NOVPUBRaelynn sat in Elion’s office, exhaling slowly as she looked around. It was her first time being in his personal workspace, and despite the intimidating luxury surrounding her, there was a strange sense of familiarity. The large glass windows stretched from floor to ceiling, offering a panoramic view of the city skyline. From this height, everything looked so small, so distant. She leaned slightly forward, resting her elbows on the edge of his sleek black desk, her fingers tracing the polished surface absentmindedly.
"What now?" she muttered under her breath. Elion had left for his meeting, and she was left alone.
She turned her attention to the room, properly taking in her surroundings. The decor was modern but not overly extravagant—deep mahogany wood, elegant dark leather chairs, and minimalistic art pieces hung on the walls. It was the kind of office she had only seen in TV dramas, where powerful men sat behind imposing desks making world-changing decisions.
With nothing else to do, Raelynn got up and wandered around, her footsteps barely making a sound against the plush carpet. She skimmed over the books neatly arranged on the shelf, recognizing a few business-related titles, but most were things she had no clue about. She let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. Of course he would have these.
Raelynn’s gaze drifted to the black office chair behind the massive desk. It looked comfortable—maybe even too comfortable for someone like Elion, who always seemed too busy to sit and relax.
A mischievous thought crossed her mind before she could stop herself. With no one around to judge, she walked over, placed her hands on the armrests, and slowly lowered herself onto the chair. The leather was cool against her palms, and as soon as she settled in, she sighed. Yeah, it was definitely comfortable.
Then, on impulse, she pushed off the ground slightly and let the chair spin.
A small chuckle escaped her lips as the world blurred around her, the movement light and playful. She spun once, then again, enjoying the silly little distraction. It felt almost childish, but she didn’t care. It wasn’t like anyone was watching.
But after the third spin, she suddenly stopped herself, gripping the edge of the desk as the room continued to tilt slightly.
"Okay, bad idea," she murmured to herself, blinking to steady her vision.
She let out a breath and slowly stood up, smoothing down her clothes as if nothing had happened. With one last glance at the chair, she hesitated before lightly patting the seat—almost like she was wiping away any trace of her brief moment of fun.
As if Elion would somehow know she had been sitting there just by looking.
Raelynn shook her head at the thought. "I need to find something else to do," she muttered, glancing around the room again.
But there really was nothing. No distractions, no entertainment—just books she had no interest in, paperwork she couldn’t touch, and a whole lot of silence.
Her curiosity eventually led her to the door that Elion had gone through earlier when he changed. She hesitated for a moment before pushing it open, revealing the small private bedroom inside.
Her brows lifted slightly. "Wow," she whispered.
It was simple yet sophisticated, just like the rest of his office. A large bed took up most of the space, the sheets neatly tucked in, and a nightstand sat beside it with a single book resting on top. A wardrobe was against the wall, and there was a small seating area with a leather chair and a round table. The lighting was dim, giving the space a cozy feel. It was easy to imagine Elion spending long nights here, either working late or too exhausted to go home.
She walked over to the bed and sat down, testing the softness of the mattress. A part of her wondered if she should really be sitting on it, but another part of her reasoned that Elion had told her she was free to use the room. A small yawn escaped her lips, and she rubbed her eyes.
"Just for a few minutes," she murmured as she lay back against the pillows.
The moment her head touched the pillow, her body instantly relaxed. The faint scent of Elion lingered in the sheets—a mix of fresh cedarwood and something distinctly him. It was oddly comforting. Her eyes fluttered shut as the fatigue she hadn’t even realized she was carrying began to pull her under.
When Raelynn woke up, she felt disoriented. Blinking a few times, she tried to gather her thoughts. The last thing she remembered was lying down for just a moment, but now, judging by how heavy her limbs felt, she must have fallen into a deep sleep.
She sat up quickly, brushing her hair back. "How long was I asleep?" she muttered.
Her first thought was Elion—was he back yet? Had she overslept and missed him returning? She quickly got out of the bed, straightening the slight mess she had made on the sheets before stepping out of the room. As she re-entered the main office space, she immediately froze.
Sitting on the couch was a woman she had never seen before.
Raelynn let out a small gasp as her body tensed, heart skipping a beat. The woman was sitting with perfect posture, legs crossed elegantly, her hands resting lightly on her lap.
She was beautiful—long, silky dark hair, flawless skin, and an air of quiet confidence that made her presence feel both intimidating and refined. Dressed in a sleek white blouse and a fitted black skirt, she looked every bit the part of someone important.
Her sudden noise must have caught her attention because she turned to look at her, her brows raising slightly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.
Her mind raced with possibilities. Was she someone from Elion’s business? A client? An old acquaintance? Or… something else entirely?
But one thing was clear—this woman wasn’t here by accident.
