Instead of feeling confident or hopeful, Amaya stepped out of the building rather feeling... lighter. A relief of it all finally being over.

The glass doors of Blooms Global slid shut with a soft hiss behind her, cutting off the polished silence of the corporate world as she returned to the familiar chaos of the street.

The afternoon air brushed over her; as noises from cars, voices and heat rising from the pavement welcomed her to the real life. She exhaled slowly, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder.

"Well," she murmured, "at least I didn't completely embarrass myself." That, alone counted for something.

Her stomach growled in reminder. "Right." She muttered. She hadn't gotten anything down there since morning.

Fortunately across the street, a small food stall was set up. It was nothing fancy. Just a man grilling skewers while chatting loudly with customers. The warm, spicy and comforting smell immediately hit her

Amaya hesitated for a second, before crossing over. "Two, please," she said, holding up her fingers.

The vendor grinned. "Good choice."

She leaned against the side of the stall while waiting, watching while different caliber of people pass by. Office workers on lunch breaks laughing in small groups. Someone arguing over the phone. And a couple sharing drinks.

Just the normal and grounded life she needed. "Here you go," the vendor said, cutting through her distruction as he handed her the skewers.

"Thanks." She said, took a bite and nearly sighed. "Okay... worth it." She muffled with her mouth half full.

The vendor chuckled. "First time here?"

"Yeah." She nodded, enjoying her little satisfaction.

"Then you'll be back."

Amaya faintly smiled faintly. "Maybe."

She stayed a little longer than necessary, slowly eating and allowing her nerves settle. In the moment, her phone buzzed. Quickly, she wiped fingers and checked it.

Surprisingly, it was from an unknown number again. Her brows furrowed, this was somehow, becoming rampant. For a moment, she considered ignoring it. But then, something, maybe the subtle urge made her answer.

"...Hello?" She uttered, but was met with silence. Then, a click. And just like that, the call ended.

Amaya stared at the screen. "...Weird." She mumbled. And that made a small chill crept up her spine. But she shook it off. "Probably nothing."

Yet, that didn't stop her from blocking the number. Just in case.

By the time she got back to the convenience store, the afternoon rush had started. "Hey, you're late," her coworker called.

"Interview," Amaya replied, tying her apron quickly.

"Oh? Fancy."

"Not really." She slipped into routine again. Registering, restocking, and small talks with customers.

Steadily, time passed with it's normal activities.

Untile the door chimed, at an odd hour when the the door tag clearly read...CLOSED .

Intuitively, Amaya looked up. But then, froze. It was him.The man from yesterday. But this time, there was no pretence in his eyes, neither a smile.

Amaya watched as she walked straight to the counter. Her pulse spiked. "...Coffee?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"No." His gaze held hers. Direct and intense. "You applied to Blooms Global," he uttered. But that sound like a question.

Amaya's stomach dropped. "How do you?"

Slightly, he leaned in. And lowered his voice, only to Amaya's hearing. "You shouldn't have."

Her breath caught. "What?" She stared at him.

But he quickly straightened, just as if nothing had happened. And reached for a bottle of water instead. Paid, and then left. Just like that.

Aria stood there, frozen. Her coworker frowned. "You know him?"

