The next morning, Adrian arrived at Kael Dynamics at seven.
Today was different.
He was going to Seoul with Lucian Kael for the Vortex Technologies meeting.
Adrian checked his documents twice before closing his laptop.
He had prepared the presentation, reviewed the financial reports, and studied the company they were meeting.
He was ready.
Or at least, he wanted to believe he was.
At seven-thirty, Lucian walked onto the executive floor.
He was dressed in a dark suit, carrying a small black bag.
His eyes immediately found Adrian.
"Ready?"
"Yes."
Lucian looked at the files in Adrian's hand.
"Everything?"
"Everything."
A small pause followed.
"Good."
They walked toward the elevator together.
For some reason, Adrian felt nervous.
It wasn't the meeting.
It was the fact that he would be spending two days with Lucian.
Outside the office.
Away from the usual rules.
The company car was waiting downstairs.
Lucian sat in the back seat.
Adrian sat beside him.
There was enough space between them.
Still, Adrian was suddenly very aware of Lucian's presence.
Neither spoke for the first few minutes.
Lucian was reading something on his tablet.
Adrian looked out of the window.
Finally, Lucian broke the silence.
"You didn't eat breakfast."
Adrian turned toward him.
"What?"
Lucian didn't look up.
"You left your breakfast on your desk."
Adrian stared at him.
"You noticed?"
Lucian finally looked at him.
"I notice everything that happens in my company."
Adrian smiled.
"Of course."
Lucian returned to his tablet.
But Adrian couldn't stop smiling.
For some reason, those simple words stayed with him.
At the airport, they moved through the private entrance.
Adrian had expected Lucian to walk ahead.
Instead, Lucian slowed down until they were walking side by side.
"Have you been to Seoul before?" Lucian asked.
"No."
"First time?"
"Yes."
Lucian nodded.
"Then stay close. The schedule is tight."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"Are you worried I'll get lost?"
"No."
"Then?"
Lucian looked at him.
"I don't want to waste time looking for you."
Adrian laughed softly.
"I'll try not to disappear."
For a moment, Lucian looked at him.
There was something almost warm in his eyes.
Then it disappeared.
The flight was quiet.
Adrian worked for most of the journey.
After a few hours, his eyes began to hurt.
He closed his laptop and leaned back.
Without realizing it, he fell asleep.
When he woke up, he found a jacket covering him.
Lucian's jacket.
Adrian looked toward him.
Lucian was still working.
"You were cold," Lucian said without looking up.
Adrian touched the jacket.
"Thank you."
Lucian simply nodded.
Adrian looked away.
His heart was beating a little faster.
It was a small gesture.
Nothing important.
Yet it felt strangely personal.
They reached Seoul in the evening.
After checking into the hotel, Adrian went directly to his room.
He was tired, but he still reviewed the presentation one more time.
A knock came at his door.
Adrian opened it.
Lucian stood outside.
"Have you eaten?"
Adrian shook his head.
"I was going to order something."
"Come downstairs."
"Now?"
"Yes."
They went to the hotel restaurant.
For the first time, they weren't sitting across a boardroom table.
There were no reports between them.
No employees watching.
No corporate pressure.
Just two men having dinner.
Adrian looked at Lucian.
"Do you always work this much?"
Lucian paused.
"Usually."
"Don't you ever rest?"
"Not often."
Adrian smiled.
"That's unhealthy."
Lucian raised an eyebrow.
"Are you giving your CEO advice?"
"Someone should."
For a moment, Lucian looked surprised.
Then he gave a quiet laugh.
It was brief.
Almost invisible.
But it was real.
Adrian stared at him.
Lucian noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You were looking at me."
Adrian looked down at his plate.
"I've never seen you laugh before."
Lucian became quiet.
Neither spoke for a few seconds.
Then Lucian said softly,
"There's not much to laugh about."
Adrian looked at him.
For the first time, he wondered what had happened to make Lucian such a serious man.
But he didn't ask.
Not yet.
Some things needed time.
Later that night, Adrian returned to his room.
He stood by the window, looking at the lights of Seoul.
His mind kept returning to the evening.
Lucian's small smile.
His quiet concern.
The jacket on the plane.
None of it meant anything.
At least, that's what Adrian told himself.
Across the hallway, Lucian stood alone in his room.
He looked at the empty chair where Adrian had been sitting earlier.
He didn't understand why the evening had felt different.
He had worked with hundreds of people.
Had traveled with dozens of executives.
But somehow...
Spending one evening with Adrian had felt strangely easy.
And that worried him.
Because Lucian Kael knew better than anyone that the things that felt easiest to hold...
Were sometimes the hardest to let go.