chapter 15 Trackers, Shakes, and Small Mistakes
The ticking of the wall clock was the only thing keeping Aika from face-planting onto the mahogany desk. She stared at the Q3 Logistics Report, but it might as well have been written in ancient hieroglyphs.
This is a nightmare, she thought, her eyes glazing over the columns of data. I'm a science student, not a corporate analyst. Why did I think starting from zero as an unpaid intern was a 'smart' move? I'm sitting in the lion's den, and the lion expects me to do his taxes.
She looked at the office door, praying for a deus ex machina. Maybe Ren would burst in to take her to lunch, or maybe a fire drill would go off. Anything to escape this suffocating silence. She caught herself mid-yawn, stretching her jaw so hard it clicked. Her "sicky" body felt heavier with every passing minute of inactivity.
"Helena."
Noel's voice cut through her fog like a blade. He didn't even look up from his laptop. "Are you done?"
Aika blinked, her heart doing a nervous little tap-dance. "What? What done?"
"The file," Noel said, finally leaning back and fixing her with a flint-like stare. "Show me what you've found."
Aika looked down at the perfectly clean, untouched pages of the report. She could have lied. She could have made up a "headache" excuse. But she was too tired for the drama.
"It's not done," she said, her voice dry but steady. "I haven't even started. I don't understand a single thing in here. I told Grandfather I was starting from the foundation. I didn't just forget my past; I've forgotten the 'knowledge' too. To me, this report is just a bunch of random numbers. If you wanted an expert, you shouldn't have given it to an intern who doesn't even know where the bathroom is yet."
Noel's eyes narrowed, the temperature in the room seemingly dropping five degrees.
"I don't think it was a good idea," Aika started, her voice sounding small in the vast office. "I offered to become an intern without thinking it through. I'm just saying—"
Her words were cut short as the heavy glass doors swung open. Ren stepped in, his breezy energy instantly clashing with the silence.
"Hey, Helena," Ren said, his eyes darting between Aika's empty report and Noel's icy expression. "Grandfather is in his office. He's calling for you."
Aika didn't need to be told twice. She stood up so fast her chair screeched against the floor. "I'm coming," she muttered, quickly moving toward Ren.
Behind her, the sound of a laptop lid snapping shut echoed like a gunshot. "I'm also coming," Noel said, rising with a stiff, calculated grace.
Great, Aika thought. One brother who acts like my confidant and another who treats me like a distraction, both following me to see the man who started this whole mess.
Outside the heavy double doors, Ren stepped in front of Noel, blocking his path so Aika could enter the Grandfather's office alone.
Noel: "Ren, stop. Your 'nice guy' act is going to make her think she's back in everyone's good graces. You know what she was like before the accident."
Ren: (Dropping the smile, his voice serious) "I'm not acting, Noel. She's literally a different person right now. If we treat her like a prisoner, she'll just rebel again. I'm keeping her close so she doesn't get hurt—or hurt anyone else."
Noel: "I still don't like it. She's a distraction we don't need."
Ren: "Then let me handle the 'distraction.' You focus on the company. I'll make sure she stays safe at the circuit tonight and don't hurt anyone .
Inside the office, Grandfather sat with his assistant, Uncle Naad. He beamed when he saw Aika. "My grandchild, come in. Sit."
"How is the internship?" he asked.
"It's not good, but not bad," she replied carefully.
Grandfather chuckled, then signaled to Naad, who placed the Orphanage Project paper she had signed days ago in front of her. "Are you really interested in going there for a month to be a manager?"
Aika nodded. Yes. I would love to stay away from being a villain or a second lead. An orphanage away from this corporate mess is exactly what I need.
"Helena," Grandfather said, his voice turning grave. "Do you know you are the highest shareholder in your father's company? Your father has sealed your shares because you can't remember anything. I investigated your 'accident.' It wasn't an accident. You are safe under my wing, but I need you to stay here for a few more days."
Aika sat there, her mind spinning. What is going on? My shares are sealed yup i know that much but from where is this come , someone tried to kill me, and now I'm a high-value prisoner in a golden cage? This isn't a novel; it's going on like an melodrama know i go why people say don't read too much fiction but now i got no time for regrets now. and wow how many more new people are gonna introduce i slightly start even loosing count this is the real assistant ro is there any more
"And Helena," Grandfather added, reaching for a sleek, unmarked box. "Use this phone from now on. It has my number, Noel's, Ren's, and Naad's. If you get into any trouble—call us."
Then, he pulled out a delicate, silver bracelet with a single sapphire. "It's a gift. Wear it, child."
He clicked the clasp shut. Aika stared at the sapphire resting against her pulse point. A gift? Right. I know exactly what this is. A high-end GPS tracker. I'm being tagged like a lab animal i do look liek an stupid but i am not sir but its for helena safety so its okie.
"It's beautiful," she lied, her voice smooth. "Thank you, Grandfather."
As the office doors closed, Aika's mask disintegrated. Ren and Noel were still in the hallway like two opposing magnets.
"So?" Ren asked, his eyes sharp. "What did the 'Final Boss' want?"
"He just... wanted to give me some gifts," she said flatly.
Ren's eyes dropped to the bracelet. "Gifts, huh? Hey, cheer up. You look like you've just been sentenced to life in prison instead of being handed expensive jewelry. Let's go have some lunch. Let me give you a small tour."
A tour? My legs feel like lead and my brain is a fried egg, Aika thought. But Ren is right. Being alone with my thoughts—and this tracker—is worse.
As they walked toward the cafeteria, the atmosphere changed. Heads turned. Forks stopped mid-air. The employees were tracking her like she was a predator in a sheep pen.
"Welcome to the life of a D'Arven," Ren whispered. "They're waiting for you to do something... 'Helena-like.' Don't give them a show for free."
Ren suddenly came to a dead stop, his face beaming. "Cecilia!" he called out.
A beautiful girl, looking like she'd stepped off a fashion runway, turned around. "Ren!"
Oh great, Aika thought, hiding behind Ren's assistant, Kael. Another main character? My social battery is at 0% and the charger is broken.
"Hey... who is she?" Aika whispered into Kael's back.
aika thought oh Cecilia. Even the name sounds like someone who never has messy hair or 'sicky' bags under her eyes.
Kael gave a small flinch, his shoulders tensing. He didn't turn around, but his voice was hushed. "Ma'am... that is Miss Cecilia. She is a close friend of both Sir Ren and Sir Noel. She's also a major client."
A client? Aika thought. Great. A walking plot point.
She stayed perfectly still, hoping Kael's suit would act as camouflage. "Don't move, Kael," she muttered. "You are a wall. You are a fortress."
Kael shifted slightly, clearly aware he was being used as a human shield. The awkwardness radiated off him, but he stayed in place.
"Helena?" Ren called out, spotting her. "Why are you standing back there? Come say hi."
Aika stepped out from behind Kael, forcing a polite mask. "Hi," she said, reaching out for a formal handshake.
As their hands met, Cecilia's fingers clamped down like a vise. The pressure sent a jolt of pain through Aika's nerves. Aika yanked her hand back, her skin turning red.
"Everything okay?" Ren asked.
Aika rubbed her throbbing palm, her eyes meeting Cecilia's. "I'm fine. I think the 'sicky' feeling is just making me sensitive to... heavy pressure."