The silence in the hallway stretched thin, vibrating with the kind of tension that usually preceded a lab explosion. Aika felt Cecilia's gaze—not just a look, but a cold, clinical scan that started at her messy braid and ended at her sensible shoes.aika just look at her own hand which was bright red with cecelia fingers and thought" wow she is so slim still got soo much stretch and why the heck did she do that ahh just ignore aika i don't wanna fight with her nor I can slay the answer if we start fighting"
Aika's inner voice screamed. I'm supposed to be Helena D'Arven, the cold-blooded corporate shark, and I showed up to the lion's den in a burnt-orange cardigan she is making me feel uncomfortable about my clothing an myself both but i am not playing as an helena i don't wanna ist okay aika who cares .
She looked at Cecilia, who stood there like a masterpiece in her floral dress, every blonde wave of hair perfectly in place. Against Cecilia's high-fashion elegance, Aika felt less like a CEO and more like a student who had wandered into the wrong movie set. Why didn't I think this through? I'm not anymore ceo Helena now, . I don't have to wear a suit,. But as she caught a glimpse of Cecilia's painfully thin heel straps, a small, stubborn part of her rebelled. Actually, how can someone be comfortable on that heel like its looking so much uncomfortable girl no. I'd rather be a target in a cardigan than spend ten hours in those torture devices.
"Helena?"
Cecilia's voice broke the silence, sweet as honey but twice as sticky. She didn't let go of the "scanning" look. "I almost didn't recognize you. Is this... a new strategy? Dressing like you're about to go buy groceries? It's very... brave."
Aika's right hand was still throbbing, the skin blossoming into a frustrated red where Cecilia had clamped down. Why did she squeeze so hard? Aika wondered, flexing her fingers discreetly. Is she testing my reaction? Or is this just here every characters establish dominance?
"I'm prioritizing circulation over style today," Aika replied, her voice steadier than she felt. She forced a polite, empty mask onto her face. "Though I appreciate the concern, Cecilia. You look very... consistent."
Ren let out a soft, delighted snort from behind them. "I think she looks refreshing, Cici. It's hard to be a shark when you're wearing wool, but somehow she's pulling it off."
"It's a distraction," Noel's voice cut in, cold and efficient. He adjusted his glasses, his eyes lingering for a second too long on the pink floral bracelet with a sphire on Aika's wrist. He knew exactly what it was. He stepped forward, the air around him practically dropping in temperature. "We aren't here to discuss wardrobe choices. We're here because Cecilia is our primary client for the Q3 expansion. If you can manage to stop staring at each other, I'd like to actually eat."
As they began to move toward the table, Aika felt the weight of the hidden GPS tracker resting against her pulse. She was surrounded by three people who knew the "Old Helena"—one who wanted to protect her, one who wanted to analyze her, and one who seemingly wanted to crush her hand into dust.
Ohh so here in the middle of the lobby and now we are going towards the cafeteria like why are they discussing whatever Q3 they call like what type of thing i this i can't even justify anymore my stupid reading habit ahh How long am I supposed to stand this? Aika thought, following them. If this is lunch, I'd hate to see what they consider a fight
They were still standing in the center of the cafeteria, a small island of high-drama surrounded by a sea of whispering employees. Aika gave Noel a subtle, suspicious side-eye. "I'd like to actually eat," he had said. It was such a normal, human sentence that it felt eerie coming from him. Is he actually hungry, or is 'eating' just another corporate task he needs to check off his list?
As Ren tried to continue the "tour," Cecilia moved like a floral barricade, keeping them rooted in place. She launched into a conversation with the brothers, her voice animated and bright. Aika, feeling her "social battery" hit critical levels, leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest, content to be ignored for a moment.
Her gaze drifted to the side. Standing a few feet behind Cecilia was a young assistant who looked less like a professional and more like a human coat rack. The girl was clutching a heavy, expensive-looking designer jacket, her knuckles white from the weight.
Aika's eyebrow shot up. It's freezing in here, she thought, pulling her cardigan tighter around her ribs. She looked at Cecilia's bare shoulders and the high slit in her dress. The logic doesn't track. The outdoor temperature is dropping, the office is kinda of cold and yet she's standing there like it's mid-July. Is 'looking elegant' a biological space heater?
