For a moment, Ryan thought his mind was playing tricks on him. He blinked once, then again — but the figure standing before him didn’t fade away. She was real.“Elizabeth?” he breathed, his voice low but filled with disbelief.The woman turned fully now, a slow, graceful movement, as if she’d been waiting for that exact moment. A small, almost innocent smile curved her lips.“Hey, Ryan,” she said softly, her tone calm.Ryan’s brows furrowed instantly. His heartbeat kicked up a notch, and he took a cautious step forward. “What… what are you doing here?” he asked, his voice hardening. “What are you doing outside my company at this hour?”Elizabeth tilted her head slightly, her smile not faltering. Her long hair shimmered under the building lights as she folded her hands neatly in front of her. “Relax,” she said gently. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”Ryan’s jaw tightened. “Maybe I have,” he muttered.For a second, the air between them was thick — a strange mixture of tension and di

Elizabeth woke up early the next morning, her eyes snapping open even before the alarm rang. Julian was still asleep beside her, his arm loosely draped over her waist. She carefully moved his hand aside and slipped out of bed without making a sound.Today was important — she needed to prove herself to Ryan. Or at least, make him think she was proving herself.She showered quickly, fixed her hair neatly, and dressed in a white blouse tucked into a beige skirt. She took a final glance at herself in the mirror — soft smile, innocent eyes, polite posture. Perfect.She grabbed her bag and headed out.—When Elizabeth arrived at Nova Headquarters, the building was still quiet. She smiled to herself in satisfaction.“Good,” she muttered under her breath. “I’m early. He’ll notice.”At the front desk, a young woman looked up. “Good morning, ma’am. How can I help you?”Elizabeth flashed a sweet smile. “Good morning. I’m here to see Mr. Ryan.”The receptionist nodded. “Please wait a moment, I’ll

Martin smiled to himself as he scrolled through his phone and found Alicia’s name. He felt the kind of small, satisfied thrill that comes from pulling a string you know will move something important.He tapped the contact and waited for her voice. When she picked up, she sounded relaxed.“Hello?” she said with a light and teasing voice.“Alicia,” Martin said, keeping his tone smooth. “Are you free tonight?”“For you,” she said finally, and the flirt in her voice made it clear she enjoyed being needed. “I usually am. What did you have in mind?”“Come by my place.” He said flatly. “I have a job. It pays well.”“Now you have my attention,” she replied, laughing softly. “How well are we talking?”“Oh, very well,” Martin said. “Enough to make it worth your time. Can you be here in thirty minutes?”“Thirty.” Her answer was quick. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll be there earlier than that, you know I don’t joke with my money.”He let himself smile. “See you soon.”When Alicia arrived, she did

Ryan glanced down at his wristwatch, his eyes moved over the time. The evening was still young, but already his schedule was beginning to feel tight. Between greeting investors, handling the press, and making sure everything ran smoothly, he barely had time to breathe.Still, it would have been rude to simply walk away after their brief conversation.He exhaled quietly, then looked back at the woman standing beside him — Alicia, as she had introduced herself earlier when they’d met at the entrance.Glancing at her, Ryan noticed that she was still smiling at him, insistent that she was waiting for him to take her.“Alright,” Ryan said finally, nodding politely. “If you’d like, I can walk you to a table. I assume you’d prefer somewhere to sit while the rest of the event goes on.”Alicia’s lips curved into a slow, teasing smile. “That would be lovely,” she said in a soft, playful tone.Ryan offered his hand politely, intending to escort her in the most formal and straightforward way poss

The drive to the hotel was quiet, the hum of the car engine filling the silence between them. Alicia sat in the passenger seat, staring blankly out the window, her face pale and her hands clasped tightly together on her lap.Every now and then, she’d glance at Ryan from the corner of her eye, trying to study his expression. He looked calm, but his grip on the steering wheel was firm, focused on the road ahead.He had not been driving a lot as a learner so he was a bit nervous. He had to ask his driver to leave him with the car as he thought his presence could make Alicia uncomfortable.When they finally pulled into the hotel’s parking lot, Ryan turned off the ignition and exhaled softly. “We’re here,” he said, his voice low but steady as he turned to her. “You’re safe now. Let’s get you a room so you can rest.”Alicia blinked, almost as though she’d just snapped out of a daze. “Oh… right. Thank you,” she murmured, her voice shaky. She tried to smile, but the exhaustion and tension in