Mira's POV
Something was different today.
Not outside.
Inside.
I couldn't explain it properly—but everything felt… lighter.
Maybe it was because of last night.
The quiet.
The garden.
The way the world felt… still.
Or maybe—
It was because of him.
"…focus."
I shook my head slightly, trying to bring my attention back to the file in front of me.
Numbers.
Reports.
Deadlines.
Normal things.
Things that didn't make my heart feel strange for no reason.
"Mira."
I looked up.
And just like that—
the seriousness disappeared.
"…Kael sir."
He leaned casually against my desk, arms crossed, a familiar amused look on his face.
"You're distracted."
"…I'm not."
"You are."
A pause.
"…am I that obvious?"
"Very."
I looked down again, pretending to focus.
"…it's nothing…"
"Hmm."
That sound meant he didn't believe me.
At all.
"…should I guess?"
"No."
"Too late."
I sighed softly.
"…please don't…"
Kael straightened slightly, tapping the edge of my desk lightly.
"Let's see… not stressed, not nervous…"
A small pause.
"…thinking about something… or someone."
My fingers froze.
"…sir…"
His smile widened.
"Got it."
"…you didn't get anything…"
"Oh, I did."
I refused to look up.
Because if I did—
he would know.
And I didn't want that.
Not even a little.
"…you're impossible…"
"I've been told."
A small silence passed.
Then—
"Come on."
I blinked.
"…where?"
"Break."
"…I'm working…"
"You've been staring at the same page for five minutes."
I paused.
Then slowly closed the file.
"…just five minutes…"
"That's all I need."
---
We didn't go far.
Just the quieter side of the office floor.
Near the large windows.
Where sunlight filtered in softly.
"…it's peaceful here…"
"It is."
Kael leaned against the glass slightly.
Watching me.
Again.
"…you're smiling more."
I didn't realize it.
"…is that bad?"
"No."
A pause.
"…it suits you."
Something about the way he said that felt easy.
Light.
Comfortable.
"…thank you…"
"Dangerous, though."
I blinked.
"…what…?"
"That smile."
He tilted his head slightly.
"People might misunderstand."
"…misunderstand what?"
"That you're approachable."
I laughed softly.
"…I am approachable…"
"Exactly."
A pause.
"…that's the problem."
I didn't fully get what he meant.
But before I could ask—
"Enjoying your break?"
My heart stopped.
That voice.
Again.
But this time—
closer.
Sharper.
I turned.
And there he was.
Azael.
Standing just a few steps away.
Hands in his pockets.
Expression calm.
Too calm.
"…sir…"
The word came out softer than intended.
Why does that keep happening…
His eyes moved between us.
Slowly.
Taking everything in.
Not missing anything.
"Work hours."
His tone was even.
But it didn't feel neutral.
"…we just stepped out for a few minutes—"
"I didn't ask you."
Kael sighed quietly.
"…of course you didn't."
Silence.
Azael's gaze shifted to me.
"Your work is incomplete."
"…I'll finish it—"
"Now."
My fingers tightened slightly.
"…yes…"
I nodded immediately.
And for some reason—
I felt like I had done something wrong.
Even though I hadn't.
Kael noticed.
Of course he did.
"…relax."
He said it lightly.
But his eyes flicked briefly toward Azael.
"Go, I'll handle the rest."
I hesitated for a second.
"…okay…"
I turned.
Walked back.
But I could feel it.
That tension.
Behind me.
Between them.
And I didn't understand why.
---
Azael's POV
"You're pushing it."
Kael's voice carried quiet amusement.
I didn't respond.
"You know she's not like that."
Silence.
"She's just comfortable."
My gaze remained fixed.
On her.
Walking away.
"…that ends."
Kael exhaled softly.
"…there it is."
A pause.
Then—
"You finally noticed."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"I noticed long ago."
"Not like this."
Silence.
He wasn't wrong.
This—
was different.
Unnecessary.
Uncontrolled.
Unacceptable.
"…you're reacting."
"I'm correcting."
Kael smiled faintly.
"…call it whatever you want."
---
Mira's POV
I tried to focus.
I really did.
But something felt… off.
"…why did that feel like…"
I paused.
"…like I wasn't supposed to be there…"
My chest felt slightly tight.
Not hurt.
Not scared.
Just—
uneasy.
I flipped a page.
Tried to read.
Failed.
"…why do I care…"
Footsteps.
I didn't look up immediately.
I knew who it was.
I could feel it.
That same presence.
"…sir…"
"Come with me."
I blinked.
"…now…?"
"Yes."
No explanation.
No delay.
I stood up immediately.
Followed him.
Quietly.
---
His office.
Silent.
Closed.
Just the two of us.
"…sit."
I did.
My hands rested neatly in my lap.
"…did I do something wrong…?"
The question came out before I could stop it.
Azael looked at me.
Directly.
"No."
A pause.
Then—
"You waste time."
I blinked.
"…I—"
"You don't need distractions."
My fingers tightened slightly.
"…Kael sir was just helping—"
"I didn't assign him to you."
Silence.
Something about that—
felt heavier than it should.
"…I didn't ask for help…"
Honest.
Always.
His gaze didn't change.
"Yet you accepted it."
I didn't know how to respond to that.
Because—
he wasn't wrong.
"…I didn't think it was a problem…"
"It is."
My breath slowed slightly.
"…why…?"
The question slipped out.
Soft.
Confused.
Real.
And for the first time—
Azael paused.
Not long.
But enough.
Enough to feel it.
"…because it's unnecessary."
That wasn't the real answer.
I could feel it.
Even if I didn't understand it.
"…I see…"
A small silence settled.
Then—
"You'll work directly under me."
My eyes widened slightly.
"…under you…?"
"Yes."
A file was placed in front of me.
Clean.
Precise.
Decided.
"This is your responsibility now."
"…but my previous—"
"Transferred."
Just like that.
Everything changed.
"…I understand…"
My voice came out quieter.
Not forced.
Just… processing.
"…I'll do my best…"
Azael watched me for a moment.
Then—
"Don't do your best."
I looked up.
"…then…?"
"Do it right."
My heart skipped slightly.
"…okay…"
---
I stood up slowly.
Held the file carefully.
"…sir…"
He didn't respond.
But I continued.
"…I wasn't trying to avoid work…"
A pause.
"…or get distracted…"
Silence.
"…I just…"
I didn't know how to explain it.
So I said the truth.
"…felt comfortable…"
And that was it.
The moment the word left my lips—
the air changed.
Again.
Azael's gaze darkened slightly.
Not visibly.
But I felt it.
"…comfortable…"
He repeated it quietly.
Not as a question.
Something else.
Something deeper.
I nodded slightly.
"…yes…"
A pause.
Then—
"Be careful with that."
My fingers tightened around the file.
"…with what…?"
Azael's voice lowered.
Just enough.
"Where you place your comfort."
My heart stilled.
"…I understand…"
But I didn't.
Not fully.
Not yet.
---
I stepped out of the office.
Closed the door behind me.
And stood there for a second.
"…why does it feel like…"
I looked down at the file.
"…something changed again…"
---
Azael's POV
"Comfort."
The word lingered.
Unnecessary.
Unwanted.
Unacceptable.
My gaze shifted slightly.
Toward the door she just walked through.
"…misplaced."
A pause.
Then—
"Correct it."
Because this—
this quiet, growing space between her and others—
was not meant to exist.
Not like that.
Not shared.
Not open.
Not free.
"She doesn't need options."
Silence.
Then—
a decision.
Cold.
Clear.
Final.
"She needs direction."