Chapter 13: The Early Bird Gets the... Exhaust Fumes?
As Aika followed the twins down to the garage, her internal monologue was currently holding a protest rally in her skull.
Internal Monologue: Okay, so we're really doing this? No breakfast? No coffee? Just straight into the jaws of corporate greed? I bet Noel is the type to enjoy 'The Hunger Games.' He's definitely got a beef with me—I can feel the 'I-want-to-fire-you' vibes radiating off his suit like a bad Wi-Fi signal. But hey, it's a novel. Maybe offices in this world run on 24-hour cycles of suffering. Money really is everything, isn't it? Poor workers.
She dragged her feet, clutching her tote bag like a shield. She was busy imagining herself mopping floors and cleaning windows when they finally stepped into the expansive, underground garage.
Her eyes scanned the rows of luxury cars—sleek, black, and boring. Noel headed straight for a sedan that looked as stiff as his personality. But then, she saw it.
Tucked away in the corner was a metallic beast. A high-end sports bike, gleaming under the LED lights, looking like something straight out of a high-budget action movie.
Aika's breath hitched. Her eyes widened as she took in the carbon fiber and the precision engineering. For a science student, this wasn't just a bike; it was a masterpiece of physics.
"Wah..." The small, breathless sound escaped her before she could trap it. "So cool..."
Ren's observant eyes caught her reaction immediately. A lopsided, lanky grin spread across his face as he picked up a helmet. "You like it, Helena? Want to ride with me?"
Aika's heart did a little jump. Ride that? In real life? She was just about to nod when a cold, heavy voice crashed into the conversation.
"No. It's winter," Noel stated flatly, not even looking at them as he unlocked the sedan. "Don't be ridiculous, Ren. She's not getting on that thing in this temperature."
Ren rolled his eyes, sighing as he tossed the helmet back onto the seat. "Fine, fine. Chill out, Noel. You win." He turned to Aika with a wink. "Hop in the car instead, Helena. My brother clearly thinks you'll freeze into an ice sculpture before we hit the highway."
Aika climbed into the back seat, feeling the sudden warmth of the luxury car. Noel and Ren took the front, leaving her in the back. As the car pulled out, the silence was thick. Aika kept her gaze out the window, but she could feel Noel's eyes on her through the rearview mirror.
Internal Monologue: Why is he staring? ahh really pisses me off he is kind off boss type a person bro but its not helena i am aika i don't care about ur stares yup so don't care
Noel continued to watch her reflection, his jaw tight. He seemed to be waiting for her to complain or throw a fit like the "Old Helena" would have.
Ren, sensing the heavy vibe, turned around in his seat to look at her. "Hey, don't look so down."I'm meeting some friends at a private circuit tonight for a meet-up.. I'll be taking the bike then." He leaned closer, his voice dropping into that gentlemanly, observant tone. "You want to join me? I'll show you what it can really do."
Aika felt a jolt of genuine curiosity. A private circuit wahh really? but i really want to see That was a dream-list item for an otaku who spent her life behind a desk. She instinctively looked up at the rearview mirror and locked eyes with Noel. He was glaring at her with a look of pure warning.
Internal Monologue: its sucks but i am brave so i am not scared and as well do not need any permission and not even have to worried about father s question its novel and i can it the only first profit i can see being here
"Yeah," Aika said, her voice sounding much braver than she felt. She looked directly at Ren, ignoring the frozen atmosphere coming from the driver's seat. "I want to go. Why not? It's my choice, and I've always wanted to see a ride like that."
Ren's grin widened, looking back at her with genuine interest. "That's the spirit, Helena."
In the front, Noel's grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white, his eyes fixed on the road as if he wanted to drive right through it.
The car came to a smooth halt at the main entrance. Noel was out of the door before the engine had even fully settled, his movements sharp and efficient. He tossed his keys to the waiting security guard without a word, his fingers moving to button his charcoal coat as he headed straight for the glass doors.
Aika climbed out, followed by Ren. She looked up at the towering skyscraper, its glass skin reflecting the dim, grey light of the early morning.
Inside, the lobby was a cathedral of marble and silence. There were no bustling crowds, no ringing phones—just the distant, muffled hum of a vacuum cleaner and the occasional click of Noel's shoes against the floor.
Aika walked a few paces behind them, her head tilting as she looked at the rows of empty desks and the dark computer screens.
Internal Monologue: It's like a ghost town. A very expensive, very corporate ghost town. Are we the first people here? Do rich people have to turn on the lights themselves, or is there an app for that?
She leaned slightly toward Ren, her voice barely a whisper so it wouldn't echo off the high ceilings. "Hey..."
Ren slowed his pace, glancing down at her with a curious look. "Yeah?"
"Do you two... open the office?" she asked, her brow furrowed in genuine confusion. "I mean, why are we here this early? Is the building even awake?"
