"I saw Adian," Cian said as he approached Ivan.
"Well, did you talk to him?" Ivan asked.
"Not really. I mean… the time wasn't right," Cian replied with a sigh.
"What do you mean?" Ivan pressed.
Cian explained everything in detail.
"Aww, you look so cute when you're frustrated," Ivan teased. "But honestly, I had a good impression of him."
"Good impression? He's a monster! If I were Adian, I'd have dropped my resignation letter right after that. But he was so indifferent."
"Just because he forced Adian to talk to Ms. Hart doesn't make him a monster," Adian reasoned aloud, suddenly walking up behind them.
"Well, I don't blame Ms. Hart for falling for him. He's too handsome," Cian said, eyes sparkling.
"Isn't that… Adian?" Ivan asked, pointing ahead.
Adian stood in a black tailored suit, polished leather shoes catching the light. His jet-black hair was slicked back, revealing a sharp widow's peak. When he lifted his head and turned toward them, Ivan instinctively held his breath.
Now he understood—truly understood—why Cian loved Adian like this.
Even as a man, Ivan couldn't deny it: his heart skipped a beat.
Adian's gaze was lethal—his black eyes sliced through the air like blades, locking on Ivan with quiet dominance. His features were regal and unshakably refined. A chiseled jawline, bold asymmetric eyes beneath thick lashes, and a sharp nose gave him a look that was both dangerous and mesmerizing. Tall and lean, his very presence brought an oppressive weight to the room, like gravity bent around him. His pale, unblemished complexion only made the dark storm of his features more striking.
"Ivan!" Cian snapped, fingers clicking in front of his face. "Don't drift off!"
Ivan blinked back to reality.
"Look who's calling me gay!" Cian laughed.
"I admit I was carried away," Ivan mumbled. "But it was just admiration."
"Really? Just admiration?" Cian teased, raising a brow.
"Don't look at me like that," Ivan said with a shrug. "If I were Adian, I wouldn't be mad about talking to a 'mishap.' She's rich and beautiful."
"Well, Adian's not a playboy like you," Cian replied.
"I'm not a playboy," Ivan protested.
"Whatever," Cian said with a snort, turning away.
Just then, a man approached them with a firm handshake and a smile.
"Mr. Lance. Nice to see you."
"Mr. Lewis," Ivan replied. "I was just about to find you."
After Mr. Lewis walked away, Cian suddenly jumped in excitement.
"I made it! I made it! I made it!" he cheered, practically bouncing on his toes.
Cian dashed back to Ivan, eyes shining. "See? If I hadn't persuaded you to come, you would've missed this chance!"
Ivan smirked. "For that, you owe me 20% of your salary—every month."
"Dream on," Cian said, sticking out his tongue.
Ivan nudged him. "Well, looks like Mr. Lewis is going after his next catch."
Cian followed Ivan's gaze. Mr. Lewis was heading toward someone else.
"Ha! You think he can fish out Adian?" Cian said with a grin.
"I should go see what's going on. I don't think Adian's going to agree," Cian said and moved to leave.
"Well, go meet your wife, son, whatever," Ivan teased.
"I'll think about it," Adian said as Cian approached.
"Well, here's my card," Mr. Lewis said, handing it to Adian.
"Thank you," Adian replied, slipping the card into his pocket.
Cian stared at him. Oh my… What did he just say? 'He'll think about it'? What's there to think about, ?He doesn't look like someone who wants to think about anything.
"I think I'll talk to him," Cian whispered to himself. "This might be the greatest mistake of his life if he doesn't agree to work with the Mazon Corporation."
He took a deep breath, trying to summon courage.
"I'll try my best," he said quietly. "I just need to tell him…"
Cian's voice trembled, but he stood firm. "He was the one who lifted me up when I was down—when I felt like nothing. If not for him, I wouldn't be the Cian I am today. So I'm going to do my best to talk to him and make sure he goes the right way."
"Really?" Cian asked, stepping forward, hopeful.
Adian furrowed his brows. "And who are you?"
"Oh—sorry. That was rude of me," Cian said, rubbing the back of his neck. "My name's Cian. Cian Lance."
He offered his hand.
Adian didn't take it.
Cian smiled, masking his embarrassment. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but… I overheard your conversation with Mr. Lewis. Look, as the best, you should go for the best."
Adian said nothing.
"The Brilliance Corporation doesn't deserve you," Cian continued, voice steady. "The Mazon Corporation is the better choice for someone of your caliber "
Still, Adian didn't reply. He simply turned and walked away.
What a poke-noser, Adian thought. Though he didn't like that Cian had intruded into his personal business, he couldn't deny that the boy's words held some truth.
⸻
Later that night…
At home, Adian made himself dinner and sat down to eat while watching a movie. Afterward, he picked up his guitar, fingers gliding across the strings as he played a quiet tune.
But his mind wasn't on the music.
It was on Cian's words.
And for the first time in a long while, Adian found himself wondering—
Could someone else's voice… actually be worth listening to?