A/N

This story is unedited so apologies for grammatical and spelling errors if any.

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Fiora's (POV)

I reluctantly dragged myself out of the warmth of my cosy blanket, feeling its comforting embrace slip away with each step. There was a persistent knock at the door, disrupting the tranquillity of my morning cocoon. Reluctantly, I wrapped the blanket tighter around myself, shuffling towards the door with heavy, half-asleep eyes.

As I swung the door open, my gaze fell upon him - a man. Not just any man, but a hunk, exuding an effortless charm that seemed almost unfair, especially at this ungodly hour. I couldn't help but wonder, could this man ever look anything less than impeccably handsome, even in the early hours of the morning?

Summoning what little energy I had left, I managed a lacklustre greeting. "Good morning, sir."

He flashed a knowing smile, clearly amused by my dishevelled appearance. "Fiora, I hate to disturb you but, it's nearly breakfast time. As much as you may resist leaving your cosy sanctuary, we don't want people waiting for us. It wouldn't do to keep them waiting," he remarked, his voice carrying a gently chiding tone.

"It's minus 4 degrees outside, You've got to be kidding me. It snowed last night, and I'm exhausted. I refuse to leave my cosy room. Let them all have breakfast without me. I'm not stopping anyone. I'm too sleepy; I'm going to bed," I grumbled, casting a pout in his direction as if he were not just my boss, but my comrade for a long time.

Despite my feeble protest, he sauntered into my room and closed the door behind him, then settled onto my bed. "What do you think you're doing?" I demanded, annoyance lacing my words and protest evident in my tone.

"You said your room is warm, right? Well, I'm cold. Let me bask in some of that warmth. You can snuggle up beside me and get some rest," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes as if he hadn't just invited me to share his bed.

"Why couldn't I have noticed what a jerk you are?" I seethed, my face flushing with a mix of anger, shyness, and embarrassment. With a swift motion, I yanked the blanket from around me and hurled it at him before turning towards my cupboard to retrieve my clothes. Without glancing in his direction, I stormed off to the shower, though I couldn't ignore the faint sound of his chuckle.

'It's six in the morning, who the hell has breakfast this early?' I muttered to myself as I dried my hair as if my grumbling could somehow change the situation. Zackary was nowhere to be found, and my bed was neatly made, a handwritten note resting atop it. It read, 'I'm sorry if I overdid it, but our client is rather punctual about meals, and I didn't want them to have a bad first impression of you. As an apology, you can ask me anything today, and I won't deny it as long as it's within my reach.'

'It's both endearing and irritating, reminding me of how unprofessional this situation has become. I swore I'd keep it strictly business with him, so what happened to that resolve my smartass mind? Were you sleeping on your job? Well, technically, you were, but...' My thoughts trailed off as I glanced out the window to see the snow falling gently. It was mesmerizing, with pine trees dotting the landscape, forming a distant forest. But amidst the serene scene, something unsettling caught my eye.

A four-legged creature seemed to morph into a humanoid figure. I squinted, trying to get a clearer view, but it vanished before I could discern more. This wasn't a normal world; my guard went up instantly. 'Stay alert, Fiora.'

Stolen story; please report.

After steadying my nerves, I acknowledged that what I had witnessed was no mere misunderstanding. I admonished myself not to succumb to fear; after all, this was precisely the kind of bizarre truth I was here to uncover. 'Play dumb, Fiora,' I repeated to myself like a mantra, forcing a smile as I strolled out of my room. Fatigue from the previous night weighed heavily on me, leaving me unable to fully appreciate the architectural splendour of the palace surrounding me.

Inhabited by a strikingly beautiful elderly couple, this palace seemed like something out of a fairy tale. Their request for us to redesign the nearby library only added to the mystery. The palace's design harmonized perfectly with the snowy landscape, adorned with what appeared to be crystalline structures—though whether they were real crystals or clever imitations remained uncertain. These people were undoubtedly affluent, and whoever had designed this place was a master of their craft.

The dining hall, though smaller compared to Zachary's house, still managed to steal my breath away with its exquisite design. "Who designed this place?" I asked softly as I took my place beside Zachary. It was just the two of us on this business trip, a stark contrast to my expectation of an entire team accompanying us. "Mrs. Rebella," he replied simply

Furrowing my brow, I spoke, "Wait, you mean to tell me that the same Rebella Rose, the owner of Rose and Quartz, the iconic designer herself, is the mastermind behind this place?" The realization dawned on me, partially shocked by the revelation. "You know her?" Zachary asked, genuine amazement coloring his tone. "You've got to be kidding me. We practically studied her designs as gospel; she's a pure genius, my idol," I replied, a swell of pride welling within me. Zachary shot me a look, one of those knowing glances that promised intrigue.

Before he could respond, Mrs. Black's voice interrupted our conversation. "Who are you two talking about so animatedly?" she inquired, as Mr. Black courteously pulled out a chair for her. As we rose in respect and they took their seats, Zachary couldn't resist a mischievous tone as he replied, "Oh, just Fiora fangirling over the one and only Mrs. Rebella Rose." I shot him a playful pinch, but it only elicited chuckles from the entire table, as if they were all in on some inside joke.

Mr. Black spoke humbly, his voice tinged with amusement, "So, you're a fan of Rebella Rose?" As I settled into my chair, memories seemed to flicker in my brain. "Back when I was in college, we delved into architecture, studying the designs of many great architects. But, as was the norm, most of these revered figures were men. The few women mentioned didn't seem to surpass any of their male counterparts," I gestured towards Zack and spoke smilingly "Mr. Zachary was one of them. That is, until we encountered Mrs. Rebella Rose, during our final semester, her name emerged, eclipsing every male designer we'd studied. She was remarkably progressive for her era, crafting numerous iconic structures. I always wished I could meet her. She strengthened my belief that women are capable of achieving anything and everything."

Mr. Black nodded, feeling a surge of my sincerity as he replied, "Absolutely. Mrs. Rebella Rose's work has always left me in amazement. She's a testament to the boundless potential of women."

As Mr. Black began his formal introduction, I found my attention drawn to Zack, who was fixating his gaze on me with an expectant smile. Ignoring him, I shifted my focus back to Mr. Black. "Ah, I forgot we haven't been introduced formally yet. I'm Spades Black," he began, his voice warm with familiarity. "And this," he gestured proudly beside him, "is my wife of fifty years, Mrs. Rebella Rose Black."

My heart skipped a beat as the pieces fell into place, realization washing over me in waves. The iconic Mrs Rebella Rose, whose designs had captivated me for so long, was sitting right before my eyes, disguised under a different name.

Continued...

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A/N

Word count:- 1300

Hello, my lovely readers, I hope you all are doing well

Here, is the 13th chapter of my book

I hope you all liked it and have a great day ahead

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Thank you

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bye:)

Until next time

Happy reading 💐

Date:- 18/03/2024