Sweet For You, Ruthless For Others
Chapter 55: Her Forgotten Phone & Patience

Chapter 55: Her Forgotten Phone & Patience

She grabbed her towel and headed to the bathroom.

As the warm water cascaded over her skin, she felt the tension of the day slowly melt away. Her mind wandered as she shampooed her hair, replaying the events of the evening.

Niklaus carrying desserts up the stairs, the strange way the building staff had reacted to him, the way his deep blue eyes seemed to pierce right through her whenever he looked at her.

Stop it, Hermia, she scolded herself, shaking her head under the spray of water.

Don’t overthink it. He’s just... being nice. That’s all.

She finished her shower and wrapped herself in her fluffy towel before heading back to her room.

Pulling open her drawer, she reached for her favorite pajamas—a pair of soft, worn Powerpuff Girls ones she’d had for years.

They weren’t exactly fashionable, but they made her feel comfortable, and after a long day, that was all she needed.

Dressed and refreshed, she padded back to the living room, her damp hair hanging loose around her shoulders.

She stretched her arms over her head, letting out a satisfied sigh as her muscles loosened.

Then, with a grin, she dropped into her usual post-shower routine—her so-called "Hermia Yoga."

It wasn’t yoga in the traditional sense.

It was more of a series of silly, exaggerated stretches she’d invented to make herself laugh.

She reached for her toes, wiggling her fingers as if she were grabbing at invisible candies, then twisted her torso dramatically from side to side.

"Namaste," she said to no one in particular, striking a final pose with her hands pressed together in mock-seriousness.

Her laughter faded as her eyes wandered to the blank wall across from the couch.

The absence of a TV stared back at her, a glaring reminder of the things she couldn’t afford just yet.

She sighed, sinking onto the couch again, her legs folded beneath her.

I really need to get one, she thought, imagining how nice it would be to have something to watch while she relaxed in the evenings.

But she has a loan to cover so her thoughts shifted to more practical concerns—her office, the supplies she still needed, the list she’d written meticulously just a few days ago.

Her brows furrowed as she stood and started searching. She checked the coffee table, her desk, even the kitchen counter. But the list was nowhere to be found.

"Oh no," she muttered, realization dawning on her. She’d left it at the office, sitting right there on her desk.

She groaned, rubbing her temples. Of course I’d forget it. What else is new?

Sinking back onto the couch, she let her head fall against the cushion, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. The day had been long, and now this.

But as she lay there, she couldn’t help but think of Niklaus again—the way he’d insisted on helping her, the way his presence had filled her small apartment like he belonged there.

She shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. I’m not going to overthink it, she told herself again. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t going to be that simple.

With a content smile she thought tonight was going to be simple—dessert and some light entertainment.

She reached for the box of treats Niklaus had insisted on carrying up for her, her mouth watering at the thought of the assortment waiting for her inside.

She glanced at the blank wall again, shaking her head. A TV would make this perfect, she thought wistfully. But lacking one, she decided her phone would do just fine.

Reaching for her bag, she began rummaging through it. First, she pulled out a crumpled tissue, then her keys, followed by a pen that had long since run out of ink. But no phone.

Her brows knitted together in confusion as she dug deeper, her fingers searching every corner of the bag. Still no phone.

Panic began to bubble in her chest as she emptied the contents onto the couch, going through each item one by one.

"Where is it?" she muttered, her voice rising slightly.

Then it hit her—like a flash of lightning cutting through her thoughts. It’s in Niklaus’s car.

She groaned and closed her eyes, leaning back against the couch.

How could I be so careless? she chastised herself. She’d gotten so used to not needing her phone lately—Niklaus always seemed to be there, hovering, helping, making things easier. It wasn’t like her to forget something so important, but today had been a whirlwind, and clearly, she’d lost track of it.

Her first thought was to contact him immediately. But how? She didn’t have his personal number memorized, and her phone was the only way she had to reach him. Then another wave of panic hit—what if it wasn’t even in his car? What if she’d left it back at the restaurant?

Her stomach twisted as she weighed her options. She could rush downstairs and see if he was still outside. But that’s impossible. He must be long gone by now, she thought, biting her lip. Still, the human hope in her refused to let her stay put.

She stood abruptly, grabbing her keys. "Maybe," she whispered to herself. "Maybe he’s still there. And if he’s not, well... I’ll deal with it tomorrow at the office."

She unlocked her door with trembling hands and swung it open, her heart hammering in her chest.

And that’s when it happened—the shock of a lifetime.

Niklaus stood there in the dimly lit hallway, leaning casually against the wall as if he had all the time in the world. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his dark slacks, and he tilted his head slightly when the door opened, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers.

"Looking for this?" he asked smoothly, holding up her phone.

Hermia’s jaw dropped. "You—" She was at a loss for words. "You’re still here?"

He smirked, stepping closer. "I figured you’d forget it. You seemed... distracted earlier."

She blinked, utterly speechless. Her emotions swung wildly between relief and exasperation. "Why didn’t you just knock?"

"I wanted to see how long it would take you to notice," he admitted with a mischievous grin. "You’re welcome, by the way."

Hermia stared at him, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to form a coherent response. Finally, she snatched the phone from his hand. "Thank you," she muttered, her cheeks heating.

Niklaus chuckled softly, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer. "You’re welcome. Next time, try to keep track of your things, hmm?"

She rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "Goodnight again, Niklaus."

"Have a delightful night, Mia," he said, his tone laced with amusement as he turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the doorway, phone in hand, and heart racing for reasons she couldn’t quite explain.

As Hermia turned back into her apartment, she hesitated for a moment, her frown deepening.

Niklaus’s appearance lingered in her mind—he wasn’t dressed in his usual crisp office attire anymore.

Instead, he wore a fitted black hoodie paired with dark jeans and sleek sneakers, looking casual, almost... relaxed.

What’s going on? she wondered, the questions racing through her mind.

Did he change in the car? Was he wearing that under his suit the whole time?

Or did he actually go home, change, and then come all the way back here just to return my phone?

Her brow furrowed further, the possibilities making her head spin.

Ugh, why does he always have to be so enigmatic? she thought, shaking her head in frustration.

She decided not to dwell on it. Niklaus was an odd enigma she wasn’t ready to solve tonight.

She walked into the small kitchenette, her phone clutched tightly in her hand, and opened her mini fridge.

Her eyes widened slightly at the sight before her—it was packed to the brim with the desserts he had insisted she take home.

There were at least a dozen small containers and boxes, each neatly stacked on top of the other.

Hermia sighed. "I need a bigger fridge," she muttered to herself, staring at the overstuffed space.

It was a struggle to even pull out one box without causing a dessert avalanche.

Finally, she managed to grab a container from the top—a beautifully wrapped tiramisu.

The delicate layers of espresso-soaked sponge cake and mascarpone cream, topped with a generous dusting of cocoa powder, made her mouth water.