The grand ballroom was filled with the city’s elite as Dominic Sterling stood at the head table, his jaw clenched. At 38, the billionaire CEO of Sterling Enterprises had perfected maintaining composure during disasters. But tonight, 40 minutes before his company’s biggest investor gala, he was losing that battle.

 “Tell me again how this happened,” Dominic said, his voice dangerously calm. His CTO Marcus looked miserable. The presentation software crashed. We’ve lost the entire pitch deck for the Henderson merger. Three months of work gone. Our IT team has been trying to recover it for an hour, but the backup was corrupted. Victoria Dominic’s Fiank E placed a hand on his arm. Darling, we’ll have to cancel.

Cancel. Dominic said this gala represents $200 million in potential investments. We can’t cancel. Then what do you suggest? Victoria asked sharply. We have no presentation. The catering staff moved quietly around them. One server young woman maybe 25 with brown hair in a ponytail approached with wine glasses. Excuse me, she said quietly.

 I couldn’t help but overhear. Did you say you lost your presentation? Victoria turned to her with irritation. Yes. Not that it’s any concern of the catering staff, but Dominic noticed something in the young woman’s expression. Intelligence. What’s your name? Emma, she said. Emma Richardson. And I might be able to help you, Victoria laughed.

You’re a waitress. I’m also a software engineer. Emma said calmly. Or I was. Until my company downsized 3 months ago. I’ve been waitressing to pay rent and I heard your CTO mention the backup was corrupted. May I see the laptop? Dominic studied her face, seeing no deception. Marcus, let her look.

 Sir, she’s a waitress, Marcus protested. And you’re an IT expert who lost a $100 million presentation, Dominic replied. Let her look, Emma sat down her tray and sat at the laptop. Her fingers flew across the keyboard with practiced confidence. “Your backup wasn’t corrupted,” Emma said after 2 minutes. It was encrypted by your ransomware protection after detecting what it thought was a virus.

 I can reverse the encryption. She worked for five minutes while the room watched in disbelief. There, Emma said, “Your presentation is restored. You’ll want to update your security parameters to prevent this.” Marcus leaned over the laptop, eyes widening. “She’s right. Everything’s here,” Emma stood.

 “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have tables to serve.” She walked away as if she hadn’t just saved a $und00 million deal. Dominic stared after her. Find out everything about her. He told his assistant. The gala proceeded flawlessly. But Dominic couldn’t stop thinking about the waitress who’d solved what his entire IT department couldn’t.

After the event, Dominic found Emma removing her apron. “Miss Richardson,” he said. “A moment?” Emma turned surprised. “Mr. Sterling, I hope everything went well. It went perfectly thanks to you, Dominic said. I had my team research you. MIT graduate, top of your class, 5 years at Quantum Systems. Why are you waitressing? Emma’s expression hardened.

 Because tech companies want young graduates with no commitments. I’m 26, which apparently makes me old in Silicon Valley. And I was honest in interviews about wanting work life balance. That’s absurd, Dominic said. That’s the industry, Emma replied. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to catch the bus. Wait, Dominic said, I want to offer you a position, head of cyber security at Sterling Enterprises.

 You’d oversee our digital infrastructure and report directly to me. Emma stared at him. You want to hire me based on 5 minutes of work? 5 minutes? That saved my company $100 million? Dominic said. Plus your credentials, which are impeccable. Plus your ability to find solutions instead of excuses. What’s the salary? Emma asked bluntly. 200,000 to start.

 Full benefits. Stock options. Reasonable hours? Emma’s eyes widen. That’s generous, but I can’t accept a job offered out of gratitude. Then trial period 3 months. If you’re not right for the position, we part professionally. But Emma, I’m good at reading people. You have talent. Don’t let false modesty stop you. Emma was quiet.

 Okay, 3 months. But if I’m not right, tell me honestly. Deal, Dominic said. Over the following months, Emma proved invaluable. She rebuilt Sterling’s security infrastructure, trained the ID team, and even uncovered an embezzlement scheme. She was brilliant, dedicated, and refreshingly honest. And somewhere along the way, Dominic realized he was falling in love with her.

 “Your fiani doesn’t like me,” Emma observed. One evening, 6 months in, “Victoria doesn’t like anyone who challenges the status quo,” Dominic admitted. “She’s been pushing me to fire you.” “The CFO you caught was her college roommate.” “Are you going to,” Emma asked. “Fire you?” “No, but I am ending my engagement,” Dominic said, surprising himself.

Victoria wants a trophy husband. I want a partner who cares about the work. Hepaused. Someone like you, Miss Breath caught. Dominic, you’re my boss. I know, he said. Which is why I’m not asking you on a date. I’m telling you how I feel and leaving the choice to you. If you want to keep this professional, nothing changes. Emma was quiet.

 I’ve been falling for you for 3 months, but I was terrified you’d think I was using you, Emma. Your job security is based on your competence, not my feelings. But if those feelings are mutual, I’d like to explore what that means properly with HR documentation. You want to date me with HR documentation? Emma smiled.

 I want to do everything correctly, Dominic said. Because you’re the first person in years who sees me as Dominic, not just as CEO. One year after Emma had fixed a laptop while waitressing, she stood beside Dominic at the same venue as Sterling Enterprises chief technology officer. “When I walked into this room last year,” Emma said in her speech.

 “I was a waitress who overheard a problem.” “Mr. Sterling could have dismissed me, but he saw past my apron to my capabilities.” “After the ceremony, Dominic found Emma on the balcony. I have something for you, he said, pulling out a small box with two items. A ring and a job offer. The offer is for senior partner at Sterling Enterprises, Dominic explained.

Equal ownership. You’ve earned it. And the ring? Emma asked softly. The ring is separate. Dominic said. Emma Richardson. Will you marry me? Emma wiped away tears. Which am I answering first? The partnership? Yes, Emma said. I accept. And the other? Yes, Emma said, laughing. Yes to everything.

 As Dominic slipped the ring on her finger, Emma looked at the ballroom where she’d been serving drinks a year ago. Victoria told me to just do my job that night, she said. And I did. Just a different job than she expected. That’s because you’re not defined by temporary circumstances, Dominic said. You were always brilliant. You just needed someone to see it.

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