Ryan watched from his office window as Alice worked tirelessly in the restaurant. From the moment he hired her , Ryan had noticed something different about Alice —a quiet resilience that drew him in. At first, Ryan had offered extra shifts as a way to help Alice out, but soon, he realized he was looking for excuses just to spend more time with her.

Ryan admired how Alice handled everything with grace, despite the clear pain he carried. He often caught himself watching Alice from afar, wondering if the young woman noticed the care behind those extra hours. Ryan knew he was falling for Alice but he wasn't sure if Alicd was ready to see it—or if she even felt the same way.

One evening, after the restaurant had closed and the staff had gone home, Ryan saw Alice still cleaning up, her movements slow and tired. Ryan approached her, his heart beating a little faster.

"Alice," Ryan began softly, "you’ve been working so hard lately. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay… You know, if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here."