Alina walked into the office that evening dressed in quiet confidence, though it wasn't borrowed from her wardrobe; it certainly looked like it was made for her. The crisp white shirt she wore (his, technically) hung a little loosely around her shoulders, the sleeves rolled up neatly just above her wrists. She had tucked it into a pair of high-waisted black trousers that fit her perfectly, creating a sharp, effortless silhouette. Her hair framed her face softly, and the subtle gold pendant at her neck glimmered faintly whenever light touched it.
She didn't look like a café worker or even someone filling a temporary position; she looked composed, capable, and unknowingly captivating.
When she entered the conference room, the low hum of conversation stilled for a moment. The long table was lined with folders, sketches, and digital boards showing plans for the exhibition. Evelyn, the woman who had recruited her, was standing at the far end, directing her team with calm authority.
"Ah, Alina! You're here," Evelyn said warmly, gesturing toward an empty chair near her. "Perfect timing."
Alina offered a polite smile and took her seat, placing her notepad on the table. She could feel the faint weight of everyone's attention on her, not judgmental, just curious.
Evelyn clicked her pen and looked toward her. "So, Everyone here knows that Mrs. Carter is here to help us'' She took a brief pause and looked towards Alina ''After going through your previous suggestions, we've decided to put you in charge of the creative coordination for the exhibition. You'll handle the thematic setup, return gifts with a bit of aesthetics, and visitor engagement ideas."
Alina blinked in surprise. "Creative coordination?"
Evelyn nodded, smiling. "Yes. I'll be assigning a small team to assist you. They'll handle logistics and follow-ups. You'll guide them on the concepts. Think of it as bringing your vision to life."
Alina's fingers brushed the edge of her notebook nervously. "I—I-uh, I'll try my best."
"I know you will," Evelyn said, her voice confident and warm. "Your ideas were exactly what we needed, heartfelt and original. Don't worry, you're not alone in this. You'll have support."
Alina nodded, feeling a strange rush of pride, mixed with nervous energy, and couldn't help but glance at her reflection in the glass wall.
The girl staring back at her didn't look uncertain anymore. She looked like she belonged there in a world of creative visions and bold plans. And all it took was one oversized white shirt, his shirt, for her to start feeling like maybe, just maybe, she could fit into something bigger than she'd ever imagined.
Outside the conference room, the hallway stretched long and silent, echoing faintly with the muffled sounds of conversation and hurried footsteps from the other end. Alina stood there, momentarily lost in her thoughts, her notepad pressed against her chest. Just a few steps away, her eyes caught on something curious, a sleek, dark door with a metal plate above it that read in bold letters:
SECURITY ROOM
She blinked, curiosity tugging at her. Security room? On the fifteenth floor? She imagined the usual, a dimly lit chamber filled with walls of monitors, flickering feeds from countless CCTV cameras, guards tapping at keyboards, and maybe the soft buzz of radios.
Just as she took a step closer, Evelyn's voice came from behind. "Curious?"
Alina turned, caught mid-thought. "I just didn't expect a security room on the fifteenth floor."
Evelyn's lips curved in a knowing smile. "Would you like to see it?"
"Can I?" Alina asked, half hesitant, half thrilled.
"Of course," Evelyn said, swiping her access card. The small light above the door flashed green, and with a soft click, the door opened.
The air inside was colder, sterile, and controlled. But the moment Alina stepped through, her eyes widened. It wasn't what she expected. Not even close.
Instead of rows of monitors or uniformed guards, there was a massive rectangular room stretching nearly the length of the hallway itself. Down the center ran a long metallic table, gleaming under the sharp white overhead lights. But what made Alina freeze were the things hovering silently above it.
Drones. Dozens of them. Sleek, black, and intimidatingly beautiful, suspended in midair, perfectly aligned, their wings gleaming like blades under the light.
She exhaled softly, awe dancing in her eyes. "Oh my God…"
Evelyn smiled faintly at her reaction. "Not what you were expecting, right?"
"It's… surreal," Alina murmured, taking slow steps forward. Her gaze traced over the machines, some compact and circular, others larger, more complex, their bodies covered in tiny sensors and mechanical arms. Engineers and technicians stood nearby, tapping on tablets, running diagnostic codes, or adjusting small components with precision tools.
