The office was unusually tense that morning.
A major client presentation was scheduled for the afternoon, and the entire company seemed to be moving twice as fast as usual.
Phones rang.
Printers hummed.
Footsteps echoed across the polished floors.
At the center of it all, Belonia's voice carried through the hallway like thunder.
"Who approved these projections?"
No one answered immediately.
The managers around the conference table shifted nervously.
Belonia's sharp eyes moved across each face until they landed on Elina.
"You compiled these reports," he said.
Elina stood slowly.
"Yes."
Belonia tossed the folder onto the table.
"These numbers should have been updated this morning."
Her heart skipped.
"I updated the spreadsheet last night."
"Last night isn't today," he replied coldly.
A quiet tension filled the room.
Elina checked the document quickly.
Her stomach tightened.
The figures on the printed copy were indeed the older version.
Someone must have printed the wrong file.
But Belonia had already made his judgment.
His voice grew colder.
"If this presentation fails, it will be because someone didn't do their job properly."
The words landed like sharp stones.
Elina lowered her gaze slightly.
"I'll fix it immediately."
Belonia turned away dismissively.
"You should have done that hours ago."
The meeting ended shortly after.
Employees left quickly, eager to escape the tense atmosphere.
Elina returned to her desk silently.
Her fingers moved across the keyboard as she corrected the file, but her vision blurred slightly.
She blinked quickly.
No.
Not here.
She finished the corrections and sent the updated documents.
Then she stood quietly and walked toward the hallway.
No one paid much attention.
The office was too busy.
She slipped into the corridor near the restrooms and leaned against the wall.
For a moment, she tried to breathe normally.
But the pressure she had been holding inside all morning finally broke.
Tears slid silently down her cheeks.
She quickly covered her mouth, trying to stop the sound of the small sob that escaped.
Elina had learned a long time ago that crying in front of others only made things worse.
So she cried quietly.
Alone.
Just like she had done many times during her childhood when life felt too heavy.
She wiped her face quickly, whispering to herself.
"You're fine."
Another tear fell.
"You've handled worse."
At the other end of the hallway, Belonia stepped out of his office.
He had come to review the updated reports.
But as he walked down the corridor, he noticed something unusual.
A soft sound.
Almost like someone trying to hide their breathing.
His eyes moved toward the corner near the restroom.
And that's when he saw her.
Elina stood with her back against the wall, wiping tears from her face quickly.
She didn't know he was there.
Belonia froze.
For a moment, he simply watched.
Not out of cruelty.
But surprise.
The girl who had faced his harsh words without complaint…
The girl who had looked so calm and determined…
Was standing there quietly crying where no one could see her.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just quietly.
Like someone used to hiding pain.
Something unfamiliar stirred in Belonia's chest.
A strange tightening.
He had seen many employees break under pressure before.
But they usually reacted differently.
Anger.
Complaints.
Fear.
Elina had chosen silence.
She quickly wiped her face again and straightened her posture.
"Get it together," she whispered to herself softly.
Then she walked back toward the office as if nothing had happened.
Belonia stepped back before she could see him.
He returned to his office slowly.
For the next few minutes, he stared at the city through the window.
His mind replayed the image he had just seen.
Her tears.
The quiet strength behind them.
Belonia exhaled slowly.
Why did that bother him?
People cried all the time.
It wasn't his problem.
Yet somehow…
It felt different.
Later that afternoon, Victor appeared again.
He leaned casually against Elina's desk.
"So," he said with a charming smile, "how long do you plan on surviving here?"
Elina looked up from her work.
"I'm not planning on leaving."
Victor laughed softly.
"I like your confidence."
From inside his office, Belonia heard the conversation.
His eyes lifted slightly.
Victor continued speaking.
"You know, if Belonia scares you too much, you could always come work for one of my companies."
Elina smiled politely.
"Thank you, but I'll stay here."
Victor raised an eyebrow.
"Even with him as your boss?"
Elina nodded.
"Yes."
Victor chuckled.
"You're either brave or insane."
Inside the office, Belonia's jaw tightened slightly.
He wasn't sure why Victor talking to her annoyed him.
But it did.
That evening, Elina met Clara again for dinner.
Clara listened carefully as Elina described the stressful day.
"That man sounds impossible," Clara said.
"He's demanding," Elina replied softly.
Clara studied her friend for a moment.
"You like working there though."
Elina hesitated.
"…Yes."
Clara smiled knowingly.
"Well, one day I'll meet this legendary Belonia myself."
Elina laughed lightly.
"You might regret that."
Clara leaned back in her chair with a mischievous smile.
"Oh, I doubt it."
Neither of them realized then…
That the moment Clara Vaughn and Belonia finally met…
It would set off a chain of events that would test friendships, hearts, and loyalties.
And somewhere deep inside Belonia's guarded heart…
The memory of Elina crying quietly in the hallway refused to fade.
For the first time in years…
Someone else's pain had managed to reach him.