"No." Her voice came out too tight and fast. Because that...that wasn't something normal.

~~~~~

Across the city

Lucien Blues had already read the reports, seen the candidates and analyzed the data. He didn't need interviews to make his decisions.

And yet, "Her," he said, sliding the file forward.

His assistant blinked. "Sir?"

"Amaya Bennett. Hire her." There was a brief pause as his assistant glanced at her profile.

"But she's not the strongest candidate."

"I didn't ask for the strongest." His tone didn't rise, and neither did it sharpened. But it ended the discussion anyway.

"...Understood."

Lucien leaned back slightly, with a distant gaze.

There was something about her. Something he was finding hard to ignore or trust. And until he figures out what it was, he wanted her close.

.

.

.

The evening slowly drift on. Amaya was halfway through organizing a shelf, when her phone buzzed again. And this time, it was an email.

She hesitated briefly before opening it. A few seconds after, her eyes widened.

"...No way." She muttered.

Her coworker glanced over. "What?"

"I-I got it."

"The job?" She asked.

Amaya slowly nodded, still staring at the screen. "They... hired me." Just like that. No second interview. No delay.

Her coworker let out a low whistle. "Damn. You're moving up."

Amaya softly laughed. But deep down, something about it didn't feel normal or earned.

It felt...Fast. Too fast.

After the long hours, she finally retired to bed. But the whole job thing kept hunting her. She sat on her bed, staring at the email again.

Offer letter. The start date. Everything was well documented. It was official. Like real. Her life was changing. Just like that.

But instead of the usual excitement, a strange unease settled in her chest. Remembering what the man had said.

"You shouldn't have." Those words felt funnily scary.

Amaya slowly lay back staring at the ceiling. "Why...?" She didn't know. But something told her that job...wasn't an opportunity. It was a door. And once she stepped through, there would be no going back.

But she was ready for the challenge.

Back in a dark office, the man loosened his tie, staring at a screen. A CCTV footage to the convenience store. It was paused and zoomed in on her face. Her features clear.

His lips slightlt curled. "Unlucky," he murmured.

For her. Because this time, he wouldn't let her walk away just like those passed years.

.

.

Somewhere in the city..

Lucie stood by his window. Unaware that the girl he had just brought into his world was the answer he had been searching for all those passed years.

Amaya woke up before her alarm again.

But this time, it wasn't the usual unease pulling her from sleep. It was rather anticipation. She laid still. Just for a moment, staring at the ceiling, and letting reality settle in.

You got the job. At Blooms Global. Her mind told her. But the words still felt foreign.

Instictively, she let out a slow breath. Then pushed herself out of bed. "No overthinking," she muttered. "Just get through the day."

Her mornings were that simple, but intentional. Shower, then get dressed. But this time, she took extra care. She choose her outfits, three times before settling on something clean.

A professional soft cream blouse tucked into a fitted black skirt, paired with low heels. It was nothing flashy, just... presentable.

She stood in front of the mirror for a second longer than usual. "You'll be fine." She told herself but didn't fully believe it. But she grabbed her bag anyway.

.

.

.

Today, the bus ride felt different. Not because of any major changes she had had. But in the subtle ways. Like how she stood a little straighter.

And how she paid closer attention to the people around her. First, it was a man arguing loudly on the phone. Then, a woman fixing her makeup in the reflection of the window.

A student half-asleep, head bobbing with every turn. Life was moving on as always. But today, felt different.

After about Thirty minutes, she finally alighted at Blooms Global. It was still massive and powerful But the building didn't feel as intimidating as yesterday. Because she felt a sense of belonging. At least... on paper.

"First day?" the receptionist asked with a polite smile as Aria approached.

"Yes." Amaya said.

"Welcome. HR is expecting you. 12th floor."

"Thank you." She answered, and strolled off.

Orientation wasn't as scary as she expected.

There were five of them in total. The new hires sat around a sleek table while an HR manager walked them through company policies, expectations, schedules.

Amaya listened carefully, jotting down notes in a small notebook she had brought. Details helped her feel in control. On her list were;

Names, Departments and Procedures.

Beside her, sat a curly girl. She leaned over slightly. "First corporate job?"

Amaya glanced at her. "Is it that obvious?"

The girl grinned. "A little. I'm Maya."

"Amaya."

"Relax," Maya whispered. "Everyone looks like they're about to pass out on their first day."

Amaya huffed a small laugh. That... actually helped.

By midday, Amaya was assigned her department. Administrative support. Mid-level management.

It was not directly important. And neither was it directly invisible. It was just between a balance she could work with.

"This is your station," the supervisor said, gesturing to a neat desk with a computer, phone, and a small stack of files.

Amaya nodded. "Thank you."

"Just observe for today. And et familiar." He instructed.

"I will." She said, and he was gone.

The office floor was alive in a quiet, controlled way. Phones rang softly in the background. While keyboards clicked. Low conversations drifted between desks.

Aria sat down, taking it all in. This was different from the convenience store. Everything here had structure and precision. Even the way people moved felt... calculated.

She turned on her computer, logging in with the credentials she had been given. Emails, Schedules and Documents. It was a lot, but manageable. She could do this.

"Hey." A voice came in.

Amaya looked up. Maya stood beside her, holding two cups of coffee.

"Peace offering," she said, handing one over.

Amaya smiled. "You're a lifesaver."

"I know, right?."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment.

Then Maya leaned slightly closer. "Word of advice?"

Amaya glanced at her. "Yeah?"

"Keep your head down. Do your work. Don't get noticed by the wrong people."

Amaya blinked. "Wrong people?"

Maya shrugged. "It's a big company. Not everyone here is... nice."

Something about the way she said it made Amaya pause. But before she could ask more, a voice cut through the air.

"Ms. Bennett."

Amaya stiffened. She knew that voice before she even turned. Slowly, she looked up. And there he was. The man from the convenience store.

He was standing right in front of her desk. Dressed in a sharp suit, composed.

Her stomach dropped. "...You work here?" she asked before she could stop herself.

A faint smile touched his lips. "Of course."

Her pulse quickened. Maya glanced between them, confused. "You two know each other?"

"No," Amaya quickly said.

"At least," the man smoothly added. "not formally." His gaze locked onto Amaya's. Sharp, knowing and unsettling.

"I'm Daniel Reed," he said. Senior operations manager." The title landed heavily. He wasn't just any employee. He was someone with power.

Amaya forced herself to stand. "Aria Bennett."

"I know." The words came out soft. But it sent a chill down her spine. A brief silence swept between them. Then, a pleasant and controlled smile spread through Daniel's face. "Welcome to Blooms Global."

And just like that, he walked away. Maya immediately leaned closer. "Okay... what was that?"

Amaya slowly sat down. "I have no idea." But that wasn't entirely true. Because deep down, she knew. That man wasn't normal. He had something fishy about him.

