"I get that you closed this place down, but really? You didn't even bother hiring someone to come and at least dust?" Stefanie made a show of collapsing on Ella's chair, a rag hanging on her fingertips.

"I came here occasionally for documents and files." Ella defended, still cleaning the bookshelf that was off to the side.

"You came, but did you clean?" Stefanie raised a brow, waiting for her older sister's response. "Exactly." She nodded when Ella didn't respond, just rolled her eyes playfully.

"Just help me sweep and unbox those things, please." Ella gave her something to do just as Stefanie dragged her body off, playing some very loud Bad Bunny songs while Ella sighed.

Ella loved her sister, but they were so different, it was a miracle that they got along so well. Of course, most of that had to be because Ella was just too kind and Stefanie also just adored her older sister too much to actually make her upset.

"Okay. How much are you paying me?" Stefanie asked as she bounded down the steps of the building once they finished cleaning.

"I'll buy you dinner." Ella scoffed, locking the office doors before following the blonde sibling to her car that was parked right in front of another black vehicle.

"Good enough." Stefanie waited for Ella to unlock it before she got in, chatting Ella's ear off.

Stefanie had actually wanted to spend some time with Ella, but since Ella was preparing her clinic, the only time spent together would be readying the private business. Neither one minded, though. It reminded them of old times when their mom would leave them to clean together, which actually happened quite often in their Hispanic household growing up.

Ella was just happy that the place was clean because as the week progressed, she was slowly beginning to regain control over her days and job. Come Friday, and she had already transferred three of her patients back to her.

"I'm so glad you're back, Ms. Cortesa. You have no idea how much Henry missed you." One of the moms of Ella's patient, a little seven year old child, commented once the session had ended.

"I missed him too." Ella candidly stated, watching as the little boy wandered to the front door, waiting for his mom. "I noticed he lost a little bit of weight. Is he not eating well?"

His mom shook her head ruefully. "Two months ago... his dad came. He caused a bit of a ruckus, and I think that affected him." Ella's mouth opened in understand and shock.

Henry, the little boy, had been raised in an abusive home. His biological father beat his biological mother daily. It was honestly a miracle that Henry had managed to survive his mother's pregnancy, but then the beatings against his mother worsened. It seemed as though the father would be enraged at the fact that he now had to support another being, though, oddly enough, he never directed any of that physical aggression towards the little boy. One day, though, the beatings were too much for the mother, and Henry's father ended up taking her life right in front of the little boy. Henry was only four at the time, but due to his circumstances, he had to grow up at a very young age.

Ella nodded, watching as Henry fidgeted before he jumped back, startled at something that was by the door.

"Momma!" Henry inched back, fear written across his face as Ella moved forward rapidly, blocking the little boy from the entrance, expecting to see something or someone scary, but there was nothing.

"What is it?" His adoptive mother also rushed to his side, kneeling by him as the little boy clung to her. "What is it, baby?"

Ella, who didn't take the security and safety of her patients lightly, opened her office door and peaked outside.

Since the building she established her office in was public, multiple other floors and rooms in that building had other establishments. It made it quite easy for anyone looking for a different service to pass by, and for the little boy to see them and get scared.

"I think he probably saw another person pass by. I can check the security footage just to make sure..." Ella trailed off as Henry's mom shook her head, smiling gently.

"He's okay." The look on the woman's face let Ella know that this probably wasn't the first time that something like this had happened.

After setting up the next appointment and bidding some final goodbyes, the pair left, leaving Ella to sit back at her office. There were two rooms inside the area where she worked; there was the entrance to her area, where she had set it up as the waiting area, and then there was another room farther back with a door, and that was her own personal office where she would meet her clients. Just as she sitting in her own office, though, she heard the entrance door open in the dead silence. Thinking it was Henry and his mom, she got up and walked outside only to see who were the intruders.

"Surprise!" Kim Jihye stood by the door with balloons in one hand and cake in the other.

Ella smiled as she widened her eyes. Then, when she was going to open her mouth to thank him, he stepped forward, revealing the entire office crew.

"Oh, my goodness." Ella's eyes teared up as she saw all of her newfound friends pop in, each baring gifts in their hands. "Why are you guys doing this?" She accepted the hugs of everyone, specifically searching for her boyfriend, but she was slightly disappointed that he wasn't there.

"Damien said he would stop by later, but we all know that's just his way of saying, 'leave me alone'." Hope rolled her eyes playfully before opening three boxes of pizza for everyone.

"Is he really busy?" Ella asked, hoping it wouldn't come off suspiciously to everyone that she was showing a special interest in the Italian man.

At the moment, Damien and her had just silently and mutually decided to keep their relationship under wraps. Right now, the only ones that really knew of them dating were just Damien's parents, but even that had been mostly an accident.

