-----
The hallway felt longer now.
Each step Isla took toward the dark glass door stretched like the space between seconds. She stopped just outside it, heart tapping quietly in her chest.
She glanced once to the side. Elijah was gone.
Just her now.
She inhaled. Steadied her shoulders. Then gently raised her hand and knocked—soft, polite.
For a moment, nothing.
Then came the voice. Deep. Crisp. Unbothered.
"Come in."
She didn't touch anything. Didn't have to.
The moment the command left his mouth, the door let out a soft mechanical click—and opened on its own.
Isla let out a small gasp.
She hadn't expected it.
The quiet sound echoed just enough in the massive office to be heard.
Rael Moreau looked up.
He was seated behind a desk of matte black, its surface immaculate but for a folder laid open in front of him. His head had been bowed, fingers flipping a page—but the moment she stepped in, he lifted his gaze.
Those storm-grey eyes caught hers.
For one suspended second, he didn't speak.
He simply observed.
Her startled reaction. Her wide, jade-green eyes. The way she seemed to collect herself a moment too late.
Amusement flickered behind his expression—just a flicker—but he didn't smile.
Of course he didn't.
Isla cleared her throat softly and stepped forward.
"Mr. Moreau," she said gently. "I—I was told to report to you."
"You were," he replied, voice smooth as stone.
She waited. Hands clasped in front of her. Not fidgeting. Not trembling. Just… quiet.
He watched her for another long moment.
Then slowly closed the folder and leaned back slightly in his chair. Not relaxed—Rael Moreau never looked relaxed—but less focused on the papers and more on her now.
"Elijah says you're new," he said.
"Yes, sir."
"Freshly graduated."
"Yes."
"No prior experience in a company of this scale."
"No, sir."
"You applied for the position willingly."
"…Yes?"
His head tilted just a fraction. "Why?"
The question wasn't hostile. It wasn't kind, either. It was just… clinical.
Isla hesitated, then answered honestly.
"Because I wanted to grow. I wanted a challenge. And because I thought… it would be an honor to work for a company with your name on it."
Rael was silent.
Then:
"Flattery is not required, Miss Quinn."
"It wasn't flattery, sir."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "You're either very naïve, or you've been trained to sound sincere."
"I don't lie," she said softly.
That made him pause.
Another flicker of something—barely there.
"Most people do," he said.
"I'm not most people."
That made his brow lift—just slightly.
He studied her again, this time more intently.
Then he leaned forward, folding his hands atop the desk.
"You'll be assisting operations and legal. Your rotation will include internal filing, scheduling coordination, briefcase logistics, and the occasional high-clearance document run. You will not speak to me unless spoken to. You will not enter this office unless called. You will not wander this floor without purpose."
"I understand," she said.
"You'd better," he replied.
A long pause followed.
Then, without raising his voice, he added—
"You may leave."
She nodded. "Yes, sir."
As she turned to go, the door slid open again automatically.
She didn't gasp this time.
But Rael watched her walk out. The sound of her shoes against the floor was barely audible.
When the door shut behind her, he leaned back in his chair again.
Still expressionless.
But something behind his eyes had shifted.
---