"Arthur! Get me a fresh shirt," Aaron Caden Leonidas barked through his earpiece.
His long legs carried him in quick strides across the gleaming lobby of Leonidas International Headquarters. He pushed past the sliding doors and turned the corner, where a sleek black Rolls Royce Phantom waited at the curb. The driver hurried to open the door wide, bowing slightly as Aaron slipped into the back seat.
With an annoyed groan, Aaron yanked off his tie and ID badge, then started unbuttoning his shirt. His toned frame came into view—broad chest, defined muscles. The damp stickiness of iced coffee clung to his skin, making him grimace. Sure, it wasn't hot enough to burn, but it was still a damn hassle.
A knock on the window drew his attention. Outside stood Arthur, blond, late twenties, in his usual sharp black suit—Aaron's bodyguard and right-hand man.
Aaron lowered the window, snatched the paper bag Arthur held out, and pulled out a black shirt. He slipped it on quickly.
Good choice, he thought. At least this color wouldn't betray another accident.
"Rough day again?" Arthur asked as Aaron stepped out of the car.
Aaron didn't answer.
"Wouldn't it be easier to just go by Leonidas? Instead of dealing with—" Arthur cut himself short when Aaron's sharp brown eyes locked on him. He immediately bowed his head. "Forgive me, Young Master. I spoke out of turn."
Aaron only shook his head, catching his reflection in the tinted glass before looping his badge back around his neck.
CADEN LEO, Technology Development Division Staff.
Not Aaron Caden Leonidas, eldest son of Xavier Leonidas.
That was the deal he'd struck with his grandfather, Javier Leonidas—join the company without using the Leonidas name, work like any other employee. For years, Aaron had refused to set foot in Leonidas International, no matter how hard the old man pushed.
He glanced down at the ID card—thankfully waterproof. Otherwise, with all the coffee accidents, it would've been ruined by now. He slipped it back around his neck carelessly. All because of a name, people treated him like a completely different person. As a Leonidas heir, he was untouchable. As Caden Leo, he was invisible.
His reflection stared back: twenty-seven years old, a striking mix of Western and Middle Eastern features—short black hair, golden-brown skin, sharp jawline, aquiline nose, and bright brown eyes.
Fuck.
Nothing had changed. Except now he was treated like nobody.
"But Young Master, won't it be a problem if the Master and Madam find out—"
"Isn't it your job to make sure they don't?" Aaron cut in smoothly, lips curving into a thin smile. Arthur lowered his gaze again. "Am I wrong, Arthur?"
"No, sir. I'll take care of it."
"Good. Relax—it's nothing."
Arthur gave a faint nod, though a shadow of worry still creased his brow.
Aaron could live with this. After all, life would've been far worse if the Leonidas family hadn't taken him in at the age of five. Every privilege he had came from that last name. And every slight as Caden Leo reminded him exactly who he'd be without it.
Then, unexpectedly, an image flashed in his mind—the girl from earlier.
Cliché, maybe. But he couldn't stop thinking about her. She was the first person who had treated him kindly as Caden Leo. And beyond that, she was… beautiful. Soft, pure, effortlessly captivating.
"Arthur, find the girl who helped me earlier. Asian, long black hair, fair skin, about this tall." He raised his hand to his shoulder. "And get a lunch box ready. I'll bring it to her myself."
"An Asian girl? Could it be Celine Riego, Mr. Xavier Leonidas's new secretary?" Arthur guessed.
Aaron frowned. "My father's secretary? Isn't that Ruby?"
"Mrs. Ruby is being reassigned to SpaceA next month to assist Young Master Axelion. Miss Celine will be taking her place." Arthur pulled up an employee profile on his phone and showed it to him.
Celine Riego Atmadjaya.
Aaron's lips curved into a slow smile.
"You're right. That's her." He stepped back with a spark of energy in his eyes. "Thanks, Arthur. And don't forget what I asked for."
Leaving Arthur behind, Aaron walked away with a lightness he hadn't felt in a long time, her name echoing in his mind—Celine Riego Atmadjaya.
