When they finally stopped in front of her apartment building, Isabelle reached for the handle almost immediately.
"Thank you for the ride," she said quickly, already opening the door.
Elias only inclined his head. "You're welcome, Ms Han."
She stepped out, clutching her bag tighter than necessary, and started moving toward the entrance of the apartment. But halfway there, she stopped.
Something made her stop, and it wasn't because he had forgotten something all of a sudden; it was because she felt a sharp and beast-like gaze on her.
She turned her head.
Elias was still in the car, but his eyes were fixed on her, glowing faintly in the dark.
When he noticed her looking, he gave a small, polite nod, but did not drive off yet. It was as if he was waiting to make sure she got in safely.
With the way she rushed out of the car, he was certain she wouldn't let him walk her up to her door, so this was the most he could do.
Isabelle stood there for a few seconds, letting the cool air brush against her skin.
He was such a weird man, she assumed, and then turned to head in.
The moment she got into her apartment, she flung her bag, kicked off her heels, and then went straight to the room to drop her tired body on the bed.
The moment her body hit the bed, exhaustion washed over her. But her mind refused to rest.
She thought about Elias Yoon.
Not in the 'I can't sleep because I keep thinking of him' lover girl way, but in the suspenseful and disturbed manner.
She had signed the contract, so there was no other way to think this situation through, but even then... Why was he so strange around her?
She might've liked it better if he had stayed cold and didn't try to act understanding and ask questions.
That was...
She turned onto her side, staring blankly at the ceiling.
...she could keep hating him without any issues.
For a man who claimed to feel nothing, Elias Yoon had a way of making her feel too much.
She shut her eyes, telling herself she was only overthinking.
Still, her chest felt strangely tight.
And even as she drifted toward sleep, Isabelle could still smell that faint trace of cedarwood and amber — a reminder of how close he'd been in the car, and how dangerously close he still was in her thoughts, regardless of what he was doing there.
"Let's just sleep."
The next morning, after everyone had settled for the morning meeting, Isabelle briefed the planning team on the agenda for that week.
In the meeting, sitting at the end was Elias Yoon, listening attentively to Isabelle as she briefed them.
He was impressed, actually.
He did help her finish things up while she was asleep but to think she would come to work so early and make copies of the agenda and prepare for the meeting as well... She was exceptional.
And despite all of that, there was not the slightest hint of tiredness on her face.
It was as if her bones and flesh had been forged in 'corporate' steel.
"That'll be all," she said, picking up the stack of documents she had on a stool. "I don't want to take more of your time so I hope you all do your best today as well."
Her encouragement, though plain and accompanied by a faint smile, went a long way for the employees in the meeting.
She was a role model they thought was exceptional and a great leader.
So hearing her words and seeing her determination fueled their passion to do even better, even after a mistake.
"Ms Han," Elias Yoon suddenly called as everyone started making their move out of the meeting room.
This, of course, catches the attention of the employees and they wonder if something is going on with those two.
Sure, it seems like they're always at war and they fight over project approval and disapproval, but the fact that both of them often stay back, pulling night shifts alone, sparks a level of curiosity.
'Could this be the popular trope of enemies to lovers?'
After all, it always starts with a spice of hatred and betrayal, and then softens into something intricate.
They share things in common, notice little details, and...
"Why are you still standing there?" Isabelle asked the employees who were stuck at the entrance, as if ready to watch a scene they just couldn't miss.
But as she sent a sharp gaze at them, they realized they were about to get in trouble and quickly scurried off.
But this only confirmed something for them.
Their strict and ever-hardworking A.M was going to have a turnaround in her life.
Among those anticipating individuals was Mira Bae.
'Go for it, Ms. Han. You've got this.'
Once they were gone, Isabelle sighed and then turned to Elias Yoon.
"Did you get to sleep on time?" He asked.
"What does that have to do with you?"
In that moment, Mira Bae walked in, planning to pick up the file she had left when Elias responded,
"Probably because I might've kept you up."
She nearly gasped, but quietly made her way back the way she came.
Outside, she giggled, feeling she might've just heard something she shouldn't have.
Elias sensed someone but Isabelle didn't.
That was such a misleading statement, but it's not like he said that with the intention of making whoever was at the door misunderstand.
It was a coincidence. An amusing one.
"Did you think over the information I fed you till late?" He got up from his chair and began to walk toward her.
"Yes, I did. But it was not enough to keep me up the entire night." She answered, feeling a slight sense of discomfort but ignored it. "Why? Did you think the thought of you would make me sleepless?"
"Perhaps," he answered shortly and she scowled.
Why was he suddenly acting so... Flirtatious?
Maybe it was just her thinking, but the way he gazed at her and the softness that wrapped around his supposedly cold and direct words made her feel strange.
"What are you doing?" She suddenly asked and he paused, but then kept walking.
"What am I doing?" He asked and then stopped right in front of her, his figure towering over her and she looked up at him.
She wasn't going to be intimidated by his height, nor his aura. She had an aura of her own, after all.
"I'm just trying to soften the hate around your heart towards me,"