Avery pulled an all-nighter, scrapping and redoing the entire proposal from scratch. It wasn't until three in the morning, when she finally printed and bound the documents, that she allowed herself to stop.
Her fingertips trembled slightly as she held the files. Her eyes, red from lack of sleep, carried a hint of exhaustion at the corners, but she forced it down.
Outside, the sky was just beginning to lighten, rain tapping urgently against the windows. She threw on a trench coat and rushed to Gu Corporation, gripping the files tightly even when the paper cut into her knuckles.
She stood outside Lucien's office door, taking a deep breath before raising her hand to knock.
Knock, knock.
"Come in."
Lucien's voice came through the door, calm and unhurried, yet it made her heart tighten.
The moment she pushed the door open, a wave of cold air rushed toward her.
Lucien was seated behind his desk, a freshly signed document spread out before him. His long fingers slowly capped his pen before lifting his gaze to her.
Today, he wore a black suit that emphasized the straight lines of his shoulders and back. His brows were sharp, his eyes so deep they seemed bottomless.
"Is it done?"
His voice was as cold as the rain outside the window.
Avery looked at him, her eyes red but bright as she struggled to remain calm, placing the files on his desk.
"It's done. Please take a look."
Lucien didn't immediately reach for the documents. Instead, he leaned back slightly in his chair, his long fingers tapping lightly on the desk, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"Avery, do you know why I told you to redo this?"
The hand at Avery's side clenched, her knuckles turning white, but she lifted her head to meet his gaze.
"I know."
"You know, and you still dare to come here?"
Lucien's tone was indifferent, yet there was a subtle, unreadable scrutiny in his eyes.
Avery's breathing was unsteady, but her voice was firm as she spoke.
"Being afraid won't help. Backing down won't help. I need to prove that I can do this."
Lucien looked at her, a flicker of something unreadable flashing through his cold, dark eyes. His lips curved slightly into a faint smile.
"Good."
He reached out to take the files, flipping through them quickly. The sound of the pages turning was crisp in the quiet, rain-filled morning.
Avery stood there, her back straight, lashes trembling as she fixed her gaze on his long fingers, trying to catch any hint of his reaction.
When he closed the last page, Lucien slowly lifted his eyes.
"Avery, Gu Corporation doesn't keep useless people."
Avery's throat bobbed as she swallowed, a brief glint of moisture flashing in her eyes before she forced it down, lifting her gaze to meet his.
"I won't let Gu Corporation down."
Lucien stared at her, his gaze deep and unreadable, his long fingers tapping twice against the files, the sound soft but impossible to ignore.
After a moment, he spoke.
"From now on, report the project's progress to me directly every day."
"Yes."
Avery's voice was clear and steady.
As she turned to leave, Lucien's low voice called out.
"Avery."
Avery turned back. The sound of the rain against the windows seemed especially loud as she lifted her eyes to him, the stubborn light in her gaze unyielding.
Lucien's eyes fell on her face, his voice calm but firm.
"Don't disappoint me."
Avery froze for a moment before the corners of her lips curved slightly, her eyes still steady.
"I won't."
Outside the office, a cold breeze swept through the hallway. Avery lowered her head and took a deep breath, her nose stinging slightly as she clenched her teeth.
As the elevator doors slowly closed, she saw her pale but determined reflection in the mirrored walls and whispered softly to herself.
"Avery, you can't lose."
The rain continued to fall outside, the cold wind cutting through the morning, yet the light hidden in her eyes brightened the darkness just a little.