Ren caught the look on her face and let out a small, quiet chuckle, his expression softening into a smile. "Not quite. We have an incredibly important meeting later this morning. There's a mountain of data we need to double-check before the board arrives. That's the only reason we're here at this hour."
He noticed her tired eyes and added, "Don't worry, Helena. You won't have to do this regularly. It's just for today, okay?"
Aika nodded, her eyebrows lifting in realization.
Internal Monologue: Ah, the classic 'crunch time' before a big presentation. I guess even in a novel, being a CEO means you can't escape the terror of a data error. At least I'm not the only one losing sleep over spreadsheets.
She felt a tiny bit of relief. As long as this wasn't her new permanent schedule, she could handle being a "5:00 AM ghost" for a day. She adjusted her bag and followed them toward the private elevator bank, watching as Noel pressed the button for the top floor with an impatient tap.
The elevator doors hissed shut, sealing the three of them in a box of mirrored chrome and soft lighting. Aika leaned back against the cool wall, her eyes tracking the floor numbers as they climbed.
Internal Monologue: This is it. This is the glamorous life of a D'Arven. No breakfast, no sleep, and two robotic twins for company. My excitement for this 'internship' is officially flatlining. It's 5:15 AM and I feel like a piece of bread that's been left out in the sun—stale and empty. Is this what they do every day? Just wake up and be productive? It's unnatural. It's biologically offensive.
She glanced at Noel and Ren. Noel was staring at his phone, his thumb flicking across the screen with surgical precision. Ren looked a bit more human, but there was still a professional sharpness to him that made Aika feel like the only "real" person in the room.
Ding.
The doors slid open to the executive penthouse. They stepped out onto plush carpets that muffled their footsteps, heading toward a massive set of double glass doors.
As they walked in, Aika couldn't help but let her "Ice Queen" mask slip for a second. The office was massive—floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the city, which was just beginning to glow with the first hints of dawn. It wasn't just a workspace; it was a fortress. In the center sat several sleek, Italian leather sofas that looked soft enough to hibernate in.
Internal Monologue: Okay, credit where it's due. This office is nice. It's very... 'I own the skyline.' And those sofas... if I can just crawl onto one of those and pretend to be a decorative pillow for twenty minutes, I might survive.
Ren didn't miss the way her eyes lingered on the furniture. He headed straight for the largest sofa, tossing his coat onto a side table and sitting down with a relaxed, comfortable sigh. He patted the cushion next to him, looking up at Aika with an observant, gentle tilt of his head.
"You look like you're about to tip over, Helena," Ren said, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet room. "Sit down. We've got a few minutes before the data pull is ready."
Aika didn't need to be told twice. Her "practical survival" instinct overrode her social anxiety. She moved toward the sofa, her legs feeling heavier with every step
Noel didn't waste a single second. The moment he entered the office, he was at his desk. He flipped open his laptop, the blue light of the screen reflecting in his cold eyes as he began pulling up files. Ren, despite his relaxed attitude on the sofa a moment ago, stood up and joined him.
Soon, the room was filled with the low, rhythmic sounds of "Boss Mode." The clicking of keys, the soft scroll of a mouse, and the brothers speaking in hushed, technical tones about market shares and projections.
They completely forgot she was there. To them, she was just a shadow in the corner of the room.
Aika didn't mind. In fact, she preferred it. She sat on the edge of the leather sofa, her eyes wandering around the room.
Internal Monologue: Okay, they're busy. Great. I'll just sit here and... wait. Wow, the heating in here is efficient. It's like a warm hug. My internal temperature is stabilizing. Too stabilizing. My eyelids feel like they weigh ten pounds each. Just a rest... for five seconds... for science...
The warmth of the office acted like a sedative. Slowly, she leaned back, her bag slipping from her lap to the plush carpet. Her head tilted against the soft leather of the sofa. She tried to keep her eyes open, watching the back of the twins' heads, but the rhythmic clicking of their keyboards sounded like a lullaby.
Her breathing slowed. The stress of the "Aika vs. Helena" identity crisis, the hunger, and the lack of sleep finally won.
Aika fell fast asleep, curled up on the expensive designer sofa like a stray cat that had finally found a warm spot. She wasn't an heiress or an intern anymore—she was just a tired student who had reached her limit.
A sharp, rhythmic knock echoed through the room.
"Come in," Noel said, his voice cold and devoid of any morning grogginess.
The heavy glass doors swung open. Two people entered with the synchronized precision of elite soldiers. First was a woman with a sharp bob cut and sleek glasses, holding a tablet like a weapon—Noel's lead assistant. Behind her was a man in a perfectly tailored suit, carrying a stack of files for Ren.
"Good morning, Mr. D'Arven," the woman said, stepping toward Noel's desk. She didn't even look around the room; her focus was 100% on the data. Noel simply gave a curt nod, his hand reaching out for the tablet. "The pre-market analysis is ready. We've flagged three discrepancies in the logistics sector."
Meanwhile, