NOVPUBThe steady scratching of a pen against paper filled the air, accompanied by the occasional rustle of documents being turned. Elion sat behind his large desk, immersed in his work, his sharp eyes flickering across the papers before him. His fingers moved with precision, flipping through pages, signing where necessary, and making notes in the margins.
Across the room, Raelynn sat on the plush leather couch, her posture slightly slouched as she idly scrolled through her phone. Her thumb moved over the screen, but she wasn’t really reading anything. Her mind kept drifting back to the document she had found earlier—the one with her personal information in it.
Her stomach felt strangely unsettled. Why did he have that file? Had he investigated her? If so, how long had he been keeping it?
Raelynn bit her lower lip, staring at her screen without really seeing it. She tapped her finger against the edge of her phone absentmindedly, her brows slightly furrowed. The soft ticking of the clock on the wall blended with the faint sound of Elion’s writing, making the room feel eerily quiet.
Elion, despite being absorbed in his work, occasionally stole quick glances at her. At first, he ignored her silence, assuming she was just tired. But as the minutes stretched on, he noticed the way she was biting her lip, the way she kept fidgeting, and the slight tension in her brows.
Finally, without looking up from his paperwork, he asked in a calm but curious voice, "Are you bored?"
Raelynn blinked, startled out of her thoughts. She turned to look at him, her lips parting slightly before closing again. It took her a second to register what he had said.
"Should I ask Reinhart to pick you up and take you home?" he continued, still focused on the document in front of him. His tone was casual, but there was a tension to it—as if he was subtly trying to figure out if she wanted to leave.
Raelynn hesitated. Did she want to leave?
She didn’t feel like staying in the mansion right now. But staying here, in his office, only made her feel more confused about him.
After a moment, she shook her head. "No, it’s fine," she murmured. "Not like I have anything else to do at home."
Elion raised an eyebrow slightly at her answer, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he simply went back to his work, flipping another page.
Raelynn sighed softly and leaned back against the couch, resting her head on the armrest.
The room remained quiet except for the steady sounds of Elion working. The ticking of the clock, the rustling of papers, the occasional sigh—everything blended into a low, rhythmic hum.
Raelynn’s fingers slowed on her phone screen, her blinks becoming longer and heavier. A sense of drowsiness crept over her like a thick, warm blanket.
Her eyelids fluttered, and before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.
Her breathing evened out, her body relaxing into the couch. Her phone slipped from her fingers, landing softly on her lap.
Elion, who had been reviewing a contract, felt the silence settle in differently. The lack of movement, the absence of the faint clicking of her phone—it made him glance up.
His pen paused mid-stroke.
Raelynn was asleep.
For a long moment, Elion just watched her.
Her face, usually filled with emotions—irritation, amusement, curiosity—was now peaceful. Her lashes cast faint shadows on her cheeks, her slightly parted lips looked soft and vulnerable.
His gaze lingered on the way her chest rose and fell in slow, steady breaths, the way her fingers curled slightly against the fabric of her dress. She looked so… delicate.
Elion sighed quietly and leaned back in his chair. A strange warmth settled in his chest—one he wasn’t used to.
After a brief hesitation, he set his pen down and pushed himself up from the chair. His footsteps were slow, measured, almost cautious as he made his way over to her.
Standing over her, he looked down at her sleeping form. A small crease appeared between his brows.
The couch didn’t look comfortable.
After a moment of quiet consideration, Elion reached down and, with effortless ease, scooped her up into his arms.
Raelynn stirred faintly, a sleepy murmur escaping her lips as her head instinctively nestled against his chest. Her fingers twitched against his shirt, gripping lightly before relaxing again. 𝓃𝓸𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
Elion’s arms tensed for half a second before he let out a slow, steady breath.
She was warm.
The scent of her shampoo—a faint, subtle sweetness—drifted into his senses, making something in his chest tighten.
Keeping his movements careful, he carried her toward the private room attached to his office. The air inside was cool, the faint scent of fresh linen lingering in the space.
Elion walked over to the bed and carefully laid Raelynn down.
The moment her body met the softness of the mattress, she let out a small, content sigh.
Elion hesitated.
He stood there, his gaze fixed on her sleeping face, his jaw tightening slightly.
She looked so utterly defenseless like this.
This woman—who always challenged him, who always held her ground even when she was frustrated with him—looked so small, so fragile right now.
His fingers twitched at his side.
Slowly, he reached down and adjusted the blanket over her, making sure she was warm.
His movements were almost… gentle.
After a long pause, he leaned down slightly, his lips just inches from her ear.
His voice was low, quiet, almost a whisper.
"I’ll finish my work quickly… and join you soon."
Raelynn didn’t respond.
She simply shifted slightly under the covers, her breathing steady.
Elion exhaled through his nose and straightened up.
For a brief moment, his fingers brushed against the strands of her hair that had fallen over her face. He tucked them back behind her ear, his touch barely a whisper against her skin.
Then, without another word, he turned away and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
