Brenda woke up feeling refreshed and renewed. She had spent the previous day shopping with Mr. Heart, and was still reeling from the experience.

As she got dressed, she couldn't help but think about Ayla, Mr. Heart's friend. She had been hearing rumors about Ayla and Mr. Heart's past, and was curious to meet her.

Just as she was finishing up her breakfast, Mr. Heart appeared in the doorway. "Good morning," he said, smiling. "I was thinking we could have lunch with Ayla today."

Brenda's heart skipped a beat. "That sounds great," she said, trying to sound casual.

As they drove to the restaurant, Brenda couldn't help but feel a little nervous. What would Ayla be like? Would she be friendly, or would she see Brenda as a threat?

When they arrived at the restaurant, Ayla was already there, sipping a glass of wine. She was even more beautiful than Brenda had imagined, with long, curly brown hair and piercing green eyes.

"Ayla, this is Brenda," Mr. Heart said, smiling. "Brenda, this is Ayla."

Ayla smiled, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "It's so nice to meet you, Brenda," she said.

As they sat down to lunch, Brenda couldn't help but feel a little more at ease. Ayla seemed friendly and down-to-earth, and Brenda found herself relaxing in her presence.

But as the lunch wore on, Brenda began to notice that Ayla seemed to be watching her closely. She couldn't help but wonder what Ayla was thinking.

As they finished up their lunch, Mr. Heart smiled. "I'm glad you two are getting along," he said.

Ayla smiled back, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yes, Brenda is lovely," she said.

But as they left the restaurant, Brenda couldn't shake the feeling that Ayla was hiding something. She seemed friendly and warm on the surface, but Brenda detected a hint of coolness beneath.

As they drove back to the mansion, Brenda turned to Mr. Heart. "What's the story with you and Ayla?" she asked.

Mr. Heart smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Ayla and I have been friends since childhood," he said. "We grew up together, and she's one of the few people who really understands me."

Brenda nodded, feeling a pang of curiosity. "And what about the rumors?" she asked.

Mr. Heart's smile faltered for a moment, before he regained his composure. "What rumors?" he asked.

Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Don't play dumb, Mr. Heart," she said. "I've heard rumors about you and Ayla. That you two used to be a couple."

Mr. Heart's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "Who told you that?" he asked.

Brenda shrugged. "Just rumors. But are they true?"

Mr. Heart sighed, rubbing his temples. "Ayla and I did used to be close," he said. "But we were never a couple. At least, not in the way you're thinking."

Brenda raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Mr. Heart smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "That's a story for another time," he said.

Brenda felt a surge of frustration. Why was Mr. Heart being so evasive? What was he hiding?

But as she looked into his eyes, she saw something there that made her feel a little better. It was a spark of reassurance, a promise that everything would be okay.

Mr. Heart reached out and took her hand, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "Don't worry, Brenda," he said, his voice low and soothing. "I'll tell you everything you want to know. Just not right now."

Brenda nodded, feeling a sense of trust wash over her. She knew that Mr. Heart was hiding something, but she also knew that he would tell her the truth eventually.

As they pulled up to the mansion, Mr. Heart leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I promise you, Brenda," he whispered. "I'll never hurt you."

Brenda felt a surge of emotion at his words. She knew that she was falling for Mr. Heart, hard. And she couldn't help but wonder what the future held for them.