Mira's POV
The office didn't feel the same.
Not anymore.
The moment I stepped in—
I could feel it.
The shift.
Eyes that once judged—
now avoided.
Voices that once whispered—
now stayed quiet.
No one stopped me.
No one questioned me.
No one looked at me like I didn't belong.
"…it really changed…"
Just like he said.
"They'll correct everything."
I held my bag a little tighter.
Not out of nervousness.
Just… grounding myself.
"…he did this…"
A small warmth settled in my chest.
Soft.
Unfamiliar.
But comforting.
I walked toward my desk.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like I was stepping into something new.
"…good morning."
A few people responded.
Awkward.
Polite.
Different.
I nodded slightly.
Sat down.
Placed my things neatly.
Everything looked the same.
But nothing felt the same.
"…I should focus…"
Yes.
Work.
Normal.
Routine.
That's what I needed.
"Mira."
I looked up.
And before I could stop it—
a small smile formed.
"…good morning, Kael sir."
He noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
"Well," he said lightly, "that's a welcome upgrade."
I blinked.
"…upgrade…?"
"Yeah," he leaned slightly against the desk, "you're smiling today."
I paused.
"…am I…?"
"You are."
A small silence.
Then—
"…that's good."
Kael studied me for a second.
"…something changed."
My fingers paused over the file.
"…did it…?"
"Yeah."
A small smirk appeared.
"Or should I ask—who changed it?"
My heart skipped.
"…no one…"
Too quick.
Too obvious.
Kael's smile widened slightly.
"…right."
He didn't push.
He didn't need to.
Because he already knew.
And somehow—
that made me a little embarrassed.
"…I just feel better…"
"That's good."
His tone softened slightly.
Less teasing.
More genuine.
"I told you it'd be handled."
"…you did…"
A pause.
"…thank you…"
Kael waved it off.
"Don't thank me."
Silence.
Then—
"…thank him."
My breath caught.
"…I—"
"Because I didn't do that."
His eyes flicked slightly.
Behind me.
And that's when I felt it.
That presence.
Again.
Heavy.
Quiet.
Watching.
I turned.
Slowly.
And there he was.
Azael.
Standing just a few steps away.
Not speaking.
Not moving.
Just… looking.
At me.
Not at Kael.
Not at anyone else.
At me.
"…sir…"
My voice softened automatically.
I didn't mean for it to.
But it did.
Azael's gaze didn't shift.
Not even slightly.
"How is your work."
It wasn't a question.
Not really.
"…it's fine…"
A small pause.
"…everything is normal now…"
Silence.
Then—
"It should be."
Something about the way he said that—
felt final.
Like there was no other option.
Kael straightened slightly.
"…I was just helping her get back on track."
Azael's eyes shifted.
Finally.
To him.
Slowly.
"…I didn't ask you to."
The air changed.
Not drastically.
But enough.
Enough for me to feel it.
"…I offered."
Kael replied easily.
Unbothered.
Azael's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…unnecessary."
I blinked.
"…sir, I—"
"Sit."
The word came out calm.
But firm.
I froze for a second.
Then sat down.
Immediately.
My heart beat a little faster.
"…why does it feel tense…"
Azael stepped closer.
Not to Kael.
To me.
Always—to me.
"You don't need assistance."
His voice lowered slightly.
"Focus on your work."
"…yes…"
Soft.
Automatic.
Kael watched quietly.
Then—
"…you're scaring her."
Silence.
Azael didn't respond immediately.
His gaze remained on me.
Studying.
Measuring.
Then—
"She's not scared."
My breath paused.
"…I'm not…?"
I didn't even realize I answered that out loud.
Azael's eyes flicked slightly.
"…you would've stepped back."
I didn't.
I stayed.
Even now.
Close.
Too close.
"…I don't think I'm scared…"
The words came out slowly.
Carefully.
Honest.
Kael chuckled softly.
"…see?"
Azael didn't react.
Not visibly.
But something shifted.
Something subtle.
Something deeper.
"…then you're comfortable."
His voice dropped.
Quieter.
And somehow—
more dangerous.
I didn't know how to answer that.
"…I…"
Silence stretched.
"…I don't know…"
Honest again.
Always honest.
Azael's gaze lingered for a second longer.
Then—
"Good."
I blinked.
"…good…?"
"Don't get comfortable."
My fingers tightened slightly.
"…okay…"
Kael sighed softly.
"…you're impossible."
Azael didn't respond.
Because his attention—
was still on me.
"…finish your work."
A pause.
Then—
"Come to me if there's a problem."
My heart skipped.
"…okay…"
Simple.
But it stayed.
Again.
That same feeling from last night.
Like—
he wasn't giving an option.
He was deciding something.
For me.
For himself.
For us.
---
Azael turned.
Walked away.
Just like that.
The tension left with him.
But something remained.
In the air.
In me.
"…wow."
Kael exhaled softly.
"…that was intense."
I looked at my desk.
"…was it…?"
"Yes."
A pause.
Then—
"…and a little unfair."
I frowned slightly.
"…unfair…?"
"Yeah."
He smiled faintly.
"I was enjoying the conversation."
I blinked.
"…sorry…"
"Don't apologize."
A pause.
Then—
"…just don't disappear mid-conversation next time."
I nodded slightly.
"…okay…"
But my thoughts—
weren't here anymore.
They followed him.
Without permission.
Without control.
"…why does it feel like…"
I paused.
"…he didn't like that…"
---
Azael's POV
"She smiled at you."
Kael's voice carried amusement.
I didn't respond.
"She listens to you."
Silence.
Then—
"She's getting comfortable."
My gaze darkened slightly.
"…that ends."
Kael laughed softly.
"…you're serious."
"Yes."
A pause.
Then—
"…this is new."
No.
This is controlled.
My eyes shifted.
Back toward her.
Focused.
Quiet.
Unaware.
"…she doesn't belong in shared space."
A pause.
Then—
"She doesn't belong anywhere else."
on phase now 🔥