Hidden feelings for Aubrey.

The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the room, the impact so fierce that Charles's ear immediately began to ring.

A piercing, bell-like sound filled his head, drowning out everything else.

For several moments, the world around him blurred into silence, his mind struggling to process what had just happened.

And just in that moment of utter bewilderment, a distant footstep approached.

The distant steps belonged to a young, handsome man, his presence commanding attention before he had even stepped inside the designers departmental room.

The footsteps of the young man echoed through the room, each step carrying an undeniable aura of authority.

It was the kind of presence that demanded attention without a single word, compelling every gaze to shift toward him.

The young man wore long black trousers, tailored to perfection, and a crisp white long-sleeved shirt, neatly ironed and tucked flawlessly beneath his waistband.