"It's like something out of a sci-fi film," Alina whispered.
"It's not as simple as it looks," she said, lowering her voice. "These things are… far more dangerous than most people realize."
Alina's brows furrowed as her eyes followed the movement of one particular drone that rose slightly into the air before landing with precision.
"Dangerous?" she echoed.
Evelyn nodded. "Drones are actually deadly if used the wrong way. They can kill. What you see here are not ordinary surveillance machines—they're custom-made."
She pointed toward one, sleek and black, with sharp, angular edges and a faint red light glowing underneath.
"Each of these is equipped with a surveillance camera, an audio recorder, and…" she paused, giving Alina a moment to catch up, "a gun module miniature, but efficient. They're designed for extreme protection."
Alina's eyes widened. "Protection? For whom?"
"For Mr. Arden," Evelyn replied simply. "Every time he goes somewhere, these are deployed first. His team runs a complete security scan of the area using drones, checking rooftops, windows, vehicles, everything. And once he leaves, they run another round to ensure no trace is left behind."
Alina blinked in disbelief. "You mean… he personally checks them?"
Evelyn smiled faintly. "Yes, Mr. Arden doesn't trust systems blindly. Before he goes to any place, he verifies the reports himself. And after leaving, he reviews the recordings again. Nothing escapes his eyes."
Alina looked around the room again. It suddenly didn't feel like a simple security space; it felt like the control center of a fortress.
Alina's eyes flicked to her. "Security? All this?"
Evelyn nodded. "You see, after a few… incidents in the past, we had to upgrade our system. Kai Arden is not just an actor — he's a brand, a target, and unfortunately, a fascination to some people who don't always mean well."
"This is why," Evelyn continued, "you'll never find a single on-set picture of him. No random snapshot. No 'spotted' videos. No paparazzi dares to approach."
Alina remembered her search history—the empty results, the lack of fan-taken photos, the missing interviews outside studios. It all made sense now.
"There's a reason," Evelyn added softly, "why he's one of the few in this industry who's untouched by the noise. He values his privacy more than fame. To him, protection isn't just about safety, it's about peace of mind."
Alina stood there silently, absorbing it all. The drones above the table blinked one by one, like tiny stars in a mechanical sky, guarding the name that had become a mystery to the world—Kai Arden.
The words made her chest tighten unexpectedly. She remembers the moment when she tried to be a paparazzi and failed hardly thanks to that drone. A shiver passed through her.
Evelyn glanced at her watch. "We should get going. The team's waiting for you in the exhibition room."
As they were walking towards the door, she took a brief look at those drones again last time before the door closed after her. clutching the folder in her hand a little tighter. Her heart beat faster with every step they took down the sleek, glass-walled hallway. When Evelyn finally pushed open the door, Alina's eyes widened slightly.
Inside, the room was alive with quiet energy. A few people were gathered around the long table, sketches and design boards spread out before them, the faint hum of conversation in the air.
Evelyn walked in with her usual poised stride, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. "Everyone," she began, her tone steady and warm, "this is Alina Carter. She'll be leading the team for the upcoming exhibition."
Alina blinked, surprised. "Leading?" she echoed under her breath.
But Evelyn only smiled and continued, "She has a sharp eye and creative instincts, qualities we need right now." Then, turning slightly, she gestured toward the others. "These are your teammates, five of our best minds from the design and planning departments."
They all smiled and gave small nods of acknowledgment, murmuring quick greetings.
"And this," Evelyn said, pausing beside a girl with soft brown hair tied back neatly, "is Lia. She'll be your go-to for anything you need: materials, layouts, communication, all of it like an assistant."
Then, leaning in closer to Alina's ear, Evelyn added quietly, her tone playful but meaningful, "If you have any questions… or if you're curious about Mr. Arden," her lips curved in a knowing smile, "ask Lia. She's one of his biggest fans. Trust me, no one knows an idol better than a fan."
Alina glanced at Lia, who smiled shyly, a hint of excitement sparkling in her eyes at the mention of her idol's name. Evelyn straightened, checking her watch again. "Alright, I'll leave you all to it. You know where to find me if you need anything."
And with that, she turned and left the room, leaving Alina standing there, surrounded by eager faces, ideas waiting to unfold, and one name lingering in her mind more than she wanted to admit: Kai Arden.