7. Adrian Henrix

Serena’s Point of View

“Sir… I didn’t realize you had arrived.”

Marco’s tone shifted instantly into something respectful and polite as he stepped toward the table by the window.

The tall man in the dark suit didn’t respond. He simply looked at the customer, his eyes completely emotionless.

I turned back to the man who had been yelling at me just moments ago.

His expression had changed entirely.

From arrogance… To hesitation, laced with fear.

“Sir, I think there has been a misunderstanding,” he said, forcing a laugh, trying to ease the tension.

“This waitress…” he pointed to me.

The man in the dark suit spoke before he could continue.

“She handled the situation professionally.”

He didn’t raise his voice. It remained calm. Cold.

The customer fell silent.

“She served your table properly,” the man in the dark suit said. “You chose to escalate it. Didn’t you?”

No long explanation. But it was enough.

Marco lowered his head slightly. “In that case…”

“Sir, with due respect,” the customer cut in quickly, forcing a weak smile, “you may not have heard everything. The soup was cold, and this waitress…”

“I saw enough.”

The interruption was quiet yet final.

“Sir…” the customer tried again, his voice tightening. “I…”

“Diego,” the man said, his tone unchanged, “are you questioning what I saw?”

That was enough.

The man’s confidence crumbled.

“S…sir… I didn’t mean to cause trouble,” he said hurriedly.

“Then don’t.”

A brief pause.

“And apologize.”

The man turned to me immediately.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I overreacted.”

I nodded once. That was enough.

“Sit down,” Adrian said, already looking away.

The man obeyed instantly.

“Y…yes… thank you, sir…” he stammered.

I didn’t understand why he was thanking him.

“I’ll replace your soup,” Marco said politely..

“Yes, thank you…” Now he finally remembered how to be polite.

Marco then looked at me, his expression unreadable.

“Ask the kitchen for a replacement.”

I nodded and walked back.

When I glanced over my shoulder once, I saw Marco standing by the man in the dark suit. His shoulders were slightly hunched; he looked like he was apologizing rather than speaking.

The restaurant slowly came back to life. Conversations resumed. Cutlery clinked.

But something had changed.

For me. For everyone.

A few minutes later, I carried a tray toward the window table.

My steps were slower this time. My eyes kept drifting toward the man seated there, his attention fully on his phone.

I placed the plate in front of him.

“Your order, sir.”

“Thank you,” he said, without looking up.

I hesitated.

I wasn’t sure if I should interrupt him.

He clearly looked busy.

Still…

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

He looked up.

His green eyes met mine directly for the first time.

They were steadier than I expected. Less cold.

“You didn’t have to intervene,” I said softly.

“I know.”

The answer came immediately.

Simple. Unbothered.

As if it truly hadn’t mattered to him.

I didn’t know how to respond.

There was a brief silence.

I was about to excuse myself,

Then he spoke.

“Adrian.”

He extended his hand.

I blinked.

“I’m Serena,” I said, taking it.

His hand was warm. Steady.

Our eyes locked with each other for a moment. I couldn’t help but have this strong familiarity with those green eyes.

“Have we met before?” Before I could even process my feelings, I had already asked.

“No,” his answer was short and simple.

I smiled weakly. Yes, what are the odds?

“Enjoy your meal, sir,” I added before stepping away.

I returned to my work, but my mind stayed behind.

I didn’t get a chance to return to his table again. Marco attended to him personally.

After my shift ended, I found Marco near the counter.

“The customer at the window table…” I asked carefully. “Who is he?”

Marco looked at me.

For a moment, his expression turned cautious.

“Someone Lena knows,” he said.

“Very well,” he added.

“Oh…” I nodded slowly.

So he was Lena’s acquaintance. Was that why Marco had looked so nervous earlier?

Marco let out a breath.

“And…”

He hesitated.

“His company owns this building.”

“What?”

“The entire 4Axis complex,” he clarified.

A strange feeling settled in my chest.

I remembered standing outside this building the day I got hired.

Henrix Properties.

Those words were glowing in gold beneath the building’s name.

The company that owned this place. Henrix Properties…

And Henrix Properties was his company…

Which meant… The man who introduced himself as Adrian…

Was…

Adrian Henrix.

The very man Rowen used to talk about. The chairman’s son. The new CEO.

The man Rowen said was cold, ruthless, and demanding. The man who pushed his employees beyond their limits.

And yet…

He had stood up for me. For a waitress who works in one of the restaurants in a building he owns.

“Serena… just do your job,” Marco said, his tone serious. “He’s not someone you should get entangled with.”

I didn’t fully understand what he meant. I had no intention of getting involved with him. I had only been curious.

Because he had helped me when he didn’t even have to.

“I know,” I said quietly, turning toward the kitchen.

“Yeah… you better,” I heard Marco mutter behind me.