The morning air was still damp from last night's rain.
From my apartment window, I could see Leo's black car parked right out front. The engine was already running, but he didn't get out.
He just sat behind the wheel, expression blank as always.
I took a deep breath.
My heart was beating a little faster than usual.
It still felt… strange. I could still feel the trace of that kiss.
I closed my apartment door quietly and went down the stairs. When I opened the car door, Leo glanced at me briefly.
"Morning," he greeted flatly.
"Morning," I replied, trying to sound casual.
We both fell silent after that. I stared out the window, pretending to watch the road.
But every so often, my gaze caught his reflection in the window.
Cold. Too calm for someone who almost lost control kissing me last night.
Damn. I don't like this awkwardness.
The car rolled slowly through Avellyn's half-awake traffic. The radio murmured faintly in the background. I could smell Leo's cologne, woody, with a trace of cinnamon and smoke.
It wasn't the kind of scent that filled the room, but the kind that lingered, crept under your skin, and stayed there.
Sharp, but clean. Warm, but dangerous.
The more I tried to ignore it, the clearer last night became.
The weight of his hand on my waist.
His breath lingering over my neck.
My eyes drifted to his hand on the steering wheel, his veins visible, knuckles firm, and for a split second, I imagined that hand gripping me instead.
Heat rushed through me. I bit my lower lip and pressed my thighs together, hoping he wouldn't notice.
"Did you sleep well last night?" Leo's voice cut through my thoughts, startling me back to reality.
"Uh, yes." I straightened up too quickly. "You?"
He only nodded. "Me too."
I nodded too.
The moment we arrived at Rhys Tech, I almost jumped out of the car. At least in the office, I could hide behind piles of work.
As usual, I prepared the meeting reports, arranged his schedule, and sent out some overdue memos. But all I could feel is Leo's gaze occasionally flick toward my desk. Not intense, but enough to break my focus.
By late afternoon, he finally called me.
"Emily," his deep voice came from behind the glass wall.
I straightened up. "Yes, Mr. Leo?"
"I need you to fetch some files from the archive room. I've sent you the list by email." His tone was calm.
"Alright. Now?"
He nodded without looking away from his monitor.
I grabbed my phone, opened the email, and skimmed through the list. Old projects, mostly audit reports and a few internal notes from previous years.
On my way to the archive, I glanced back through his office window. Leo was still there, spinning a pen between his fingers as he thought.
Funny how such a small gesture could make my chest tighten.
Okay. Focus, Val.
The moment the archive door opened, the smell of old paper and dust hit me.
Rows of tall metal shelves lined the room, their golden labels gleaming faintly under the cold fluorescent light.
I checked the list one by one, until my eyes caught something in the lower corner of the rack.
A small handwritten label in black marker. ORION-78.
Damn. So this folder was buried in the old records room? I thought Project Orion was pretty new.
No wonder I couldn't find it in the computer system.
I glanced around, making sure no one was there. The room was silent, only the soft hum of the air conditioner.
My hand moved slowly, pulling the folder out from the shelf.
I bit my lip, hesitating, then slid it between the stack of files I was supposed to copy.
My heart was pounding hard.
God. Please let this go smoothly.
The copy room at Rhys Tech was tucked away at the end of the back corridor, far from the main staff area. The lights were dim, and the hum of the printer echoed against the metal walls.
I entered quietly, clutching the pile of documents, making sure the coast was clear.
The air was cold, the AC always set too low, probably to keep the machines from overheating.
"Alright," I murmured to myself. "It'll only take fifteen minutes."
In the corner stood an old printer, partially hidden behind a cabinet of paper supplies.
The former secretaries used it for confidential documents, which was why almost no one ever went near it.
I walked over, placed the files on the small table, and began opening the folders one by one, matching them to Leo's list.
Then, among them, I pulled out the faded folder.
ORION-78.
My fingers trembled slightly as I fed the pages into the machine.
The printer whirred softly, then started working.
Whirr. Click. Whirr.
The sound filled the empty room, like the beat of a nervous heart.
"Come on…" I whispered, glancing at the door every few seconds.
One page out. Then another.
Then another.
I slipped the copies between the other folders. Until it's done.
I exhaled slowly, organized everything back in order, then returned the original file to the archive room before heading back to my desk.
The copy of Orion-78 slid neatly into my bag, while the rest of Leo's requested documents went straight to his office. It went smoothly as I thought.
I knocked softly on Leo's door, entering once he responded. "These are all the files you requested," I said flatly, keeping my expression as professional as possible.
Leo nodded, taking the folders without looking at me.
I turned to leave, holding my breath.
But barely a few minutes after I sat back at my desk, Leo stepped out of his office.
His footsteps were steady as usual, but this time, his eyes went straight to me.
"Emily," he said evenly.
I looked up quickly. "Yes, Mr. Leo?"
"Could you bring me the Orion-78 file?" he said lightly.
I froze. The Orion-78 file?
What? Why now? Does he know?
"Oh… uh, Orion-78?" I tried to keep the panic out of my voice.
Leo leaned against the doorframe, his eyes briefly scanning my face.
"Yes. Orion-78. Why? Something wrong?"
I cleared my throat. "I just…uh, I don't think I've ever seen that project on my computer."
"Right. It's only in physical form, in the archives room. I forgot to ask for it earlier," Leo said, folding his arms casually.
I stiffened, nearly dropping my pen as my hands trembled slightly.
"Alright, sir. I'll make another copy."
"No need. Bring me the original." The way he said it froze me in place.
"Understood, Mr. Leo," I replied quickly, heading back toward the archives.
I swallowed hard.
Okay, stay calm, Val.
When I returned, Leo was standing by the window, his back turned to me.
The afternoon sunlight cast a warm glow over his shoulders, making his silhouette look… unfairly attractive.
Val… you need help.
"Here's the file you requested, Mr. Leo."
He turned slowly, took the folder from me without much expression.
I waited, hoping he'd explain why he suddenly wanted it. But all I got was, "You may return to your work."
"Alright," I replied softly, bowing slightly.
Still, I couldn't stop myself.
"I'm Sorry, Mr. Leo, but… what's this folder for? Is it an old project you're working on again?"
Leo's gaze met mine, sharp, but calm. Like he was weighing whether or not to tell me.
Finally, he said quietly, "You don't need to know."
I nodded. "Understood."
Back at my desk, time passed until the end of the workday. I tidied up quickly, glancing toward his office.
Leo was still there, focused on his laptop screen.
"Good evening, Mr. Leo, is it okay if I leave first?," I ask before leaving.
He looked up briefly. "Hm. Get home safe."
I nodded, then hurried out.
~~~~~
"Val, get over here!" Max called from the living room as soon as I came.
I dragged my feet, groaning. For some reason, I really didn't want to see what was inside that file.
"What's wrong with you?" Juno asked, sounding concerned.
Max came over and pulled me onto the couch. "Yeah, what's up with you?" she added.
I shook my head, taking out the copied Orion-78 file. "Nothing. Here it is," I said, placing it on the table.
Juno picked it up carefully. "What? You don't want to see it?" she asked, opening the first page.
"Yeah. I can't. I just feel like I want to end this game already," I muttered, sinking into the sofa.
"Game? Val, you know better. This isn't a game, it's a fight, a revenge." Max said.
Right. A fight. A revenge.
"Holy shit…"
I instantly sat upright. "What is it, Jun?"
Juno looked at me. "Are you sure you want to read this now? You probably should… but if you're not ready—"
I snatched the file before she could finish her sentence.
Then I started reading, line by line.
This is…