VILLA – BREAKFAST ROOM
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, warm and golden. The scent of jasmine tea and warm pastries lingered in the air.
Allison sat at the long breakfast table, her robe tightly tied at the waist, hair slightly tousled from sleep. Across from her sat Tianlei, his chin barely above the rim of his teacup. He was trying hard to look serious, legs swinging beneath the chair.
Beatrice now wrapped in a soft lavender shawl, looked better. Still pale but her eyes were clearer and sharp. She fed Tianlei slices of pear while trying not to smile too much when he pouted. Allison tore a piece of sweet bread, glancing at them both.
"You know," she said quietly, "This… almost feels normal."
Tianlei blinked. "What's normal?"
Beatrice smiled faintly. "When people who love each other get to stay in the same room, eat food, and not die in it." she rolled her eyes.
Allison raised an eyebrow. "That's a low bar."
"Welcome to my standard," Beatrice smirked.
Laughter floated up like steam from their teacups.
Then they heard footsteps, boots on the marble.
Lucian entered, dressed in a crisp black suit, no tie. Just power in the quiet lines of his collar, authority in the way his cuff was folded back to reveal a silver watch. His gaze swept the room and landed on Allison.
"You're late," Allison teased.
Lucian didn't smile but his eyes warmed. A flicker of emotion passed through them.
"And you're still beautiful," he replied calmly.
Beatrice nearly choked on her tea.
Allison lips parted slightly, eyes darting down to her cup, face bright red. "That wasn't....never mind."
Lucian walked to Tianlei and ruffled his hair.
"Behave today. Don't blow up the library," he said in a serious tone.
"I'll try," Tianlei mumbled through a bite of apple as he giggled.
Then Lucian's gaze returned to Allison.
"We leave in ten. You're coming to the office."
Allison blinked. "Today?"
"Your ID badge has been printed. Your desk have been assigned."
He paused, his voice softer.
"And hide the pendant inside your dress."
Allison's heart gave one small, traitorous flutter.
---
CORPORATION – EXECUTIVE FLOOR, MID-MORNING
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. Allison stepped into the executive floor wearing a fitted white blouse tucked into a high-waist navy skirt, her heels almost silent against the polished marble. The pendant at her neck was hidden.
But this time, she wasn't just another intern who got a stroke of luck in working in this massive company .
This time, she was Allison, The First Flame, protector of a bloodline… and utterly confused by the man who had just appeared behind her like mist. 'He always do that,' she thought as she rolled her eyes.
"Morning," Lucian said casually, as if he hadn't followed her up the elevator silently the entire ride or they didn't see at home.
Allison didn't turn. "You could've taken the executive elevator."
"I wanted to make sure you didn't vanish halfway up."
"I won't vanish," she replied coolly. "I'll resign."
They passed through a glass corridor. The staff nodded respectfully, though some slowed their pace to watch. Lucian rarely walked anyone through this wing.
Allison's heels slowed as they neared his office.
"I'm not here for you," she murmured under her breath.
"I know," he said. "You're here for your department review, Ms. Han."
She blinked. "Wait.. I..what?"
He held the door open to his office with a slight smirk. "I scheduled it last night. It's quarterly review day. Or did you forget I'm technically still your boss?"
Allison swallowed. Why did his voice sound deeper when he said "your boss"? But she's supposed to be an actress.
'Argh' With a breath, she walked past him and into his sunlit office, spacious, sleek, with soft grey tones and a wide desk that looked more like a throne than a workspace.
She stood at the edge of his desk, arms crossed.
He leaned against the desk, hands at his back, regarding her with those unreadable eyes.
"Three departments have tried to request you."
She lifted a brow. "And you blocked all three."
"I like watching you work at home, it wouldn't be a bad idea watching you work in the office."He mostly spends time in the office.
That made her heart trip.
He didn't correct himself.
"You don't have to flirt during reviews," she muttered.
"This isn't flirting." He stepped closer. "This is confession. A slow and honest one."
Her breath caught.
And then, a knock at the door broke the moment.
Lucian turned, slightly annoyed. "Come in."
A tall man entered with a charming smile, brown hair brushed back, tailored suit.
"Sorry to interrupt, sir. I'm the new associate assigned to Ms. Han's project team, Aaron Li."
Allison blinked.
Aaron extended a hand to her. " I've been transferred here from Hong Kong. Nice meeting you."
She shook it. "Welcome."
Lucian didn't speak, didn't move. But the temperature in the room shifted.
Aaron smiled again, glancing between the two. "I hope I won't be in the way."
Lucian finally spoke, voice even. "You won't."
But Allison felt it like a subtle possessiveness, not cruel, not loud… but protective.
She picked up her report folder. "If that's all, I should get to my team."
Lucian nodded. "You're dismissed… Allison."
She didn't miss the way Aaron turned his head at that name, the familiarity. Nor did she miss the way Lucian's gaze followed her all the way to the door.
---
MIDDAY – PROJECT FLOOR
Allison sat in the project conference room with her team, reviewing slide decks, graphs, and market data. Aaron sat beside her, offering witty remarks and suggestions that were unfortunately good.
He was easy to talk to, maybe too easy.
"You're better at this than you let on," he said, leaning closer.
"I'm observant," she replied, not looking up.
"Then you've noticed our boss watching you like a silent stormcloud?"
Allison blinked. "He watches everyone."
Aaron laughed. "Not like that. Not like… he'd burn a building if someone touched you wrong."
She didn't answer.
Because maybe it was true.
Maybe Lucian the celestial-blooded or devil-born or something didn't know how to love softly. But he stood back.
He let her breathe and mingle with this Aaron Li. And that… that was more terrifying than any firestorm.
---
LU CORPORATION – ROOFTOP, LATE AFTERNOON
She didn't expect him there.
But Lucian was already leaning on the railing when she stepped out for air.
"I thought you hated heights," she said quietly. "Your ex fell from quite a height (the plane crash). It's only normal for you to despise some things but it can't stop your everyday routine. For example, taking a flight."
"Hmmm."
Allison tilted her head.
"You saw me with Aaron," she said.
"I saw you smile."
"And?"
"I didn't like it."
A pause.
She turned. "That's petty."
He nodded. "And human."
She smirked. "You sure you're human?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he took a step toward her slowly, deliberately and stopped just a breath away.
"You're allowed to like him," he said. "You're allowed to like anyone."
"Then why do you sound like you're trying not to punch something?" she blinked.
His voice dropped. "Because I told myself I'd wait until you were ready… but I didn't expect someone else to make you laugh like that."
That made her breath hitch.
"Lucian…"
He raised a hand but didn't touch her, just let it hover near her cheek.
"I'm not asking for anything," he said. "Just don't lie to me."
Allison swallowed hard.
"I'm not ready," she whispered.
"Then I'll wait."
And this time, when he left, she wished he hadn't.