"Hey… ehmm… can I tag along?"
A male voice sounded from behind Dinah just as she stepped out of the elevator and headed toward the company canteen for lunch.
She turned around slightly.
A young man dressed in a light blue shirt was walking toward her with an awkward but charming smile on his face. His brown hair looked slightly messy, as though he had spent several minutes fixing it only for the wind to ruin it again.
Dinah blinked.
"Oh… hey," she replied politely. "My friend is already waiting for me there, so… if you don't mind, we can make it three."
The young man's smile widened instantly.
"Well, I don't mind."
They began walking side by side toward the canteen.
For the first few seconds, silence settled between them.
But every now and then, Dinah noticed him stealing quick glances at her before looking away immediately whenever she turned slightly.
It almost made her laugh.
"Ehmmm…" he cleared his throat nervously. "My name is Dave Maclean."
Dinah smiled lightly.
"Well, my name is"
"You're Abi Wellington," he interrupted quickly before realizing what he had done.
He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I mean… I already know."
Dinah raised a brow playfully.
"Oh wow," she teased. "I didn't know I was this popular."
Dave laughed nervously.
"Well… I asked around."
The moment he said that, Dinah finally understood.
So this was not coincidence.
He had intentionally approached her.
Before she could say anything else, a familiar energetic voice called out loudly from the canteen.
"Hey Abi! Over here!"
Benny waved both hands dramatically from a table near the window.
Dinah smiled immediately.
"My friend is over there," she told Dave before walking toward Benny.
Dave followed behind her quickly.
The moment they arrived, Benny folded her arms dramatically.
"Why did it take you so long?" she complained childishly. "I'm already starving."
Dinah laughed softly.
"Sorry. I was taking my time."
Of course she was teasing.
Benny narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Then why are you standing there? Let's go get food first."
Dinah blinked.
"Oh… right. Where is my mind today?"
Only then did Benny finally notice the man standing behind Dinah.
Her playful expression froze slightly.
"…Who is he?" she asked slowly. "And why is he following you?"
Dinah turned immediately.
"Oh, this is ehmmm…"
For some reason, she suddenly forgot his name halfway.
Dave quickly rescued her from embarrassment.
"Dave," he said with a smile.
"Yes, Dave," Dinah repeated quickly. "He'll be joining us for lunch."
Then she pointed toward Benny.
"And Dave, this is Benny. My friend."
Dave smiled politely.
"Hi, Benny."
But Benny's expression had already changed subtly.
Though she still smiled outwardly, her sharp eyes quietly scanned Dave from head to toe.
Something about him immediately irritated her.
Not because he looked dangerous.
But because
He was staring at Dinah too much.
As they walked toward the serving section together, Benny slowed her pace slightly and leaned closer to Dinah.
"Where did you pick him from?" she whispered suspiciously.
Dinah nearly laughed.
"I didn't pick him from anywhere."
Benny narrowed her eyes.
"Hmmm."
Dave awkwardly pretended not to hear them while carrying a tray.
But deep down, he was already sweating.
Because Benny looked terrifying when she stared too long.
Meanwhile…
Several streets away
Inside a black luxury vehicle trapped in traffic
Oliver Queen's expression darkened slightly.
"Why is there traffic for God's sake…" he murmured coldly.
The convoy had barely moved in ten minutes.
The drivers ahead were already panicking under the pressure of several black SUVs lined behind them.
Inside the car, silence filled the air heavily.
Kelvin wisely kept quiet while reviewing files from his tablet.
Oliver leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping slowly against the leather armrest.
Ever since he traveled abroad, he and Dinah had mostly communicated through messages.
He never pressured her with constant calls.
Never forced closeness.
He was taking things carefully.
Slowly.
Patiently.
Because after waiting centuries…
He could wait a little longer.
Still
Not hearing her voice properly for almost two weeks had left him strangely restless.
Every single day overseas, he made sure to ask about her wellbeing.
What she ate.
Whether she rested.
How work went.
Small things.
Things he once never cared about before she appeared.
What Oliver didn't know was that Dinah herself had not remained unaffected either.
Ever since the incident in his mansion—
The night her first period unexpectedly came while she was cooking under their strange six-month agreement—
Something inside her had quietly shifted.
At first, she genuinely believed Oliver had ulterior motives.
After all, what powerful billionaire begged a random woman to cook for him for six months?
But slowly…
Her suspicion weakened.
Especially after he paid every single hospital bill for her mother without hesitation.
Even curing the cancer her mother had suffered from for years.
No matter how many times Dinah thought about it, she still found it unreal.
And then there was that night.
Instead of embarrassment or mockery, Oliver, Mrs. Gerald, and even Mr. Gerald had treated her with shocking care and gentleness.
No disgust.
No awkwardness.
Just warmth.
It was the first time in years Dinah felt genuinely protected.
And what shocked her the most
Was the room.
A room inside Oliver's mansion.
Decorated entirely according to her preferences.
Her favorite colors.
Her favorite flowers.
Even books she secretly loved.
It felt less like coincidence…
And more like someone had been waiting for her.
Back inside the car, Oliver slowly closed his eyes.
At first, he thought Dinah was merely a resemblance.
A woman who happened to look exactly like the love he lost centuries ago.
Gwenevere.
But the more he observed Dinah…
The more impossible the similarities became.
The same tastes.
The same habits.
The same dislikes.
Even the way she frowned when confused.
Everything aligned too perfectly.
There was no longer any doubt in his mind.
Dinah Wellington was Gwenevere reincarnated.
The only difference was
She still had not awakened.
Her powers remained sealed because she had been reborn fully human.
But Oliver knew.
Sooner or later…
The supernatural world would recognize her existence.
And when that happened
Nothing would ever remain the same again.
Suddenly, Kelvin looked up from his tablet.
"We're close to News Day Publishing Company now."
Oliver's eyes opened instantly.
For the first time since entering the car
A faint smile appeared on his face.