"E-eh... Mr. Alaric... this... the tablet... Hic! It had some dust on it, Sir! I was just trying to wipe it off with my sleeve," I stammered, fighting the urge to shake.
Seriously, our current proximity was beyond inappropriate for a boss and his subordinate. If anyone walked in right now, a new rumor would surely ignite—that the CEO of Valerius Group was practicing kabedon on his own assistant. But instead of feeling romantic, I felt like I was being interrogated by an executive version of the Grim Reaper.
Alaric didn't budge. His sharp eyes remained locked on mine, as cold as an arctic glacier untouched by the sun. "Dust? You're an executive assistant, Arlan, not the janitorial staff. And as far as I know, dust doesn't make a person's eyes bulge out of their head while reading my private search history."
Yeah. I was done for. He might be a robot, but his brain is sharp when it comes to catching people red-handed.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself despite the occasional, traitorous hiccup. "Okay, Sir. Total honesty. I was just... concerned. I saw you searching about 'jealousy toward subordinates.' I assumed you were doing research for an acquisition—perhaps a competitor whose management is in chaos due to personal drama. You truly are a visionary, Sir, always one step ahead in risk analysis!"
Alaric narrowed his eyes. He stared at me for a long time, as if dissecting every cell in my face to find the lie. Finally, he took a step back. The suffocating aura lessened, though his gaze remained suspicious.
"Sit," he commanded curtly, returning to his imposing chair. "About Vivian... don't let it happen again. You are my assistant, not hers. If you get too close to her, your focus will slip. And I don't like my assets getting damaged by irrelevant distractions."
Assets? Does he see me as part of the office inventory?
"Understood, Sir. I just wanted to ensure the ad contract was secure," I replied as politely as possible.
Just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the door slammed open with enough force to make my heart skip a beat. A woman in a perfectly tailored black suit marched in. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and her gaze was sharp as a razor. Her footsteps carried the steady, heavy rhythm of someone used to a battlefield.
This was Seraphina, the Head of Security for Valerius Group. She was a former mercenary hired by Alaric to ensure not even a mosquito could bite the CEO without authorization.
"Mr. Alaric, I have a report on a security threat from Isabella's family," Seraphina said without preamble. Then, her eyes shifted to me. Her gaze wasn't like Vivian's adoration or Alaric's coldness. Seraphina's stare was that of someone calculating exactly where she should snap my neck.
"And who is he? Why is this new assistant allowed to touch your private tablet unsupervised?" she asked coldly.
She moved toward me with lightning speed. Before I could react, her hand was clamped around my collar, lifting me until I was on my tiptoes. "Answer me. What is your motive for approaching Mr. Alaric personally? Are you a spy?"
I could barely breathe. Her hold was like iron. Is this woman actually going to kill me?! I panicked.
"Seraphina."
Alaric's voice suddenly shifted. It wasn't flat anymore; it was heavy and laced with warning. He stood up, his posture radiating a dominance that made the room feel claustrophobic. "Let him go. Do not damage property that I haven't discarded yet."
Seraphina paused. She looked at Alaric, then back at me with a look of suppressed loathing, before slowly releasing her grasp. I crumpled to the floor, clutching my aching throat.
[DING! Key Character Detected: Seraphina!][Trauma Detected: 'The Human Weapon Syndrome'.][Side Mission: Create an impression that you are a 'useful variable'. Reward: 50 Points.]
(System, you think it's easy to impress someone who just tried to end my life?) I thought while struggling to stand.
I straightened my disheveled tie. "Ms. Seraphina, I know your job is to stay alert. But my motive is simple: to keep Mr. Alaric alive and sane so my paycheck keeps coming. If anything happens to him, who's going to pay my bills? I'm just a corporate slave, not a secret agent."
Seraphina remained silent, her eyes searching for a crack in my story. I immediately activated 'Eye of Empathy'.
Suddenly, my vision shifted. Behind her fierce facade, I felt a residue of dark emotion—the shadow of a young girl amidst ruins, forced to hold a weapon just to survive. Her emotions felt cold, hollow, and exhausted by constant vigilance.
"Ms. Seraphina," I said, my voice dropping an octave, becoming calmer. "The injury on your left hand... it's not from routine training. It's because you're sleep-deprived. Your focus is slipping due to chronic fatigue. Please, don't be so hard on yourself. If the protector collapses from exhaustion, that's the biggest security flaw Alaric has."
Seraphina froze. She reflexively hid her left hand, which was indeed trembling slightly. Her sharp eyes showed a flicker of shock. "How... how do you know that?"
"I'm an executive assistant, Ma'am. My job is to observe everything that affects office performance. That includes the health of our Head of Security," I gave a thin smile—professional, yet slightly more sincere than usual.
[DING! Seraphina's Progress toward Arlan: 'Wary & Confused' (5%).][Points Earned: 50 Points! Current Balance: -90 Points.]
Alaric sat back down, his fingers tapping the desk in a slow rhythm. "Enough with the personal matters. Arlan, get the car ready. We have a dinner meeting with Elara and the shareholders' representatives tonight."
Later, as I waited in the basement parking lot ensuring the car was sterile, Elara arrived in a simple dress that made her look incredibly sweet.
"Arlan! Thank you for helping me with Lady Isabella earlier," Elara said with a bright smile.
"No problem, Ra. Remember, during dinner, try to open a conversation with Mr. Alaric about hobbies or anything besides work," I advised, trying to get back on track with the wingman mission.
Suddenly, the System screen appeared in a dark purple—the color of a high-level alert.
[WARNING! 'Bloody Love Triangle' Scenario Detected!][Lady Isabella and Vivian have mysteriously changed their schedules and will arrive at the same restaurant tonight.][Extreme Condition: Alaric, Elara, Vivian, and Isabella in one area.]
(Huh?! That's not a dinner, that's World War III on a dining table!) I nearly slammed the car keys down in frustration.
[System: "And one more thing, Arlan. Seraphina has received intel regarding a possible assassination attempt at the restaurant tonight. Your task: Ensure everyone survives without breaking the plot flow."]
I watched Alaric approach with his usual cold, innocent face, while Seraphina followed behind him in full combat-ready alertness. I took a deep breath, feeling like I was going to age ten years tonight.