~Lina~
I poured two coffees like I was on autopilot and slid one across the counter to Tessa.
"So… I need advice for a friend," I started, voice low.
Tessa raised an eyebrow. "Your 'friend' always has the best drama."
I laughed, too thin. "She slept with her boss once, drunk, months ago. Then last week she accidentally found out he's hiding something huge. Like, life-ruining huge. The kind of secret that would destroy him if it ever got out."
Tessa's eyes narrowed. "How huge?"
"Big enough that people would make him disappear. Or dissect him. Or both." I stared into my cup. "She's the only one who knows. And he knows she knows."
Tessa didn't even blink. "Tell your friend to ghost him. Immediately. Block, delete, move cities if she has to. Quit tomorrow, no notice, no exit interview. If he's that dangerous, staying in the same building is suicide."
I nodded slowly, like I was taking it in. "Wait girl what?!"
She squinted her eyes looking at me.
"Lina, is it you again?! What did you find about him this time?!"
"Girl just cuz I slept with this one doesn't mean no one else can."
"Okayyyy." she slightly nodded but I know she didn't freaking believe me.
Tessa squeezed my wrist. "She'll be okay. Just get her out."
I smiled, small and tired. "Thanks, Tess."
* Kael's office, 5:47 p.m. same day*
The intercom on my desk crackled. His voice, low and furious.
" Chen!. My office. Now."
No please. No extension number. Just the order.
I took the stairs down one floor, walked the long way past accounting so half the department saw me heading to the guillotine.
When I stepped inside, he shut the door himself. Locked it. The click sounded final.
He didn't sit. Just stood there, tie loosened, sleeves rolled, eyes glowing that toxic green he couldn't quite kill.
"You've been avoiding me for nine days," he said, voice barely above a growl.
I folded my arms, kept three metres of carpet between us. "You told me to pretend nothing happened. I'm pretending."
"Don't play cute." He took one step. "You're taking the stairs. You're routing everything through Tessa. You won't even look at me."
I met his eyes for the first time in over a week. Held it exactly two seconds, then dropped my gaze to the floor like he was the sun and I was scared of going blind.
"I'm doing what any smart person would do," I said quietly. "Staying alive."
His jaw flexed. "I fixed the workloads."
"Congratulations."
Another step. "Talk to me."
"No."
"Lina…"
"I'm here because you summoned me," I cut in, voice flat. "Say what you need to say, Mr Wu. Then I'll go back to pretending you don't exist. It's safer for both of us."
The green flared so bright it lit the walls. His hands curled like he wanted to punch through the desk.
I didn't flinch. I just waited.
And then he stood up and kept walking towards me.