The heavy glass doors of the grand hotel hall swung open smoothly.
Julian stepped inside while adjusting the cuff of his blue tuxedo.
Victoria walked right beside him, smoothing down her tight red dress.
She checked her shiny red nails and smiled at the wealthy guests inside.
Julian did not care about the gala or the expensive champagne being served tonight.
He only wanted to sign the final business merger and go back home early.
His family business was growing fast, but his heart had felt completely empty for years.
Every quiet room he walked into always reminded him of the woman he had lost.
Near the middle of the bright foyer, a woman stood holding a yellow plastic bucket.
She wore a faded blue maid uniform with rolled up sleeves.
Her hands moved a heavy wet mop back and forth across the white marble floor.
She kept her head lowered so nobody would notice her tired eyes.
The wet floor caught the bright sunlight coming through the front windows.
Julian took another long step forward without looking down at the wet floor.
The maid stepped back quickly to make room for the wealthy couple walking past.
Claire: Watch your step, sir.
Her soft voice quieted the entire noisy hallway for Julian in one second.
He stopped walking immediately and stood completely still in his expensive polished shoes.
That gentle tone was a familiar sound he had dreamed about every single night.
Julian turned his body around slowly to face the quiet cleaning lady.
The mop slid out of her wet fingers and fell onto the cold tile.
She took a quick step backward as her breath caught in her small throat.
Julian stared right into her pale face, feeling his chest tighten up with sudden panic.
Her brown hair was tied back loosely with a plain dark band.
She looked exhausted and thin, but her warm brown eyes were completely unforgettable to him.
Julian: Claire?
Her lower lip trembled as she held her breath, unable to move a single inch.
Five painful years of silence suddenly vanished right inside that bright luxury foyer.
Victoria took two quick steps back toward Julian with a look of pure disgust.
Victoria: Julian, what are you doing?
Julian did not hear the loud woman standing right beside his left arm.
He took one step closer to the maid, who kept weeping softly into her hands.
Claire: I am sorry, excuse me.
She turned her back fast to grab her yellow bucket and run away quickly.
Julian reached out his hand before she could step into the narrow side hallway.