Auren, her heart pounding wildly, stepped into the hallway and, without even realizing it, quickened her pace. She didn't care where she was going—anywhere, as long as it was far away from that office, from Kael… from the closeness that had just sparked between them.
What was that?
He had kissed her hand. Her hand! Slowly, deliberately, as if savoring every second of it. The very thought sent a shiver down her spine, and Auren exhaled sharply, trying to steady herself.
She remembered how, just a few days ago, he had pulled her onto his lap and refused to let her go—but that had been different. Back then, his actions were filled with boldness and defiance. Now it felt entirely new—like they had both been silently given permission to play directly, to flirt openly, without hiding behind accidental gestures.
But her mind refused to obey. Flashes of their conversation, his voice, his touch scattered chaotically in her thoughts. The way he looked at her… as though he had seen something he couldn't let go of.
Auren didn't even notice how she had made her way to the company's main entrance. She only stopped when the cool air brushed against her skin. She stood frozen, not knowing what to do, how to calm the heart that was still pounding furiously inside her chest.
All around her, life bustled on: employees hurried about, someone spoke quickly on the phone, another shuffled through folders while walking. The lobby was filled with footsteps, voices, and the faint aroma of coffee—but to her, it all blended into a meaningless hum.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. She needed to pull herself together. But the instant she remembered that moment again, her lips trembled.
"Kael…" she whispered, before biting her lip immediately.
She didn't know what had just happened between them. But one thing was certain—she couldn't run away anymore.
"Auren!"
She flinched at the sound of her name and spun around.
Iris stood there, smiling lightly, her face marked with curiosity.
"What are you doing here?" Iris tilted her head, studying her intently.
Auren blinked, suddenly aware of how she must look from the outside—lost, flustered, with the faintest blush coloring her cheeks.
"I… just…" she stammered, searching for words, but her mind was utterly blank.
Iris narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, I don't like that look of yours. Did something happen?"
Auren opened her mouth, only to close it again, unsure of what to say. How could she possibly explain what had just occurred?
"I…" she hesitated again, fumbling for words, but her thoughts were nothing but a tangled mess of emotions.
Iris studied her once more, then, as if making a decision, gave a small nod.
"All right, I can see you're completely out of it right now. Let's go to a café. Somewhere away from all this office chaos."
Auren lifted her gaze, torn for a moment, but in the end, she only nodded silently. Maybe a bit of fresh air and a calm atmosphere would really help her untangle her thoughts.
***
As soon as the door closed behind Auren, Kael stood still for a moment, as if trying to hold on to the lingering sensation of her touch in his palm. Then he exhaled slowly and sat down at the table, leaning back in his chair.
Tilting his head to the side, a faint smile tugged at his lips as he remembered the way her eyes darted nervously, the way her breath had quickened, even though she tried to appear confident. She was both the fire he was drawn to and the spark that could burn him to ashes.
Kael ran a hand through his hair, leaning forward, resting his elbows on the table. He had just crossed another line. The question was—how far was he willing to go?
Outside, the reception area was empty. Auren was gone.
"Looks like I scared you off a little too much," he muttered under his breath, the corner of his mouth curving upward.
But could he really stop now?
Kael slowly brushed his fingers across his lips, as if trying to memorize the feeling of her skin. The fire Auren had ignited within him showed no sign of dying out. On the contrary, it only burned brighter.
"You avoid me, but you don't push me away. You tremble, but you don't step back. You're afraid, but still you stay close. What am I supposed to do with you, Auren?"
He closed his eyes, recalling the wild rhythm of her heartbeat beneath his fingers. How she tried to seem calm, yet confusion flickered in her gaze. She hadn't rejected him.
"You're so bold, so fearless… but with me, you lose your ground. I wonder… does that mean what I think it does?"
Kael smirked, his fingers tapping against the table.
"If you're fire, Auren… then why do I feel like I'm the one burning?"
His eyes opened, drifting toward the door where Auren had disappeared.
"Don't think you can run away. I won't stop."