***
Arthur did exactly as Aaron asked, bringing him a two-tiered white lunchbox neatly tucked inside a paper bag. Like two agents on a covert mission, they met discreetly at the far end of Aaron's division floor—an empty corner rarely passed during working hours.
The moment Aaron peeked inside, a genuine smile broke across his face. Arthur had chosen simple Japanese-style home cooking. Perfect. Nothing flashy enough to hint that the meal was prepared by a five-star chef.
Celine's Asian. She'll appreciate this.
"Good job. Thanks, Arthur," Aaron said, tucking the box back inside the paper bag. "You're dismissed. I'll drop this off on Celine's desk myself."
"Copy that, Young Master," Arthur replied with a respectful nod. Aaron, however, was already striding away, barely paying attention.
He moved quickly through the corridor, heading for a private elevator—one that bypassed the ninety-fifth floor entirely. Sliding his black-and-gold Leonidas access card across the scanner, he unlocked privileges reserved only for the family. The doors opened with a soft chime.
The exclusive lobby greeted him with grandeur unlike any other floor: white, cream, and gold marble stretching across the hallway, gleaming under modern gold chandeliers trimmed with diamonds. Majestic white pillars with gold leaf lined the path, leading to a massive oak door—the gateway to his father Xavier's office.
But Aaron's destination was the desk just a few steps away: Celine's workstation.
She wasn't there. That didn't stop him. He placed the paper bag gently on her desk, then let his gaze wander. Her long white desk was immaculate, despite the stacks of files neatly arranged from end to end. Beside her computer, a cluster of colorful bunny-shaped sticky notes caught his eye. His brow arched as he noticed a matching bunny mouse pad.
Then, with a smirk, his fingers brushed over the plush bunny seat cushion on her chair.
She likes bunnies, huh? That could be useful someday.
He knew he should leave, but he lingered, hoping she might return so he could see her face again. Ten minutes passed. No sign of her.
Reluctantly, Aaron pulled out his phone. Thanks to Arthur, he had her number now. With one last glance at the paper bag waiting patiently on her desk, he typed out a message to Celine before heading back to his own office.
Good afternoon.
I apologize for reaching out to you personally like this.
My name is Caden Leo, a new staff member in the Technology Development Division—the one you helped earlier at the cafeteria.
I stopped by your desk just now, but you weren't there. I left something for you.
I hope you'll like it.
Once again, thank you, Ms. Celine.
***
Four hours and forty minutes.
That was how long Aaron had been waiting, the clock in his head ticking down every second of silence. He didn't even know why he kept counting—but with each minute that passed, his patience thinned.
When his phone finally buzzed, his chest tightened with a rush of relief. Celine's name lit up the screen.
Four hours and forty-five minutes. That was how long it took her to reply to his very first message.
Thank you. I'll eat it later.
But honestly, you didn't have to do this. Just focus on your work and make sure you do it well.
I'll keep that in mind. Thank you again.
The moment Celine's reply came through, Aaron answered just as quickly. And yet, the conversation ended with nothing but a read receipt. No follow-up.
His brow furrowed as he reread her message. "I'll eat it later."
Did that mean she still hadn't had lunch? It was almost six in the evening. What kind of workload was his father piling onto a secretary that left her starving all day?
Aaron's jaw tightened. He racked his brain for a solution. He wanted to step in, to make sure Celine had time to eat. But if he went straight to Xavier, his father would only frown in disapproval.
So Aaron chose another route. He dialed someone else instead—Aurora Leonidas, his mother.
Aaron:
Mom, it's been a while since we had tea together. How about now?
I was thinking of leaving work a little early. You could ask Dad to come home too, and we can all have tea together if he's free.
Mom:
What's this about? Why so sudden?
Did something at the office upset you?
Alright. Tell Arthur to drive slowly. I'll call your father and have him come home now.
Aaron:
It's nothing like that, Mom. Don't worry.
Okay. Thank you. I love you.
Mom:
Mommy loves you more, Aaron ❤️
Aaron smiled.
Mission accomplished. His father would soon be on his way home after Aurora's call—and that meant Celine would finally get a chance to eat.