She looked at the jacket-bearer, then back at Cecilia's goosebump-covered skin. You have a jacket. You are cold. Therefore, you wear the jacket. Aika grumbled internally. Instead, she's making an intern hold her warmth while she pretends the laws of thermodynamics don't apply to her. I might be 'unfashionable' in this cardigan, but at least I'm not flirting with hypothermia for the sake of an aesthetic.
Aika stayed perfectly still, her hands tucked under her armpits, just scanning the group from head to toe. She wasn't even trying to hide her judgment anymore.
"Helena?"
Ren's voice snapped her back. He had noticed her staring.he leaned in closer, his messy hair falling over his forehead as he tried to catch Aika's eye. "You look like you're calculating the trajectory of a disaster," he whispered, a smirk playing on his lips. "Or are you just judging Cecilia's lack of sleeves?"
Aika didn't even turn her head to look at him fully. She just kept her arms crossed her gaze remaining fixed on the shivering assistant in the background.
"Huh?" Aika replied, her tone flat and unimpressed. "Why would I do that?"
Ren raised an eyebrow, clearly expecting her to say something snarky or jealous about Cecilia's "Main Character" dress.
"I mean," Aika continued, her voice quiet enough that only Ren could hear, "it's a basic matter of biology. If she wants to lose body heat for the sake of a floral pattern while her assistant carries her actual survival gear, that's her business. I'm just wondering if she's aiming for a cold or a full-blown fever still her life her choice no comments ."
But Ren still gave her smirk as she is laying
She gave him a tiny, dismissive side-eye. "I'm not judging her, Ren. I'm just observing a very inefficient use of a jacket."
Ren blinked, momentarily speechless. He was used to the "Old Helena" getting into heated fashion wars or screaming matches with Cecilia. This version of Helena—the one who viewed social rivalry as a failed science experiment—was far more dangerous. And far more interesting.about which he don't know
Before Ren could respond, Cecilia noticed the private whispering. She turned away from Noel, her eyes narrowing as they landed on Aika's relaxed posture.
"Ren, are you keeping Helena all to yourself?" Cecilia asked, her voice tilting upward in a fake pout. "We were just discussing the layout for the Orphanage Gala. Since Helena is so interested in charity work lately, I'm sure she has lots of opinions on the decor."
Ren broke the tension with a clap of his hands, his messy suit jacket shifting with the movement. "Alright, enough with the hallway science. Let's go for lunch first. We can talk about the Orphanage and decor once we have some glucose in our systems."
Noel didn't argue. He turned to his assistant, Laila, who had been standing silently nearby. "Laila, get the files on the Q3 expansion ready for the afternoon briefing," he commanded, his voice back to its corporate-ice setting. Without a backward glance at Aika or Cecilia, he was the first person to walk out, his stride long and purposeful.
Cecilia didn't miss a beat. Like a moth drawn to a flame, she immediately followed behind Noel, her floral dress fluttering as she tried to match his pace. Ren trailed behind her, giving Aika a quick wink before following the group.
Aika stayed behind for a split second. She felt exposed. She caught Cecilia looking back one last time, those predatory eyes scanning her again. It made her skin crawl but he thinking was running highly "did i hear correct she said orphan gala like what no i mean what who even said that ahh really what is thai going on and what the heck is this gala are they talking about i only listen about met galat what this new typo gala huh orphan gala ahh i can't defend thor humor anymore
After saying that Ren said cici we will talk about this later at circuit when everyone is present first lets go for lunch Neol are coming na
Noel who got a call few min ago just gave small nod then cecilia put hr hands in his arm and said you two go i'll come with Noel
But Ren pulled her back towards him as he clearly saw the annoying look in Noel eyes on her behavior said no cici come with em Noel call may he took time so lets go Helena will come with him
Aika be like wow in their mess they shove me with thai man who is looking more annoyed now then before on cecilia behavior
But the two of them left along with cecilia assistant also left she just standing behind waiting for Noel call to end as his call end he just look at her and gave a look small clearly means follow me
Acting on instinct, Aika reached for her left wrist. The bracelet felt heavy and suffocating now that she knew a GPS tracker was buried under the diamond. With a quick, practiced motion, she unlatched it.
She took the bracelet and the phone, shoving them both deep into the pocket of her wide-leg trousers. She didn't want it touching her skin anymore, especially not with Cecilia's "hand-crushing" energy nearby.
If they want to track me, they can track my pocket, she thought, smoothing down her clothes But they aren't getting a look at my pulse today.
She took a deep breath and followed him it is clear they are eating out