The morning had settled into the usual rhythm, phones buzzing, coffee brewing, keyboards clicking but something felt off. From across the street, partially hidden behind a parked delivery truck, a figure adjusted their camera lens.
They had been watching since the anniversary gala.
"Nothing yet," the figure muttered, scanning the glass walls of the office tower.
Inside, Nara was at her desk, laptop open, laughing quietly at a message from Hellen. Her voice carried lightly across the office, friendly, professional, completely unaware.
Hellen walked past, smirking. "You know, if anyone knew how much we actually gossip during meetings, they'd fire us all."
Nara chuckled. "Better they don't know."
Outside, the spy's eyes narrowed. The subtle humor, the ease with which Nara carried herself. It wasn't the chaos they expected and yet, there was something interesting. The figure raised the camera slightly, snapping a few photos. Every detail mattered, the tilt of her head, the way she held her coffee, the faint smile she gave to Hellen.
"Why is it so hard to get something… meaningful?" the spy muttered. "She's hiding something. Everyone knows it. I'll just wait."
Inside, Nara didn't notice a thing. Her phone buzzed, a reminder of a client meeting and she grabbed it, completely unaware that someone outside was recording shadows of her morning.
Hellen leaned over her shoulder. "You okay?"
"Yes," Nara replied quickly, closing the notification. "Just planning."
The spy's grip tightened on the camera. They didn't leave, they wouldn't leave, not yet because something about Nara, her calm, her composure, the way she somehow carried herself like a secret, made them certain of one thing, she was hiding more than anyone could guess. And they intended to find out.
---
The client meeting had gone smoother than expected. Nara straightened her blazer, smiling politely as the last contract signed with a firm handshake. Hellen waved from across the table, a quick nod that said we did it again.
"Thank you, Nara," the client said. "Everything looks perfect. Honestly, you and Hellen make it look effortless."
Nara laughed softly. "We make chaos look pretty."
The client chuckled, unaware that "chaos" sometimes meant her personal life colliding with someone else's. As the client left, Nara slipped into her car, phone tucked safely in her bag. Her morning had been professional, but she couldn't ignore the quiet anticipation curling in her chest.
Because she knew where she was going next.
---
The gallery was hidden down a quiet street, almost invisible to the casual passerby. The signage was minimal, the entrance discreet.
Nara approached, slightly hesitant. She had only been here once before, and even then, it had felt surreal.
Keigh met her at the door, casual in a tailored shirt, sleeves rolled, but with an intensity in his gaze that made her heart skip.
"You made it," he said, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
"I didn't know what to expect," Nara admitted.
"You never do."
The gallery smelled of polished wood and faint oil paint. Art lined the walls, some modern, some classic, all impeccably curated.
"Is this all yours?" she asked quietly, tilting her head to take it in.
"Yes," Keigh said, stepping closer. "Private collection. Nobody comes here. Ever."
She let her eyes wander. "It's… beautiful. But why me?"
Keigh's smile softened. "Because you appreciate things others don't."
Before she could respond, he subtly shifted, his sharp gaze flicking toward the window.
"You feel that?" he asked, voice low.
Nara frowned. "Feel what?"
"Someone's watching," he murmured, nodding toward a shadow moving outside the lightly frosted glass.
Her pulse spiked. "What? Who?"
"Not sure yet," Keigh admitted, taking a step closer. "But don't worry. You're safe here. For now."
The words were reassuring, but the tension lingered.
Nara's fingers brushed the edge of a canvas. "I don't even know who would...."
Keigh placed a hand gently on her arm. "Doesn't matter. Whoever it is, I'll handle it."
She felt warmth spread, not just from the touch but from the unspoken promise behind it.
For a moment, the gallery fell away, the royal chaos, the gossip, the spy outside, all of it. It was just Nara, Keigh, and the quiet hum of art surrounding them.
He tilted his head slightly. "I've been waiting to show this to you. Alone."
Nara's lips parted. "Alone?"
"Yes," he said softly. "No cameras. No headlines. Just us."
And for the first time that morning, she allowed herself to believe it.