~~~

High above them, behind the glass walls. Lucien Blues watched. His gaze fixed on the floor below. On one particular desk, and iinteraction.

His expression didn't change. But slightly, his eyes darkened. "Daniel Reed," he quietly muttered.

His assistant stepped forward. "Yes, sir?"

"Keep an eye on him." He paused, "Discreetly."

"...Understood sir."

With the instructions given, Lucien's gaze shifted back to Amaya. She looked small from this height. Unaware of his prescence. Yet, she was the center of something he couldn't ignore.

Something feels wrong ahout her. He could feel that. And he intended to find out whatever it was.

Back at Amaya's desk, she tried to focus on her screen. The emails, schdules and tasks at hand.

But her fingers paused over the keyboard. Her mind replaying one thing.

You shouldn't have.

She swallowed, subtly glancing across the office like she was being watched. Obviously, Daniel was gone. But the feeling he left behind wasn't.

For the first time since she got the job, Amaya clearly realized something. She needs to keep her guards up for whatever challenge it was.

The first at the company was hectic but went well anyway. Amaya faced weird encounters but stayed calm. By the second day, Amaya had settled into her routine. They were simple; Wake up, A quick breakfast, Head to the Bus station, Observe, and Work. The repeats everything again.

Though it wasn't perfect, it was enough to keep her grounded.

As usual, Amaya ushered herself into the morning. stood in her small kitchen, flipping a piece of bread in a pan. While her phone played soft music in the background. The warm and familiar smell of butter filled the space. Just the way she liked it.

Beside the counter, her notebook sat open, fillee with scribbled reminders: Reply to internal emails, learn filing system, and Ask about weekly reports.

On an impulse, she added one more. Stay out of trouble. A gentle reminder to keep her peace of mind.

Amaya paused after writing, staring at the words. "...Yeah," she muttered. But if only it were that easy.

.

.

.

In the next Thirty minutes, Amaya found herself walking through the doors of the company. But today, the office felt slightly less overwhelming.

She greeted the receptionist with a small nod as she strolled by, making her way up to her floor.

"Morning," Maya said, already at her desk asshe saw Amaya walking in.

"Morning." Amaya responded, now at her desk.

"Survived day one. That's impressive."

Amaya faintly smiled. "Barely."

Maya leaned back in her chair. "Just give it a week. I tell you, 'll start judging everyone else instead."

"I doubt that, though." Amaya said, setting her bag down as she organized her desk.

"Just wait." Maya answered, not ready to back down.

Amaya shrugged, a smile plastered on her face as she sat in her chain. Now facing her desktop as well as Maya.

Steadily, they got into work. First, organizing mails. To documents to sorting, then transferring calls. They were nothing complicated but required lots of attention.

In it all, Amaya found herself settling into it faster than she expected. It was just perfect for someone like her who liked structure. She liked knowing what comes next, as it keeps her thoughts from wandering.

Just until a voice interrupted. "Ms. Bennett."

Her shoulders instinctively tensed. She didn't need to look up to know who it was. But did anyway.

And truthfully, her intuition wasn't wrong. Daniel Reed stood beside her desk, polished and calm.

Watching her like it was his job.

"Mr. Reed," she said, keeping her tone professional.

He placed a file on her desk. "I need this delivered to the archives. Basement level."

Amaya glanced at it. "I can do that."

"Good." He nodded, but didn't leave immediately. He just stood there like he was... waiting for her to set off.

"Anything else?" she asked.

He smiled faintly. "No. That will be all." And with that, he finally walked away.

