The business dinner ended later than Sofia expected.
By the time the last document had been reviewed and the final handshake exchanged, the restaurant had grown quieter. Most of the other guests had already left, leaving behind only soft music and the low murmur of a few remaining conversations.
Sofia closed her notebook carefully, placing the pen inside before gathering the folders Leo had asked her to organize.
Across the table, the two clients stood and shook Leo's hand.
"Excellent meeting tonight, Mr. Rivera," one of them said with a satisfied smile.
Leo nodded calmly.
"I'm glad we could reach an agreement."
The men turned toward Sofia politely.
"And thank you as well, Miss…?"
"Mirano," she said gently.
"Miss Mirano. You handled the documentation very well."
Sofia smiled politely.
"Thank you."
A few minutes later, the clients left the restaurant.
The hostess cleared the table, leaving Leo and Sofia alone in the softly lit room.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Leo stood.
"We should go."
Sofia nodded, gathering the last of the folders before standing as well.
They walked out of the restaurant together, the cool evening air greeting them as they stepped outside.
The city lights shimmered across the streets, reflecting off passing cars and tall glass buildings.
Sofia wrapped her arms lightly around herself.
The night had grown slightly colder.
Leo noticed immediately.
Without saying anything, he removed his suit jacket and held it out.
"You should wear this."
Sofia blinked.
"Oh, I'm fine—"
"Take it."
His tone wasn't forceful.
Just calm and certain.
Sofia hesitated for a second before accepting the jacket.
"Thank you."
The fabric was warm and carried a faint scent of his cologne.
She tried not to notice.
Leo opened the car door for her again, just as he had done before.
Sofia slid into the passenger seat, carefully holding the folders in her lap.
A moment later, Leo started the engine.
The car moved smoothly through the quiet city streets.
For a few minutes, the silence between them felt comfortable.
Not awkward.
Just peaceful.
Finally, Leo spoke.
"You handled the meeting well tonight."
Sofia looked at him.
"Thank you."
She paused before adding honestly,
"I was nervous at first."
Leo glanced at her briefly.
"It didn't show."
Sofia smiled slightly.
"I'm glad."
The city lights passed slowly outside the windows as the car continued down the road.
After a moment, Leo spoke again.
"You adapt quickly."
Sofia tilted her head slightly.
"To what?"
"To this environment."
He gestured lightly toward the business district surrounding them.
"Most people take longer."
Sofia thought about that.
"I suppose I just try to do my best."
Leo nodded slightly.
That was something he had already noticed about her.
Sofia Mirano never did things halfway.
A few minutes later, they stopped at a red light.
Sofia looked down at the folders in her lap, then suddenly remembered something.
"Oh."
She opened one of the folders and pulled out a small document.
"I almost forgot. The revised agreement."
She turned toward him to hand it over at the same moment he reached toward her.
For a brief second…
Their hands touched.
It was nothing more than a light brush of fingers.
But the moment felt strangely still.
Sofia quickly pulled her hand back, her heart suddenly beating faster.
Leo accepted the document calmly, though his expression shifted ever so slightly.
Neither of them mentioned it.
But the quiet tension in the car had changed.
Soon, the car stopped outside Sofia's apartment building.
The street was calm, illuminated by warm streetlights.
Sofia unfastened her seatbelt.
"Thank you for driving me again."
Leo nodded.
"You're welcome."
She handed his jacket back carefully.
But as she reached toward him, Leo noticed something.
Her hands were slightly cold.
Without thinking, he said,
"You should keep it."
Sofia blinked.
"But it's yours."
"I'll get it tomorrow."
She hesitated, then nodded.
"Alright."
She opened the car door and stepped out.
But before closing it, she leaned slightly toward the window.
"Good night, Mr. Rivera."
Leo looked at her for a moment.
"Good night… Sofia."
This time, the name sounded natural.
Unforced.
Sofia smiled softly before closing the door.
Leo waited until she walked safely inside the building before driving away.
The moment Sofia entered her apartment, her phone buzzed loudly.
Lucy.
Of course.
Sofia barely had time to take off her shoes before answering the call.
Lucy's excited voice exploded through the phone.
"Tell me everything!"
Sofia laughed tiredly.
"Lucy…"
"How was the dinner?"
"It went well."
Lucy gasped dramatically.
"That's not enough detail."
Sofia sat down on the couch.
"It was mostly business."
"Did he stare at you in the dress?"
Sofia sighed.
"Lucy…"
Lucy didn't sound convinced.
"You're hiding something."
Sofia hesitated for a moment.
Then she admitted quietly,
"He gave me his jacket."
Lucy screamed so loudly that Sofia had to pull the phone away from her ear.
"Oh my god."
"It was cold," Sofia said quickly.
Lucy laughed.
"Sure."
Sofia shook her head, smiling despite herself.
But after the call ended and the apartment grew quiet again, Sofia glanced at the jacket draped over her chair.
It still carried that faint scent.
And somehow…
The evening felt more memorable than it probably should have been.
Across the city, Leo stepped into his apartment and loosened his tie.
His mind replayed several small moments from the night.
The way Sofia had walked into the restaurant.
The quiet confidence she had shown during the meeting.
And the brief touch of her hand earlier in the car.
Leo rarely allowed personal thoughts to interfere with his work.
Yet tonight…
His thoughts kept returning to the same person.
Sofia Mirano.
And for the first time in a long while, Leo Rivera found himself wondering what tomorrow at the office would feel like.