Dragging his hand down his face, he let out a heavy breath. Now it was painfully clear. He was in too deep. Deeper than he had expected. Deeper than he could afford.
He wasn't just playing with fire anymore—he was standing right in its center. And he had no desire to leave.
"I started this myself. I stepped closer, I lit the spark. And now? Now I'm burning. And this fire can't be put out."
He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. His temples throbbed, but it wasn't pain—it was exhilaration. Thrill. Desire. Auren was inside him now, in every thought, in every heartbeat. He could see her before him, could almost hear her breath.
"If before I had the choice to stop, now I don't. I want her. I want her to look only at me. To tremble not from fear, but from my touch. To know that I'll never let go."
His lips stretched into a slightly predatory smile. He had never surrendered to difficulties before. And Auren? She could be afraid, she could hesitate—but he would never let her escape.
"I'm already inside this fire. And you know what, Auren? I like it."
***
Auren sat by the window in a small, cozy café, her arms crossed over her chest as she absentmindedly watched raindrops slide down the glass. The world outside was blurred, just like her thoughts.
"So," Iris placed a cup of hot chocolate in front of her and slid into the seat across, tilting her head. "Are you going to tell me what happened, or do I have to drag it out of you piece by piece?"
Auren wrapped her hands around the cup but didn't take a sip. The ceramic was warm against her palms, yet inside she still felt cold.
"I…" She faltered, unable to put into words the storm in her mind.
Iris studied her for a moment, then sighed.
"Auren, whatever happened, you look like you've just seen a ghost."
Auren let out a nervous huff.
"It would've been easier if it were a ghost," she muttered, finally taking a sip.
Iris's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering there.
"Wait a second…"
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, squinting at Auren as if trying to read her like an open book.
"What did Mr. Dantes do?"
Auren nearly choked on her drink.
"W-what?"
"Don't play dumb," her friend crossed her arms. "You looked completely out of it when I saw you. And that's not about work. So—what did he do?"
Auren averted her gaze, taking another sip as if the chocolate could somehow organize her thoughts. But the chaos inside refused to settle.
"Iris…" She drew in a shaky breath, but her voice still trembled. "He… he kissed my hand."
Iris's eyes widened.
"He what…?"
Auren nodded, lowering her gaze back to the cup.
"Not just that," she added after a pause. "He said… things…"
Iris bit her lip, trying to stifle her surprise, but soon a knowing smile spread across her face.
"So that's why you looked like you were having a heart attack," she chuckled, lifting her own cup to her lips. "Auren, you do realize you're in trouble, right?"
Auren sighed wearily, rubbing her temple.
"I know I am," she muttered. "I just… don't know what to do now. How am I supposed to go back to the office after this?"
Iris shook her head, hiding a smirk behind her cup.
"Well, quitting's off the table, that's for sure," she teased.
Auren groaned, dropping her head onto the table.
"Even if I wanted to, I can't," her muffled voice came out against the wood. "The project, the team… and him."
Iris's expression softened as she studied her friend.
"Auren. You do realize everything's going to change now, right?"
Auren slowly lifted her head, meeting her gaze.
"It already has."
She exhaled heavily, clutching the cup as if drawing warmth from it. Lifting her eyes to Iris, her voice came out low, almost pleading.
"What do I do? I don't know how to handle this…"
Iris set her cup aside and leaned forward, resting on her elbows.
"First, calm down," she said gently. "Then we'll figure it out."
Auren shook her head.
"How can I calm down?" She raked a hand through her hair. "Kael… he… he does something to me. I don't know what he's after, but… if he keeps going like this…"
Iris narrowed her eyes.
"You're afraid you'll start liking him?"
Auren let out a nervous, bitter laugh, dropping her gaze.
"Caldera, I think that already happened."
Iris went silent for a moment, observing her with a narrowed gaze. Then suddenly she snorted, shaking her head.
"Hold on. Where the hell is the Auren I know? The one who never loses her footing, who always stands her ground and can shut anyone up with one look?"
Auren gave a bitter smile, staring into her cup.
