The first rays of morning sunlight spilled through the glass walls of Harlington & Co., a sleek corporate office in the heart of the city. Desks were already a mosaic of laptops, sticky notes, and half-drunk coffee cups, and the faint hum of chatter filled the air. But amid the ordinary bustle, a rumor was spreading like wildfire—quietly, secretly, and with just enough exaggeration to set hearts racing.
"Department C is heaven," whispered a junior assistant to her colleague, glancing around as if afraid someone might overhear.
"And Department D?" her friend asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Hell," the first girl replied in a tone that made it sound like she had seen demons walking the office floor. "Absolutely terrifying. There's this… woman. Cold as ice. One look from her, and she can kill a man with her eyes. They say her emails are scarier than the HR director's lectures. People actually apologize to her for things she hasn't even done yet!"
The words were met with a chorus of gasps, whispers, and laughter, and as the gossip spread like wildfire, someone else added, "And apparently, the other department has… an angel. Handsome, charming, clumsy, can trip over air and still look like he belongs on a magazine cover. Everyone swoons over him, but he's a bit of a mystery."
Meanwhile, across the office, that "angel" was indeed making his daily entrance.
Raven Hale stepped out of the elevator with all the confidence he could muster, though his left foot somehow found the edge of the lobby rug, sending him sprawling just short of the receptionist's desk. He caught himself with one hand, gave a small, embarrassed laugh, and brushed his hair back.
"Good morning, everyone," he said, voice calm, charming, angelic. He knew he had the effect he wanted—the swooning, the soft smiles, the occasional blush on the cheeks of coworkers. All of them thought Raven Hale was clumsy, kind-hearted, and harmless. And why wouldn't they? He had perfected the act over years: the charming smile, the soft-spoken tone, the innocent gestures.
What they didn't know—what no one in this entire building could imagine—was how easily his "clumsy angel" mask hid a mind that could be cruel, calculating, and unrelenting. But that was a story for another time. Today, he was simply Raven Hale: the office darling, the enigma, the man everyone loved to watch stumble gracefully.
---
Across the building, in the so-called "hell" department, a woman sat at her desk, reviewing a report. Her posture was immaculate, her hair perfectly in place despite the early hour, and her expression was as cold and precise as a diamond blade. Co-workers avoided her gaze, not because she had given them reason to fear her—but because she looked terrifying when she concentrated.
Lila Moreno, HR analyst extraordinaire, was exactly as the rumors described. If you asked a new hire to describe her, they'd probably use words like "icy," "formidable," or "untouchable." But in reality, Lila was anything but a cold-hearted demon. Her demeanor was a shield, forged over years of struggling to speak without freezing mid-sentence, over years of social anxiety and awkward encounters. Underneath that intimidating exterior was a nervous, girly, surprisingly loud young woman who longed to be seen, to laugh, to connect.
But today, she didn't notice the whispers, didn't notice the office gossip, didn't notice anything except the spreadsheet glowing on her monitor. Until a familiar, infuriatingly handsome presence disrupted her focus.
---
Raven Hale had heard the whispers. "The demoness," people called her. Curiosity gnawed at him—not fear, not admiration, but genuine, mischievous curiosity. How could someone be so feared, so untouchable, and still command attention without ever smiling?
He didn't usually involve himself in office politics, but this was different. This was a challenge. A puzzle. And Raven Hale loved puzzles.
So, with all the subtlety of a cat stalking its prey, he made his move.
The first encounter was, of course, meticulously planned—or so he thought.
He "accidentally" bumped into her near the copy machine.
"Ah!" Lila jumped, her hands flying to steady a stack of papers. "I—I'm so sorry!"
Raven smiled, that angelic, clumsy smile that made people want to forgive him for anything. "Oh, no, no, it's entirely my fault," he said, bowing slightly in exaggerated apology.
Lila froze. Her eyes—rumored to kill—met his, and for the briefest moment, she felt like she might actually, physically, freeze. Raven's smile faltered. He had expected intimidation, maybe a cold glare, perhaps some subtle rejection. Instead, he saw… nothing. No rage, no malice. Just wide, startled eyes and a soft flush creeping up her cheeks.
"Uh… papers," she muttered, stepping back and gathering the scattered documents.
Raven tilted his head, curiosity piqued. Interesting.
---
Their coworkers had already begun to notice. A few daring souls whispered:
"Did you see that? The angel met the demoness!"
"Oh my god, he actually smiled at her!"
"Do you think she… blushed?"
And all the while, neither Raven nor Lila paid them any mind.
---
Later that afternoon, during the obligatory coffee break, Raven approached her desk. He leaned casually against the edge, arms crossed, a teasing smirk on his face.
"You know," he began, "everyone says you're terrifying. That your eyes could, I don't know… stop a heart."
Lila's hand froze mid-reach for her coffee cup. She stared at him, wide-eyed. Did he just… compliment me?
"I've been dying to see it for myself," Raven continued, grinning. "And honestly… I'm not scared. Yet."
Her breath hitched. Part of her wanted to run. Part of her wanted to hide behind her desk. And part of her—an entirely unexpected part—felt her heart skip a beat.
"I-I'm not… terrifying," she stammered, her voice quivering. "I'm… um…" Her mind blanked. She wasn't sure what to say. Usually, she would freeze entirely, but somehow, with him, it was different.
Raven chuckled softly, leaning a little closer. "Then maybe I'll make it official. You and me—coffee. Tomorrow. Let's see if the rumors are true."
---
Lila blinked. Did he just… ask me out?
Her mind went blank. Panic, excitement, and calculation all collided. On the surface, she forced herself to remain calm. Of course I can't say yes right away. I need to think… And yet, deep down, part of her—a very, very girly part—was thrilled. She had liked him for months, secretly, never imagining he'd ever notice her.
A strategy formed in her mind. She would say yes—not because she fully trusted her feelings, but because it would:
1. Improve her image among her coworkers
2. Let her experience being with him
3. Keep her secret crush safe under the guise of "strategy"
So she smiled, sweet and controlled. "Alright," she said, soft but firm. "Tomorrow. Coffee."
Raven's eyes widened in genuine surprise. He had not expected that. He had expected resistance, maybe a sharp glare, or even mockery. But her compliance—her quiet, deliberate agreement—was a puzzle he couldn't resist.
And in that moment, amid the hum of printers, the soft click of keyboards, and the distant city noises outside, something unspoken passed between them.
Something like… the beginning of chaos.
---End of Chapter 1---