded boardrooms, navigated cutthroat negotiations, and built an empire from scratch. Yet here he was, utterly clueless about how to approach a woman who had unknowingly stolen his thoughts.

A bouquet of white lilies sat on his counter—another gift he’d leave at her door without a name. It was safer that way, or so he told himself. But tonight felt different. Tonight, he wanted her to know it was him. He wanted to say more than a silent “I noticed you.”

With a deep breath, Alexander picked up the flowers and headed to the elevator, rehearsing words he might never say. “Hi, I’m Alexander, your upstairs neighbor…” His voice trailed off as he stepped into the hallway. What would she think of him?

Before he could overthink, her door opened, and she stepped out, catching him mid-stride. Their eyes met, her surprise mirroring his. The lilies trembled slightly in his hand as he fumbled for words.

“Hey, uh…these are for you,” he managed, the polished CEO vanishing in the presence of her soft smile.