"Guess she burned up in the fire," she muttered.
Iris sighed and poked her finger into Auren's shoulder.
"Then bring her back. What are you so scared of?"
Auren lifted her gaze, and for a second, something like defiance flashed there. Iris smirked.
"There we go. Much better. Now tell me—do you want to run from him, or do you want to see how it all ends?"
Auren's fingers tightened around the cup, her chest constricting. She already knew the right answer, but admitting it out loud terrified her.
Iris tilted her head, patiently waiting. Then, softly, she added:
"Be honest, Auren."
Auren exhaled and finally met her friend's eyes.
"I… want to see how it ends."
The words came out quieter than she expected, but inside, something clicked into place. She couldn't lie to herself anymore.
Iris studied her closely, then leaned in, bracing her elbows on the table.
"Then don't run," she said calmly. "You're not the kind of person who hides, Auren. If you want to see how it ends, then play it through to the very last move."
Auren pressed her lips together, turning over her words in her mind.
"But it's… dangerous," she admitted quietly.
Iris smirked.
"Since when has that ever stopped you?"
Auren dropped her gaze back to the cup, Iris's words swirling in her mind. She knew her friend was right. From the moment this fire had ignited inside her, she only had two choices: run… or see it through to the end.
And deep down, she already knew which path she would take.
***
Auren returned to the office, and the moment her footsteps echoed through the empty hallway, she felt the tension in the air sharpen. Everything looked the same as always, yet it all seemed different now. Her head was crowded with too many thoughts, and she searched for something to ground herself, something to bring her back into her routine. But nothing worked—her eyes kept drifting to Kael's office door.
As she passed the reception area, her pace unconsciously slowed. Before she realized it, she had stopped right at his door. It was quiet inside. Too quiet, unlike usual.
Auren held her breath when her hand brushed the doorknob, but she didn't open it. She stood there, frozen, uncertain of what to do next. How could she step back into this world, when it had already shifted into something she no longer recognized? A world where she could no longer afford to be the same.
With a deep breath, Auren forced herself to keep walking. She sat down at her desk in the reception area, trying to focus on her work. She still didn't know what to do with this new state of mind, with this restless unease Kael had left inside her. But one thing was certain—this day would not be like any other. And with each passing hour, her thoughts filled with him more and more.
The quiet creak of a door broke her focus. Kael stepped out of his office, and his gaze immediately landed on Auren. She sat at her desk, staring intently at the computer screen, but his presence did not go unnoticed. He stepped inside softly, as though not wanting to disrupt her concentration, and only then did he notice the tension in her posture, the faint crease in her brow.
He could tell she wasn't quite the same. Her expression wasn't just focused—it carried something deeper, something she clearly tried to hide. She was keeping her distance, concealing what she couldn't put into words.
"You're back," he said at last, breaking the silence. His voice was soft, with a playful undertone, as if teasing her, trying to bring back the easy banter they once had.
Auren lifted her eyes to meet his. Her heart picked up its pace again, but she tried to remain composed. Still, her gaze betrayed her—she wasn't ready for this new reality between them.
"Work doesn't wait," she replied with a hint of defiance, tilting her head slightly, reminding herself she was here to do her job. Her tone was firm, but there was a flicker of playfulness beneath it, as though she too was trying to restore the old rhythm between them—the one that always flirted on the edge.
She turned back to her screen, but her hands stilled for a moment on the keyboard, her composure slipping just enough to reveal the nervous energy beneath.
Kael returned to his office, sank into his chair, and deliberately left the door open—just enough to see her from his desk. Again and again, his gaze drifted back to her, as though searching her movements for answers to questions he couldn't yet articulate.
Time stretched slowly, yet Auren never stopped feeling his eyes on her. Even when he sat inside, quiet and still, his presence pressed against her thoughts, unsettling her focus. Every so often, she glanced up, only to find his gaze waiting, heavy, unspoken.