Once he was gone, Amaya slowly exhaled.Maya on the other hand, leaned over immediately. "Why does he keep coming to you?"

"I don't know," Amaya admitted, clearly confused as much as her coworker.

Maya frowned. "Just... be careful, okay? That's all I can say." Amaya nodded, but didn't ask why.

Because something told her she already knew the answer. Without hesitation, she jerked to her full length and headed for to get her assigned task done.

~~~

The basement level was colder and quieter than the rest of the building in Blooms Global. And hardly had visiting it. Especially the old staffs.

Amaya stepped out of the elevator, the soft hum of machinery echoing faintly in the distance. The rows of storage shelves lined the space. Filled with labeled boxes and old files. It was practically empty.

Her grip on the folder slightly tightened, as she carefully strolled in. Clearly on edge.

"Archives," she murmured, scanning the signs. "This way." She told herself.

Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she walked deeper inside. The air felt differently still. Like it was stagnant.

Amaya slowed as a strange feeling crept over her. Like she wasn't alone. lnstictively, she turned, but was met silence. Just the neatly arranged rows of shelves.

"...You're overthinking again," she whispered.

In that moment, found the correct section . Slightly, she crouched, pulling out a box to place the file inside. Her fingers brushed the cold metal edge of the shelf.

She slid the file in, and stood, about to leave. That's when she heard it. A faint sound from behind her. Deftly, Amaya turned but it was too late.

The heavy metal rack beside her suddenly tilted. Coming towards her in a fast speed.Her eyes widened. "Oh-!"

The world seem snap into motion as a hand quickly grabbed her arm. And pulled her back. In that instant, the rack crashed down where she had been standing just seconds before.

The loud and violent sound echoed through the entire basement. Amaya's heart slammed against her ribs as she stumbled backward, straight into someone's chest. Her breath caught.

For a second, she didn't move nor think. She just felt his firm and steady grip around her arm.

"...Watch where you stand." The voice came low and controlled.

Amaya froze, slowly turning towards him. She came face-to-face with him. And it was no other Lucien Blues. Up close, he was worse. Not too intimidating in a loud way. And niether aggressive.

Just still and sharp, like nothing escapes him.

Her breath hitched. "I-I didn't-" she started, already trying to release herself from his grip. But he didn't let her.

"You didn't check your surroundings," he cut in calmly. Not harsh or direct.

Amaya swallowed. "I was just-"

"Distracted." He concluded.

She faintly nodded. "...Yes."

His gaze held hers for a second longer, then finally released her. The loss of contact felt immediate and noticeable.

Aria stepped back slightly, steadying herself. "Thank you," she said.

But he didn't respond right away. Instead, his eyes shifted briefly to the fallen rack. Then back to her. His gaze calculative and assessing. She noticed mething unreadable flickered in his expression.

"Report this," he finally said. "And don't come down here alone again." He ordered, his tone clearly not a suggestion.

Amaya nodded. "Okay."

And that was enough to make the air between them, tight. Neither of them moved. Just the, footsteps echoed from the far end, approaching towards them.

"Sir?" Lucien's assistant called as he sighted them.

But Lucien didn't immediately look away from Amaya. And when he finally did, the moment broke.

"Handle it," he said, already turning away. And within a blink of an eye, he was gone. Just like that.

Amaya stood still, staring at the space he had just occupied. Her heart still racing from the impact of the moment, not just the accident. But something else. The one thing she couldn't explain.

Unbeknownst to her, someone stood in the silence, watching from behind a row of shelves. His expression darkened, cold and unimpressed.

"...Unfortunate," he murmured.

Because whatever happened, hadn't been an accident.

Back upstairs, Maya rushed over the moment Amaya returned. "What happened? We heard something crash!"

Amaya slowly exhaled . "A rack fell."

"Are you okay?!" Maya snapped.

"I'm fine."

"Thank God." She added.

But that wasn't all. Amaya had the urge to say more but hesitated. Unfortunately she wasn't one to keep things for herself.

"The CEO was there." She muttered

Maya's eyes widened. "What?!"

"He... pulled me out of the way." She whispered.

"Okay, that's not normal."

"I figured so." Amaya agreed.

Maya leaned closer. "He doesn't just show up in places like that."

Amaya slightly frowned."...Then why was he there?" She said, almost to herself.

Meanwhile, Lucien stood by his window again. But his mind wasn't on the city this time. It was on the basement. The timing, placement and intent. He was so sure that rack didn't fall by accident. It was made to fall.

His jaw tightened "Daniel Reed," he said to herself. But this time, there was no doubt.