This world seriously has zero chill.
The last thing I remember was the scent of cold, bottom-shelf instant coffee. My eyes were bleeding from a mountain of reports on the screen. My heart? It was thumping irregularly, sounding like a clunky old engine struggling up a steep hill.
Then, I died. I died from overtime in an office where the boss didn't even know my face. Pathetic, right? I died before I could even go on a 'healing' trip or see a multi-digit balance in my bank account.
But instead of meeting an angel or seeing a white light, I was woken up by a robotic voice more annoying than a 2:00 AM Slack notification on a Sunday.
[Corporate Matchmaker System activated.][Soul Sync: 100%.][Welcome, Arlan Vane. Your Role: Executive Assistant to the CEO.]
I forced my eyes open. My vision was immediately met with a luxurious boardroom. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls showcased a 50th-floor view of the downtown skyscrapers. The air didn't smell like damp office carpet anymore; it was the scent of expensive room fragrance that probably cost three months of my old salary.
"Arlan? Are you listening? Or should I transfer you to the warehouse right now?"
That deep, cold voice made the hair on my neck stand up. I glanced to the side. There sat a man whose handsomeness was borderline inhuman. Sharp jawline, a suit that cost more than a starter home, and a gaze that felt like it could fire you with a single blink.
This was him. Alaric Valerius. The stiff-as-a-board Male Lead whose brain contained nothing but stocks, profits, and a built-in calculator.
Holy crap, is this for real? I thought, massaging my temples. I actually transmigrated into that trashy romance novel I only read to laugh at while I was on the toilet?
[System: "Stop spacing out, Arlan. Focus on the target. Alaric & Elara's current Progress Bar: 0%."]
"Hey, you trash System! Who are you? Why am I here?!" I screamed internally.
[System: "I'm your project manager. Your task is simple: Get Alaric and Elara married. If you fail, you die permanently. If you succeed, you get a severance package to return to life. Got it, corporate slave?"]
"Who are you calling a—?! You little—"
"ARLAN!" Alaric tapped the table with his expensive pen. Tap! Tap! Tap!
"Y-yes, Sir?" I answered reflexively. My corporate tongue was on autopilot, ready to take orders even in another dimension.
Just then, the boardroom door creaked open. A girl walked in with hesitant steps. She wore a neat white shirt, a simple pencil skirt, and an aura that screamed "fresh intern"—innocent, panicked, and ready to be bulldozed by the corporate world.
She was Elara. The Female Lead.
And here is our primary sacrifice, I thought. The original Arlan in this book was just a background assistant, but now I had to be a matchmaker just to save my own skin.
Elara bowed deeply, her hair covering her face. "G-good morning, Sir. I am Elara, the new intern. I was told to submit these administrative files..."
Alaric didn't even spare her a glance. His fingers moved nimbly over his tablet as if Elara were just passing oxygen. "You're thirty seconds late. In this company, time is an asset. You just wasted mine for nothing."
Good God, Boss... your filter needs a major revision, I grumbled internally. Giving a divine-level discipline lecture to a girl this cute during the first meeting? No wonder you're perpetually single!
I saw Elara's eyes beginning to well up. If she cried now, the mood would be completely ruined.
[DING! Emergency Mission: Break the ice before Elara cries!][Item Choice: 'Anti-Awkwardness Drink' (30 Points).]
"Hey, System! What's my balance?!"
[System: "Starting Balance: 50 Points. Hurry up and buy!"]
Dammit, you greedy System! "I'm buying it!"
A premium bottle suddenly materialized under my desk. With a quick movement, I cleared my throat loudly, cutting through the killing silence.
"My apologies for interrupting, Sir. Actually, Elara wasn't late. I intentionally set the boardroom clock one minute fast to ensure everything wraps up early. It's an efficiency strategy. Here's your drink, Sir—it'll help you stay focused."