"Yeah. He finally got a new secretary, but who knows. She might quit." Hope shrugged, not seeming to find Ella's questioning odd. To Hope, Ella was being her: a caring person.

"I don't know. She seems interested in him." Katherine added, unboxing some wings.

Ella almost dropped her jaw at hearing that Damien's new secretary was interest in him already. Sure, he was handsome, but that wasn't enough to start a full-blown crush... was it?

"I doubt she has those feelings now. Damien has been pretty moody all week long. I found her crying in the break room yesterday afternoon." Oliver chimed in, reaching to steal Hope's extra slice on her plate. Hope only narrowed her eyes in his direction.

"Does he need help?" Ella wondered, taking the plate that Mr. Kim had prepared for her.

"With that killer mood? I think he just needs a pick-me-up." Oliver scowled. "Seriously though, you would think that he would be more grateful to at least come here and thank you personally."

Ella chuckled, almost nervously before taking a bite to keep herself from saying that didn't need to be said. She actually had kept in contact with Damien throughout the week, but they rarely talked about his work. Whenever she brought it up, he would sort of brush it off. Ella thought things were fine.

"Enough about us, though. How are you doing?" Joselyn, of course, being the motherly figure reigned the subject back in about the girl that they all went to visit.

For the rest of the time that they spent there, they all chatted about how work was going as well as their own personal lives, even though it seemed as though they all shared the same personal lives.

"I actually have an announcement to make!" Mr. Kim cleared his throat and dramatically tapped the side of his water bottle with a pen he found.

Everyone paused and turned to him, ready to make fun of whatever silly statement he was going to make.

"I am happy to announce that this year's camping trip will be in one month's time!" He showed a toothy grin as the entire room began to cheer loudly, causing Ella to throw a curious look at Mr. Kim. "Every two years, we go on a 'camping' trip to... honestly, it's just to get away. I really have no excuse." Kim gave up after trying to seem professional. This was Ella he was talking to; the little girl had known him all of her life.

"Oh, my gosh! We're going to have so much fun!" Hope quickly came up with a list of things everyone could do as Katherine groaned, throwing her head back.

"I'm leaving before you guys come up with a schedule." Katherine stood up, picking up a couple of empty pizza boxes and cups before trashing them in big bag.

"Me too." Oliver agreed, stretching as he stood up before also collecting his belongings and trash to help clean up. That action stirred the rest of the group to also do the same, and before long, the place was as spotless as it had been when they entered.

"Thank you so much for coming." Ella gave Jihye a warm hug, almost feeling like a little girl again by how he adoringly swung her from side to side outside in the parking lot.

"I'm just happy you're happy." Jihye sighed in content, letting go of the young girl to fully look at her. "And would you look at that?" Jihye squinted at the car lights that shone through the street just before the well-known Tesla parked behind Ella's vehicle. A little later, Damien got off, and Ella's heart began to race. They hadn't seen each other since last weekend when they went shopping for a gift for Ella's parents' anniversary. "A little late to the party, dude." Jihye gestured to the empty street that only had another black vehicle parked to the side.

Damien said nothing as he approached, a small smile on his face. "Hey," he murmured to them both, but kept his eyes trained on Ella's for a little longer.

"Hey," Ella smiled back, smitten. She had really thought that he wasn't going to show up. Not that he was required to do it, but it was a nice gesture that she appreciated.

Jihye watched them suspiciously for a moment.

"Thought I should stop by to wish you luck on your job after you helped me for so long."

Nope, Jihye thought. Damien seemed to actually and literally just stop by. Ella was quite nice, maybe Damien knew he would feel bad later if he didn't at least do that for Ella.

"Well, you guys do this... awkward thing without me." Kim grimaced while walking back to his vehicle that was parked across the street.

"Have a goodnight!" Ella stood on her tippy-toes while waving at Jihye, and Jihye waved back before driving off slowly.

The young couple watched him drive off safely before Damien sighed in relief.

"I'm glad he left first." Damien jogged back to his car, leaning over the middle console before jogging back to Ella, a beautiful and large bouquet of flowers in his hands.

"No way." Ella accepted them with a wide smile that seemed to illuminate the entire street in the dark. "Thank you so much!" She gripped them tightly, noticing the card attached to the stems.

I know you'll do a good job back, Ella.

"I didn't really know what type of flowers you preferred, but the lady recommended these." Damien bashfully admitted. He had yet to find out about small details like those about her.

"To be honest, I'm not a picky. I genuinely appreciate the effort. They are beautiful." Ella assured him, tucking the card back. "I'm just happy you came. I heard you've been busy."

Damien breathed in, tilting his head to the side as he looked away, thinking. Ella, feeling like they were probably going to end in a long conversation suggested going to her house. Damien agreed, also knowing that these days, sharing things with Ella was fast becoming one of his favorites pass times he didn't know he needed.