Ealina burst into the meeting room, her breath uneven from running. All eyes turned to her.
Ryan raised his brows, calm yet expectant.
"Settle this," he said.
Ealina took a moment, then turned toward Daerien N.
"I'm sorry," she said sincerely. "There was a misunderstanding."
Daerien N. gave a light chuckle.
"Don't be sorry," he replied. "I'm not the person you expected me to be. But thanks to this little mix-up… I found the one I've been searching for, all this time."
He pulled out a card and handed it to Ryan.
"I'm a detective," he revealed. "Apologies for not saying so earlier. I had to keep it quiet to complete my mission."
Ryan studied the card for a moment, then nodded.
"It's alright. We're glad we could help, in some way."
Daerien N. smiled slightly, then gave a respectful nod and walked out.
Ryan turned to the rest of the team.
"Everyone, meet me in my cabin. Five minutes."
---
Flashback
The soft glow of the screen lit up Ealina's face as she sat at her desk, flipping through her tablet. She opened her email to check a few important files—and noticed an unread message sitting in her inbox.
She tapped on it casually, but as the mail opened, her eyes widened.
From: Daerien N.
Subject: Apology
Hello,
I am Daerien N., the masked artist.
I'm sorry I won't be able to make it tomorrow due to some personal issues.
However, I will be there for the company's 100th anniversary.
Her breath caught.
"Oh no..." she muttered, realizing the mistake.
Back to the Present
Everyone had gathered in Ryan's cabin. A tense silence hung in the air as he leaned against his desk, hands in his pockets, looking at the team.
"How did this mistake happen?" he asked flatly, eyes scanning each face.
Nana stepped forward hesitantly.
"I'm really sorry, sir," she said. "I thought he was the real one. I didn't confirm properly."
Ryan's expression stayed unreadable.
"So now what?" he asked, voice calm but sharp. "What are we going to do?"
Ealina stepped forward. "Sir... Mr. Daerien N. is coming today."
Ryan raised a brow. "Are you sure this time it's the real one?"
She nodded. "Yes, sir. I got a mail confirming his arrival."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then why didn't he inform us earlier?"
Ealina hesitated.
"He… actually did. He mailed before. But I—" she paused, biting her lip, "—I didn't see the message until today. I'm sorry, sir."
The room went silent. Everyone braced themselves, expecting him to lose his temper. But instead, Ryan gave a slow nod.
"What happened, happened. Maybe it was for the better."
He looked around. "Let's just focus on the event now."
The team blinked, confused for a second.
Nana mumbled under her breath, "I thought he'd explode… but he's been so calm lately."
She hadn't spoken as softly as she thought—everyone heard.
Ryan turned toward her with a questioning tilt of his head. Nana gave a sheepish smile, scratching her neck.
"You can all go," Ryan said finally.
As they left the room, laughter bubbled up among the team—mostly at Nana's expense.
---
The art exhibition hall buzzed with quiet excitement. Guests from across the city wandered the polished marble floors, admiring the unique collection displayed for the company's 100th anniversary. Soft classical music played in the background, blending with the hushed conversations and appreciative murmurs of onlookers.
Paintings lined the walls—each telling a different story, each crafted with raw emotion.
Among them stood one that drew the most attention:
A hauntingly vivid image of a forest engulfed in flames.
Dark reds bled into shades of ash, and in the center of the chaos, a lone silhouette stood—small, lost, burning with grief.
It was titled: "The Burning Forest".
The artist behind this masterpiece—Daerien N.—had yet to arrive.
Rumors swirled. Eyes lingered near the entrance. Whispers floated from one group to another.
Ealina, walking through the crowd, caught sight of a man standing alone, positioned directly in front of the burning forest painting. His back was straight, hands in his pockets, a quiet intensity in his presence. He wore a sleek black outfit and sunglasses despite the soft indoor lighting.
She walked over politely.
"Sir," she began, "do you need any help?"
The man didn't turn, eyes fixed on the painting. "Can you tell me about this piece?"
Without even glancing at it, she answered softly, "It represents the emotion of losing someone... or something. The devastation that follows... the silent screams that no one hears."
He turned his head slightly toward her. "You don't like this painting?"
"What?" she blinked. "No. Why would you say that?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Then why haven't you looked at it even once while describing it?"
Ealina stiffened. "It's not like that…"
She slowly turned toward the painting, ready to force herself to look—but before her gaze could fully meet the canvas, a familiar voice cut in—calm, but firmly protective.
"She's a bit busy today," Ryan said, stepping beside her. "A lot on her mind."
He gently positioned himself between her and the painting.
Recalling how the last time she saw the painting and it triggered a splitting headache, so he quickly interrupted the conversation.
"She's a bit overwhelmed today—too much on her mind," he said, gently steering the topic away to shield her without drawing attention.
The stranger turned fully now, facing both of them.
Ryan extended a hand slightly, still with that calm authority. "I'm Ryan. May I ask who you are?"
