It didn't take long for Lina to realize something important:
Everyone was afraid of Adrian Hale.
Employees spoke in hushed tones. Movements were precise. Even laughter felt… controlled.
"He hasn't smiled in years," one whispered.
"He fired someone just for being late," another added.
Lina blinked.
Wait… what?
She glanced toward Adrian's office.
The glass walls made it easy to see him—sitting at his desk, focused, unreadable, untouchable.
"…He smiled yesterday," Lina murmured.
"What?" a nearby employee asked.
"Nothing!" she said quickly.
But she knew what she saw.
It was small.
Barely noticeable.
But it was there.
Later that day, Lina entered his office to clean.
She moved quietly, careful not to disturb him.
But after a few minutes—
"You don't have to tiptoe."
She froze.
"I—sorry…"
"I can work with noise."
"Oh. Okay."
She relaxed slightly, continuing her work more naturally.
A few moments passed.
Then—
"Why are you always smiling?"
Lina blinked.
"…Huh?"
Adrian didn't look up from his papers.
"You smile often."
She tilted her head, thinking.
"I guess… it's easier than being sad."
That made him pause.
Just for a second.
"My life isn't exactly easy," she continued, wiping a surface gently. "But if I stay gloomy all the time, it just feels heavier."
Silence.
Then—
"That's inefficient," Adrian said.
Lina stared at him.
"…Excuse me?"
"Emotionally inefficient."
She couldn't help it.
She laughed.
A soft, genuine laugh that filled the quiet room.
And for the first time—
Adrian looked up.
Truly looked at her.
"…You're strange," he said.
"Maybe," Lina grinned. "But at least I'm a happy strange."
He didn't respond.
But as she left the room—
There was something different in the air.
Something warmer.