She leapt up and began to dance—graceful, fluid movements that filled the room like a soft breeze.
"One, two, assemblé—three, four, tour!" she counted in rhythm, her voice bright and playful. The hem of her black dress flared out like a dancer's skirt as she twirled, rising lightly on her toes.
Her shadow stretched across the wall, mirroring every elegant motion—the raised arm, the extended leg, the spin that caught the light. Adeline moved like water, her body flowing and turning until, at last, she ended her impromptu performance with one leg lifted and arms spread wide like the wings of a white dove.
The office curtains drew open automatically, revealing rows of holographic spectators applauding from beyond the glass. Overhead lights dimmed, leaving only a single spotlight shining down on her.
Adeline straightened, then bowed gracefully to her invisible audience.
And then, just as suddenly, the holographic crowd vanished—replaced by the reflection of tall city buildings against the glass. The music ended exactly on cue, just as she had timed it.
"Whew, that was tiring," she said with a small laugh, pulling a handkerchief from her dress pocket to dab at the sweat on her brow. As the curtains closed again, the light in the office returned to normal.
"Yokumi, do I have any more interviews today?" she asked.
"At 13:30, Madam, you have one more scheduled," the AI replied.
"Oh great! That's ages from now," Adeline sighed, her accent slipping into her mother's tone without her noticing. She walked back to her chair and sat down with a composed posture once more.
"Read Barry and the World of Magic from where we left off," she said.
"Page 178. 'The dragon sneezed, releasing a tiny spark from its nose…'" Yokumi's voice filled the quiet room as Adeline leaned back, eyes half-closed, letting the story wash over her.
"'Barry! A whisper brushed against his cheek-" The AI's voice softened as the story neared its end.
By then, Adeline had dozed off at her desk. The sound of the door opening stirred her.
"We shall see what—" Yokumi stopped reading. "Ms. Callaghan, there's a guest waiting at the door."
Adeline blinked awake, fixing her hair quickly. "Let him in, Yomi."
"Alright, ma'am," Yokumi replied in a cheerful tone. The door slid open without hesitation.
A young man stepped in—brown hair neatly trimmed, wearing a clean gray suit. He held a folder close to his side.
"Good afternoon," he greeted politely, walking into the room.
"Please, have a seat," Adeline said, gesturing toward the chair across from her desk.
The man—his right hand marked by a faint scar—sat down. There was something oddly familiar about him.
He smiled slightly. "Good afternoon, Miss Callaghan."
"Oh~ you're that man—oops! Ahem." Adeline caught herself mid-sentence, clearing her throat and switching smoothly into a professional tone. "Good afternoon. And you are?"
"Brian W. Dixon," he said, placing his documents neatly on the table.