Kael, on the other hand, couldn't look away. He relished this new sensation—seeing her there, just beyond his door, watching the curve of her concentration, the small shifts in her expression. The door no longer felt like a boundary between them. It was nothing more than a fragile line, keeping them apart while simultaneously protecting him from what he craved most.
He wondered—maybe next time, there would be no need for this door. Maybe he could erase it, let his office and her reception merge into a single space, uninterrupted. But just as quickly, he realized—perhaps he still needed that door. Needed the option to close it, to shield them when the world outside became too much. To have the choice of being alone with her, just the two of them.
With that thought, he leaned quietly against his desk, his eyes never leaving her. He knew this moment wasn't random. It was part of something larger, something he hadn't yet dared to fully understand.
***
Time crept toward noon, and Kael couldn't help but notice Auren still at her desk, immersed in work. She hadn't lifted her head once, hadn't allowed herself a pause, as though completely consumed by her tasks. He watched her eyes grow heavy, her movements slower, her focus so sharp she didn't even realize how much time had slipped by—or that she still hadn't eaten.
A part of him stirred with quiet insistence. He should say something, do something. But he hesitated, unsure how to bridge the space between concern and everything else simmering beneath.
He rose. His steps were soundless, yet Auren felt the shift in the air. Her body stilled for a fraction of a second, though her eyes stayed fixed on the screen, her hands still moving over the keyboard. One part of her mind kept track of every detail, every tiny signal—especially when it came to Kael.
He noticed the subtle tension in her shoulders, but said nothing. He simply walked out of his office, unhurried, letting each step carry him closer. Auren pretended to remain absorbed in her work, but her focus faltered—her gaze skimming across words on the screen without seeing them.
He stopped beside her desk, quiet, letting the silence expand. Then, leaning just slightly, he let his eyes drift across her screen, as though by chance. Auren's breath caught, her heart tripping faster, though she refused to look up.
Kael straightened. His voice, when it came, was calm, steady, laced with quiet authority.
"Stand up."
Auren froze, finally tearing her gaze from the monitor. Her eyes met his, and for a moment she saw it—the stillness in him that contrasted her own restless pulse. She wanted to protest, but her hands lifted away from the keyboard almost on their own. With every word, every movement of his, it grew harder to pretend indifference.
She narrowed her brows just slightly, her voice measured:
"Why?"
"Lunch," Kael replied, tone unshaken.
He waited, eyes soft yet unwavering. The weight of his attention loosened the tension between them, though not entirely.
Seeing her hesitate, he tilted his head, the corners of his mouth curling with playfulness.
"You don't want to be an example for the others, do you? We don't need employees fainting from hunger."
He took a step closer, the teasing smile still there—but beneath it, an unmistakable thread of care.
Auren matched his expression with her own confident smirk.
"You're not planning to drag me to that dive again, like on my first day, are you?"
His lips quirked, gaze lingering, but he didn't rush his reply. Leaning in slightly, his voice dropped, smoother but no less firm:
"If that's where you want to go, we can. Though I thought you might've chosen a more… respectable place by now." His wink carried the hint of a challenge.
Auren arched her brows, the spark of playfulness returning to her eyes. She knew he was teasing, and she refused to yield.
"Do you look after all your employees like this, or am I special?"
Kael held her gaze, the edge of her confidence mirrored in his own fire.
"I see you've gotten comfortable in this role—sharp-tongued, independent," he said, turning toward the door. "Alright then. Follow me."
She studied his face once more and, in that instant, it hit her: whatever had started as games and banter was no longer just that. Something deeper had taken root, and she was curious—maybe even eager—to see where it led.
Auren rose, refusing to lose her composure, and added with a sly smile:
"I'm not playing the role of sharp-tongued and independent. That's simply who I am."
Kael paused for a heartbeat, a smirk tugging at his lips. His gaze darkened, as though acknowledging that truth. He pulled the door open, gesturing her forward.
As she passed, he glanced once at his chair, then at her determined stride. A ripple of anticipation stirred inside him, sharp and heady.
"Well then," he murmured with a half-smile. "Let's see which place today is bold enough to have us."