The man gave a subtle smile, and finally offered his hand in return.
"Hello. I'm Daerien N.—the masked artist."
Ealina's eyes went wide. "Y-you're the artist who painted this?" she asked, pointing toward the burning forest. "Are you... the real Daerien N.?"
Daerien tilted his head, amused. "Real one?"
Ryan cleared his throat. "It's nothing. Welcome, Mr. Daerien N. It's a pleasure to have you here."
"Likewise," Daerien replied smoothly.
Ryan nodded. "Please enjoy the exhibition. We'll catch up at the anniversary party later."
He gently guided Ealina away, leaving Daerien to observe the admiration his work received.
The exhibition continued beautifully—colors, lights, laughter, and stories flowing freely.
The event was heading toward its final, most anticipated moment—the anniversary celebration.
---
At the 100th Anniversary Party –
The grand hall shimmered with golden lights, casting a warm glow across the glass chandeliers. Every detail—from the elegant floral arrangements to the perfectly timed soft music—spoke of the team's relentless efforts to make the evening perfect.
Aren and Liora took the stage, smiles glowing under the spotlight.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," Liora began warmly, "We're truly honored to have you with us tonight."
Aren added, "Thank you all for joining us on this momentous occasion—our company's 100th anniversary. Tonight isn't just about the past we've built, but the future we're about to shape together."
Applause filled the room.
Meanwhile, Nana and Mike, assigned to oversee event management, scanned every corner like hawks, ensuring nothing went unnoticed.
Lyra approached, her tone light. "How's it going?"
"Smooth," Nana replied with a sigh, "But I'm getting bored. By the way—where's Ealina? She's not here yet."
Mike nodded, "Yeah, don't tell me Mr. Monster gave her work even tonight."
Lyra chuckled, shaking her head. "No, she had some personal work. She'll be here on time."
Just then, a ripple passed through the room.
Ryan walked in.
Clad in a black tailored suit that complimented his tall frame and sharp features, his presence was magnetic. His usual cold aura was replaced with something softer, charming—almost like a character out of a fantasy novel.
Nana's eyes widened, practically sparkling. "Okay, I always knew our boss was handsome, but tonight… this is criminal. He looks like a dream. Someone hold me, I'm falling in love all over again!"
Mike gave her a playful smack on the head.. "Snap out of it."
"Ow! Let me dream!" she whined, rubbing her head.
Lyra rolled her eyes. "Focus. You'll see him tomorrow, too."
Across the room, Jace approached Ryan with his usual cool demeanor.
"Sir, do you need anything? Or are you… waiting for someone?"
Ryan's gaze didn't shift. His eyes remained fixed on the grand entrance. "No. I'm just watching the party."
Jace smirked faintly. "Strange. Then why are your eyes only locked on the entrance… like you're expecting someone?"
"Maybe… someone special?"
Ryan gave him a side glance, unamused. "Don't talk nonsense."
But truth was—he was waiting. Expecting. Hoping.
And then… she entered.
Ealina stepped through the doors, and time seemed to pause.
The lights of the hall danced along her sleek, black, shimmering gown. Her hair framed her face perfectly, her presence elegant, poised—absolutely breathtaking. For a moment, Ryan forgot how to breathe.
He was about to step forward… but was beaten to it.
Mike, Nana, and Lyra swarmed her immediately.
"Wow!" Mike exclaimed. "You look like you walked straight out of heaven!"
Ealina laughed shyly. "Thanks, but don't hype me too much."
"Seriously," Nana said, eyes twinkling. "You look stunning. Elegant and glowing!"
Before Ryan could even take a step, Mike jumped in front of Ealina.
"Alright! Tonight, when the dance begins—you have to dance with me, okay? I asked first, so I claim you as my partner!"
Ealina giggled. "Okay, okay—but let's finish our tasks first."
The three nodded and moved to help with the final checks.
Lyra leaned close, whispering, "Damn, girl. You trying to make him collapse?"
"Huh?" Ealina blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Lyra smirked. "And let me just say—Mike may have asked first but he's not your dance partner tonight. someone else has already decided you're his and is waiting to take your hand…"
She tilted her head subtly toward Ryan.
Ealina followed her eyes… and met his.
Ryan was still staring at her.
---
Some time later,
Ealina's eyes began to glow a soft, eerie blue. A rush of emotions flooded her senses—voices she couldn't hear, but could feel. The emotions of everyone around her echoed in her mind, overwhelming and loud.
Suddenly, a vision struck her: a violent image of demons descending, chaos erupting.
Sensing her distress, Ryan quickly moved to her side. Without hesitation, he wrapped his coat around her, shielding her from the crowd—hiding her trembling form in his arms, keeping her safe and unseen.
She slowly opened her glowing eyes and whispered, "They're here… the demons."
Liora, alarmed, looked at her. "They've come for Ryan."
But Ealina shook her head gently, her voice calm yet certain.
"No… they're not here for him."
---