Rael didn't like idle time, and he didn't like redundancy.
So Elijah never repeated anything. He simply waited until Rael returned from the Tokyo call, handed him an updated tablet, and began speaking as if the day had already been reprogrammed around him.
"There's one last thing on HR's docket," Elijah said, tapping the screen. "Your new executive assistant begins tomorrow."
Rael didn't look up from the financial projections he was reviewing.
"Another one?" he asked flatly.
"She's not personal staff," Elijah clarified. "Executive pool. Filing under Legal and Operations—standard assistant rotation, but she's been assigned primarily to you. You'll be seeing her regularly."
Rael finally glanced up.
Elijah took the cue and continued. "Her name is **Isla Quinn. Twenty-three. Graduated two months ago—top of her class. Dual major in business law and information systems. HR says she interviewed well. No prior corporate work, but she interned at a couple of mid-level firms during university."
Rael remained silent. Listening. Processing.
"Family background is clean," Elijah continued. "No ties to any media outlets, competitors, or government entities. Father deceased. Mother unwell—private care facility. One younger brother. Fifteen. Lives with her in a shared apartment downtown. No debts. No relationships flagged. No criminal history."
Another pause.
Then, a swipe.
Elijah turned the tablet and slid it across the desk.
A file. A face.
Blonde hair. Pulled back simply. No makeup. Green eyes—bright, large, too expressive. Eyes that didn't belong in a building like this.
She was pretty in a soft, forgettable way.
But Rael didn't forget faces.
Not when they looked that unguarded.
He didn't react. Didn't frown. Didn't comment.
Just looked.
Then slid the tablet back toward Elijah.
"She reports tomorrow?"
"Nine sharp."
"Fine," Rael said, already moving on to the next screen.
But Elijah noticed the pause.
Not in movement.
In breath.
It was small. A single beat skipped, like a string pulled just slightly too tight.
Rael didn't realize it.
But Elijah did.
And because he was Elijah—he said nothing.
Just made a note.
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