It had been a month since Elara started at Draeven Nexus.
She’d settled into the rhythm of her new job—scheduling meetings, organizing files, managing internal memos. Her desk was always neat, her reports always on time. She didn’t stand out, but she didn’t fade either.
Her coworkers were polite.
Professional.
Efficient.
But Mina was different.
Bright, chatty, and always armed with snacks, Mina had become her constant buddy in the office. They shared lunch breaks, swapped playlists, and whispered about the strange silence surrounding the company’s elusive President.
“Still haven’t seen him?” Mina asked one morning, sipping her iced coffee as they settled into their usual corner of the break room.
Elara hesitated, fingers tightening around her cup.
“Not really,” she said, voice light but vague.
Mina raised an eyebrow.
“You sure? You’ve got that ‘I know something but won’t say it’ look.”
Elara smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
She wasn’t lying.
But she wasn’t telling the whole truth either.
She knew Lucas.
Knew him far more intimately than anyone here could guess.
But she hadn’t seen him since they landed.
No calls.
No updates.
Not even a message.
She’d thought the seal meant something more.
That he’d check in.
Say something.
Anything.
Instead, he’d vanished into the layers of corporate silence.
And maybe that was normal.
Maybe being sealed didn’t mean being close.
Maybe it just meant being safe.
Still, the silence was starting to feel louder.
That morning, as she returned to her desk, her phone buzzed.
Internal Memo: Ms. Elara Mariselle – Please report to the President’s Office at 10:00 AM.
Her heart skipped.
She glanced at Mina, who leaned over with wide eyes.
“Oof. That’s either very good or very mysterious.”
Elara smoothed her blouse, grabbed her tablet, and made her way to the top floor.
The elevator ride felt longer than usual.
Her palms were damp.
Her thoughts louder than they should’ve been.
She reached the door marked President’s Office, took a breath, and knocked.
“Come in,” a voice said.
She stepped inside.
Riven Lau stood near the window, tablet in hand, as composed as ever.
He looked up, nodded.
“Ms. Mariselle. Right on time.”
She offered a polite smile.
“You asked for me?”
Before he could answer, the inner door opened.
And Lucas Caelum Draeven stepped out.
Elara froze.
He looked the same.
Sharp suit. Calm eyes. That quiet gravity that made the room feel smaller.
But something in his gaze flickered when he saw her.
Not surprise.
Not discomfort.
Just… recognition.
“Elara,” he said.
Her name sounded different in his voice.
Like it belonged somewhere.
She swallowed.
“Mr. Draeven.”
Lucas’s lips twitched—almost a smile.
Riven glanced between them, then cleared his throat.
“We wanted to discuss your current placement. There are some updates.”
Elara nodded, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Of course.”
But inside, everything was shifting.
She hadn’t seen him in a month.
Hadn’t heard a word.
And now, here he was.
Standing in front of her.
Looking at her.
And for the first time since China, the seal between them didn’t feel distant.
It felt real.