12:33 A.M. – Top Floor, Outside Diablo's Office
Clark Evernight walked stiffly down the empty hallway, hands clammy, heart pounding like a techno drumbeat in his chest.
He was late.
Very late.
Thirty-four missed calls and countless messages had exploded on his phone the moment he woke up from his egg-fueled accidental nap.
Now, here he was, walking toward the devil's lair — also known as Diablo Von Bloodick's office — preparing for what was surely going to be his professional funeral.
His coworkers' words from earlier still echoed in his ears:
> "Be careful how you speak, Clark. He's furious."
He took a deep breath as he stood in front of the massive double doors. They looked taller tonight. And colder.
Just as he lifted a trembling fist to knock—
Click.
The doors swung open on their own, almost as if they'd been waiting for him.
Clark instinctively stepped back—
And from the doorway emerged someone completely unexpected.
> It was him.
The silver-haired CEO from the elevator two days ago — the one who had joked with him about pizza. The man with the calm voice and warm eyes. He looked just as refined as before, still calm, still graceful, like stress was allergic to him.
He saw Clark immediately… and smiled.
> "Ah. We meet again, Mr. Pizza."
Clark blinked in surprise. "Elevator guy?"
The man chuckled. "Still running errands at midnight?"
Clark gave a breathless laugh. "Still carrying emotional baggage and extra pepperoni."
The two shared a light moment — a laugh that felt almost normal.
But that moment died quickly.
Because from inside the office, another figure appeared.
Diablo Von Bloodick.
Expression cold.
Eyes sharp.
And directed not at his cousin.
But at Clark.
He had seen it.
The smile.
The relaxed expression on Clark's face.
Something Diablo hadn't seen from his assistant once — not directed at him, at least.
A strange silence filled the air.
Diablo's voice cut through it, low and calm:
> "Clark."
Clark immediately stood straight. "Y-Yes, sir!"
The silver-haired CEO turned to Diablo and gave a brief nod. "Thanks for the tea. We'll talk again."
Then he turned back to Clark and gave one last soft smile. "Try not to work yourself to death, hm?"
And just like that, he walked off down the hallway with an effortless coolness.
Clark stood frozen until Diablo's voice came again — colder now.
> "Inside."
---
12:35 A.M. – Inside the Office
Clark entered the office like a man being marched to his doom.
The door shut behind him with a heavy thud.
He stayed near the entrance, unsure if he should speak or faint.
Diablo didn't sit. He stood by the desk, arms folded, staring at him in complete silence.
> "You're late."
Clark opened his mouth. "I-I didn't mean to fall asleep, I was—"
> "You didn't answer your phone."
"I—I overslept. I mean, not on purpose, I—"
> "And when you finally arrive," Diablo said, his voice level but sharp, "you're smiling at strangers in my hallway."
Clark froze. "Strangers…?"
Then realization hit him. "Oh! You mean the guy—uh—the other CEO?"
> "Hakuro."
Clark blinked. "Hakuro…?"
> "My cousin," Diablo said flatly.
Clark's jaw almost dropped. "Wait—he's your cousin?!"
> "And you were smiling."
Clark fumbled. "I-I mean, yeah? He said something funny. That's all."
Silence.
Diablo looked at him for a long moment, then finally walked to his desk.
He opened a drawer and pulled out a tall stack of papers.
Dropped them on the table with a heavy thud.
> "These reports need to be redone. All of them."
Clark's eyes widened. "B-but I already triple-checked those! They're—"
> "Do them again."
Clark shut his mouth.
He nodded, defeated. "Yes, sir…"
---
1:00 A.M. – Back at His Desk
Clark sat at his desk, paper mountain looming.
He was hungry. Exhausted. Confused.
But most of all?
He was too tired to fight it.
He started reading the reports again, hands sluggishly moving papers.
Until, sometime later…
His eyes fluttered.
And he drifted off.