Early morning. Just one day left until departure.
Morning light crept across the glass façade of Langley HQ, its golden sheen washing the building in a quiet kind of tension.
From the earliest hours, the headquarters was already alive—a finely tuned organism humming with urgency.
Every time the elevator doors slid open, staff darted down the hall with urgent updates, internal lines rang endlessly, and greetings were exchanged only with curt nods in passing.
In the corridors, members of the press team clutched energy drinks instead of coffee, arms full of white briefing documents as they rushed to meeting rooms.
The heat of last night's late-night meeting still lingered in the air, and emails and reports flooded toward the Vice President's office without pause.
10th Floor.
As the elevator opened, the press room buzzed with keystrokes, final edits of the media release underway. Conversations, tight with tension, threaded through the scent of fresh espresso.
Noah stepped out of a short meeting with the press team, tapping on his tablet as he walked into his office.
The 10th floor was all clean lines and efficiency.
Past the central security gate, the press room sat to the right.
Straight ahead, a vacant workspace still under renovation.
Walk a bit further and you'd find another security checkpoint.
Beyond it: the open lounge where secretaries worked, and behind that, side by side—the President's and Vice President's offices, quietly waiting.
Celeste didn't often come down here.
She spent most of her time on the 20th floor. This space felt… unfamiliar. Slightly distant.
She was sitting on the living room sofa, organizing documents related to the audition.
And then, it hit her.
Since the night they drank together, she hadn't seen Daniel—not once.
She sent him a short text.
'Where are you?'
The reply came almost instantly.
'10th floor. Just wrapped a meeting with the press team. Back in my office now. Everything okay?'
There was nothing particularly special in those words. But still—a strange warmth curled in her chest.
Like the kind of flutter you get when missing your first love.
Instead of replying, she got up. As the elevator descended, a quiet anticipation bloomed—something unfamiliar, and quietly sweet.
She stepped through the second security gate. And the first thing she saw…
Daniel. Smiling brightly in the lounge.
Across from him sat a young woman—tall, slender, with striking Western features. She looked fresh out of university.
And in an instant, that light flutter in Celeste's chest turned into something else entirely.
Like a single drop of water hitting the rim of a perfectly still glass—sending ripples through everything she hadn't meant to feel.
She stood quietly at the doorway.
The woman noticed her first, eyes widening.
"Oh! President—hello!"
Only then did Daniel turn. The moment he saw her, a flicker of panic passed over his face.
His smile stiffened. The tension in his shoulders was obvious.
He quickly came over, awkwardly scratching his neck.
"Oh—hey. I didn't expect you to come down. Um… this is—"
He began to introduce the woman, but she stood up first, beaming.
"I'm the new secretary assigned to the Vice president's office! It's such a pleasure to meet you."
Celeste smiled politely, accepting the greeting. Her expression, graceful but unreadable.
Daniel stepped in quickly, gently taking her by the arm.
To the secretary, he said simply, "You can go for the day."
Once the door shut behind them, Celeste turned to face him fully.
She didn't say a word—but her eyes spoke volumes.
That pout. That look.
Daniel thought she had never looked more beautiful.
Beautiful, and… utterly adorable.
He couldn't stop himself from smiling.
"Wait… don't tell me you're jealous."
He teased softly—and before she could respond, he swept her up in his arms.
A tiny gasp escaped her lips.
He placed her softly atop the desk, then leaned back into the chair, guiding her into his lap with both arms wrapped firmly around her waist—as if anchoring her to him. Like cradling something both delicate and precious.
Then, without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed her.
"Come on," he whispered against her lips.
"How could I want anyone else, when everything I need is already in my arms?"
He paused—smirking just a little.
"I know I shouldn't smile… but damn, that was cute."
The moment their lips met, whatever jealousy had stirred in her chest melted into something warmer—a quiet ache.
A tender longing.
A need that only he could answer.