NOVPUBRaelynn blinked rapidly, her body stiff with unease as she stared at the unfamiliar woman seated casually on the couch. Her heart, still slightly drowsy from sleep, picked up its pace, and her fingers curled against the fabric of her dress. She hadn’t heard the door open or sensed anyone coming in, yet here this woman was, sitting as if she belonged there.
She swallowed, then cautiously asked, "Who are you?"
The woman turned to her with a small, composed smile, her eyes gentle yet unreadable. With an effortless grace, she rose from her seat, smoothing out her neatly pressed blouse before taking a slow step forward.
"Oh, I’m sorry if I startled you." Her voice was light and polite, with a hint of amusement dancing in her tone. "I didn’t mean to. Don’t worry, I’m not a bad guy."
Raelynn stayed still, wary but listening.
The woman continued, "Mr. Vaelorian asked me to come to his office and accompany you while he’s in the meeting."
Raelynn’s brows lifted in surprise. "Elion did?" she asked, a little doubtful.
The woman nodded. "Yes, Mr. Vaelorian mentioned that you weren’t feeling well, but since you had to be here, he thought it’d be best if someone was around in case you needed anything. So, here I am."
Raelynn exhaled, tension easing slightly from her shoulders. "Oh, I see."
The woman gestured toward the couch. "Shall we sit?"
Raelynn hesitated for a second before nodding, then walked over and settled into the seat. The woman did the same, keeping a respectable distance between them. There was a quiet pause before she spoke again.
"I just realized I didn’t introduce myself properly." She smiled apologetically and extended her hand. "My name is Lena. I’m an intern here at Vaelorian Enterprises."
Raelynn reached out to shake her hand, her grip light but firm. "Nice to meet you, Lena. I’m Raelynn."
She almost stopped there, but a beat of uncertainty hit her. Should she say more? How should she introduce herself in relation to Elion? She couldn’t exactly say she was just some woman he had a one-night stand with and ended up carrying his child. That would be… well, incredibly awkward. But she also wasn’t just anyone. And yet—
"I’m… a friend of Elion’s," she finally said, carefully choosing her words.
For a moment, Raelynn wondered if she had said the wrong thing—if she should have been more specific or, perhaps, less. But what else could she say?
She wasn’t Elion’s girlfriend. That much was clear. They weren’t dating, and whatever had happened between them that night… well, it hadn’t been planned. It certainly wasn’t the kind of romantic story people swooned over. And yet, calling herself just a friend felt oddly hollow. It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t entirely the truth either.
So why did it make her feel so unsettled?
"Oh, and it’s my first time here," she blurted out, glancing around the office in an attempt to redirect the conversation. "In his office, I mean."
Lena didn’t react much, simply nodding in acknowledgment. "I see."
Silence followed, and Raelynn suddenly felt self-conscious. The quiet stretched a little too long for her liking. Lena didn’t seem to mind it, sitting with a relaxed posture, hands lightly clasped on her lap. But Raelynn? She could feel the weight of it pressing against her.
Needing to fill the void, she decided to start a conversation. "So, Lena, which department are you interning in?"
Lena turned to her, tilting her head slightly. "I’m in the finance department."
"Oh," Raelynn said, nodding as if she had any idea what that entailed. "That sounds… complicated."
Lena chuckled lightly. "It can be, but it’s interesting."
Raelynn leaned slightly forward, curiosity taking over. "When did you start interning here?"
"About two months ago. Still adjusting, but so far, it’s been a good experience." Lena’s expression remained composed, but her eyes carried a spark of genuine enthusiasm.
"That’s great. Do you like working here?"
Lena hummed in thought before answering, "It has its challenges, but I do. The environment is professional, and Mr. Vaelorian runs a very disciplined company."
Raelynn smiled slightly. "That doesn’t surprise me. He seems like the type."
"Oh, he definitely is." Lena smirked. "Very precise."
Raelynn chuckled at that, then decided to keep the conversation going. "So, where are you from?"
"I grew up in Mayfield," Lena said. "It’s a small town not too far from here."
"Oh? Did you always want to work in finance?"
Lena shrugged slightly. "Not really. I wasn’t sure at first, but numbers always made sense to me. What about you? What do you do?"
Raelynn hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. "I used to work as a cook assistant."
Lena’s brows lifted in interest. "Really? That’s pretty different from a corporate job. Do you still work in that field?"
Raelynn shook her head. "Not anymore."
Lena didn’t push for more details, simply nodding. "Cooking must be fun, though. I wish I had some talent in that area."
Raelynn laughed softly. "It has its moments."
A pause settled between them again, but this time, it felt more natural. Lena wasn’t overly chatty, but she wasn’t unfriendly either. She had a composed air about her—someone who spoke only when necessary but carried herself with confidence.
"Well," Lena suddenly said, shifting slightly in her seat, "since we’re going to be here for a while, would you like a little tour of this floor?"
Raelynn blinked in surprise. "Oh. A tour?"
Lena nodded, offering a polite smile. "It’s nothing much, but since this is your first time in Mr. Vaelorian’s office, I figured you might be curious about the rest of the floor."
Raelynn considered it for a moment before smiling. "Sure. Why not?"
Lena stood up smoothly, adjusting the hem of her blouse. "Great. Follow me."
Raelynn followed suit, feeling a strange mixture of curiosity and amusement as she trailed after Lena. Who would have thought she’d be getting a tour of Elion’s office today?