I slid the drink to Alaric with a professional smile. Simultaneously, I stealthily slipped a small chocolate to Elara under the table.
Alaric looked at me, his brows knitting. "Is that so? Since when did you start regulating the clocks in my room?"
"For the progress of the company, Sir," I grinned. I looked at Elara and gave her a reassuring nod. "Welcome to the team, Elara. Alaric is actually thrilled to meet you; he's just a bit stiff. Please bear with him."
Elara looked at me with sparkling eyes, as if I were a hero who had just saved her from drowning. "T-thank you..."
"Just call me Arlan," I said gently.
[DING! Alaric & Elara Progress: 1%!][Notification: Elara views you as a reliable 'Senior Brother.' Brother-Zone relationship: Active!]
Thank God. The Brother-Zone is much safer than the firing line, I thought with relief.
"Arlan, handle her. Brief her on the basics. I have a meeting in five minutes," Alaric commanded coldly. He stood up and walked out without another word.
A total corporate robot.
Once the door shut, Elara let out a long breath. "Arlan... thank you so much. I thought I was going to faint. The CEO is terrifying."
I chuckled softly. "Don't sweat it, Ra. He's just like that. Honestly, he just doesn't know how to interact with humans. Just think of him as a machine in need of a software update."
Elara let out a small laugh, finally relaxing. "You're funny. You're so kind, just like my own big brother."
I was about to reply when the door was suddenly kicked open. Brak!
A woman dressed in high-end gear from head to toe marched in, her perfume screaming "Old Money." This was Lady Isabella. The villainess destined for a tragic ending.
"Arlan! Where is Alaric?! And why is this... scruffy creature in here?!" Isabella pointed at Elara with a jewelry-laden finger.
I stepped forward, standing in front of Elara like a human shield. "Good morning, Lady Isabella. Alaric is occupied. Elara is a new staff member under my supervision. If you interfere with her work, I'll have to report this as a disruption to company operations."
Isabella narrowed her eyes, scanning me from head to toe. I braced for a verbal beatdown, but she suddenly went quiet. Her face flushed a strange shade of pink.
"You... certainly have a lot of nerve lately, don't you?" she muttered, looking away. "And why do you look... slightly more put-together today? Whose attention are you trying to catch?"
Huh? Me? Catching attention?
"Whatever! Tell Alaric he has to meet me tonight!" Isabella stormed out, slamming the door.
[System: "Warning! While the main progress rose, Isabella's interest in you also rose accidentally. MP Balance: 20 Points."]
"HEY! WHY IS SHE INTERESTED?! WRONG TARGET!" I screamed in frustration.
Elara tugged at my sleeve. "Arlan... thank you for defending me again."
I took a long breath. It was only day one, and I already needed a vacation. I looked at Elara, who stared at me with pure admiration. I realized then that being a matchmaker wasn't just about playing Cupid. It was about surviving a second heart attack.
"I'm fine, Ra. Come on, let me show you your desk."
As we walked, my vision suddenly blurred. The System's hologram reappeared, glowing a brilliant gold.
[DING! Your sincerity in helping a side character has triggered an evolution!][Permanent Skill Detected: 'Eye of Empathy' (Lv. 1) ready to be unlocked.][Description: You can see the 'Past Trauma' of a target with a single glance.][Activation Cost: 20 Points (Your entire remaining balance).]
I stopped. Ahead of me, Isabella was stepping into the elevator. She turned back for a split second, looking at me with a gaze I couldn't quite place—a mix of sadness, anger, and deep loneliness.
Dammit. If I use this now, I'm broke. But if I don't help them, their tragic endings are inevitable...
"Arlan? Why did you stop?" Elara asked.
I took a breath. "I was just... thinking, Ra."
I slammed the [ACTIVATE] button. My eyes flared with heat, and the world around me suddenly shifted colors.
[Skill 'Eye of Empathy' Active!][Unlocking Lady Isabella's Secret in 3... 2... 1...]