"Ryan, what are you looking at?"
Alexander followed his friend's gaze.
Ryan looked away from the window.
"Nothing."
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm."
His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Is it a coincidence that we keep running into your little assistant everywhere?"
Ryan remained silent.
Alexander grinned.
"Or are you secretly following her?"
Ryan shot him a cold look.
"What are you trying to say?"
Before Alexander could answer, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
"Oh."
Then he answered the call.
"Hello?"
A few seconds later, his playful expression disappeared.
"Okay. I'll be there immediately."
He ended the call and stood up.
Ryan looked at him.
"What's wrong?"
"Emergency at the hospital."
Alexander grabbed his coat.
"Looks like I won't be able to stay and help you watch your little assistant."
Ryan frowned.
"I wasn't watching anyone."
"Of course you weren't."
Alexander laughed.
Ryan ignored him.
"Is everything okay?" Ryan asked.
Alexander blinked.
Then a smile appeared on his face.
"Aw."
Ryan immediately regretted asking.
"Are you worried about me?"
"No."
"I always knew you cared."
"Get out."
Alexander laughed even harder.
"See? Heartless."
Ryan picked up a file from the table.
Alexander immediately headed for the door.
"Fine, fine. I'm leaving."
As he reached the exit, he turned around.
"Try not to stare at your assistant too much."
A pen flew across the room.
Alexander quickly dodged it.
"That was attempted murder!"
"Leave."
Still laughing, Alexander disappeared.
Meanwhile...
"Baby, let's go home."
Larissa placed a hand on her stomach.
"I'm so full."
Kassandra laughed.
"You said that after the first restaurant."
"And I meant it."
"You also ordered dessert."
Larissa pretended not to hear her.
"I don't know if I'll make it home."
Kassandra was about to respond when several guards dressed in black suddenly entered the mall.
Their expressions were serious.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
People moved aside without being told.
Larissa blinked.
"Wow."
More guards appeared.
"Who could possibly be arriving?"
She looked around excitedly.
"Who is so important that everyone's acting like the president just showed up?"
A few seconds later, the crowd parted.
A tall figure appeared.
Larissa's eyes widened.
"Oh my God."
"What?" Kassandra asked.
Larissa pointed.
"Baby..."
Kassandra followed her gaze.
"..."
"Isn't that your boss?"
For a moment, even Larissa forgot to breathe.
"I've only seen him on TV."
Her eyes sparkled.
"But wow..."
She looked at Kassandra.
"He's even more handsome in real life."
Kassandra remained silent.
Because at that exact moment—
Ryan's eyes met hers across the crowded mall.
And neither of them looked away.
"Baby, look!"
Larissa grabbed Kassandra's arm.
"He's coming this way!"
Her eyes sparkled.
"So cool. So handsome."
She lowered her voice.
"He really is every girl's dream."
Kassandra rolled her eyes.
Before she could respond, Ryan stopped in front of them.
"Follow me."
That was all he said.
Larissa blinked.
"Wow."
Then she frowned.
"Wait a minute."
She stepped in front of Kassandra.
"Mr. Lee, I don't think that's the proper way to speak to someone."
Ryan looked at her.
"This isn't working hours," Larissa continued. "So she's not your assistant right now."
Sky, who was standing behind Ryan, almost laughed.
This was probably the first person who had ever spoken to his boss like that.
"Don't worry, Miss," Sky said politely. "Our boss will bring your friend back safely."
"I still don't—"
"Lari."
Kassandra squeezed her friend's hand.
"It's fine."
Larissa looked worried.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"But baby, what if something happens to you?"
Kassandra smiled.
"Nothing will happen."
Ryan's expression darkened slightly.
For some reason, hearing Larissa call Kassandra "baby" repeatedly annoyed him.
He didn't know why.
"Let's go."
Without waiting, he turned around.
Kassandra quickly followed.
The drive to Lee Empire was silent.
Neither of them spoke.
When they finally entered the building, Kassandra looked around in confusion.
The company was almost empty.
"What are we doing here, Mr. Lee?"
Ryan continued walking.
"Working."
Kassandra nearly choked.
"Working?"
She followed after him.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten that I'm currently suspended."
Ryan entered his office.
"I'll pay you overtime."
Kassandra blinked.
Humans were truly strange creatures.
Still...
Money was money.
"Fine."
She sat down.
"What do you need help with?"
Ryan glanced at the couch.
"Sit there."
Kassandra looked at the couch.
Then at Ryan.
Then back at the couch.
Wait...
I'm getting paid just to sit down?
She immediately sat.
Humans really are amazing.
Ryan returned to his desk.
From the corner of his eye, he watched her.
Since his investigator couldn't find anything about her, he had decided to investigate personally.
Maybe if she stayed close to him long enough, something would reveal itself.
Hours passed.
The office remained quiet.
Kassandra slowly began to doze off.
Her eyes drifted toward Ryan.
He was still working.
Focused.
Serious.
Handsome.
Kassandra blinked.
When did he become this handsome?
She had never really paid attention before.
No wonder Jessica was so obsessed with him.
Speaking of that spoiled princess...
Kassandra sincerely hoped they wouldn't meet again anytime soon.
"Kassandra."
Ryan's voice broke her thoughts.
She immediately sat up.
"Yes, Boss?"
Ryan put down his pen.
"Come here."
Kassandra stood.
A strange feeling suddenly settled in her chest.
Because for the first time since arriving...
Ryan wasn't looking at her as his assistant.
He was looking at her as if he were trying to solve a mystery.
Kassandra walked toward Ryan's desk.
"Boss, what did you—"
Before she could finish speaking, her foot caught on the edge of the carpet.
"Ah!"
She lost her balance.
The next second
She landed directly on Ryan's lap.
Silence.
Both of them froze.
Kassandra's eyes widened.
Ryan's hand instinctively wrapped around her waist to stop her from falling.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then—
Her glasses slipped from her face.
They fell onto the floor with a soft sound.
Kassandra froze.
Ryan froze.
Without the glasses hiding them, her sea-blue eyes were completely exposed.
Beautiful.
Bright.
Almost unreal.
Ryan found himself staring.
Those eyes...
It felt as if he had seen them somewhere before.
Somewhere important.
Somewhere he couldn't remember.
The office became strangely quiet.
Kassandra forgot to breathe.
Ryan forgot to look away.
Neither noticed how close they were.
Neither noticed the seconds passing.
All Ryan could see were those eyes.
And then something happened.
The familiar pain in his chest disappeared.
The icy energy that had been torturing him for years suddenly calmed.
His Cold Poison.
For the first time in a very long time
It wasn't burning.
Ryan's pupils narrowed.
Impossible.
His gaze remained fixed on Kassandra.
The closer she was...
The calmer it became.
As though her presence alone was suppressing it.
Kassandra felt his stare and immediately looked away.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Why was he looking at her like that?
"Boss..."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
The word finally broke the spell.
Ryan blinked.
Reality returned.
The office returned.
Time seemed to move again.
Kassandra quickly stood up.
Her face was slightly red as she picked up her glasses.
"I'm sorry, Boss."
She immediately put them back on.
The beautiful blue eyes disappeared behind the oversized lenses once more.
Ryan remained seated.
Silent.
Watching her.
A question echoed through his mind.
Who are you, Kassandra?
And for the first time in years
Ryan genuinely wanted to know the answer.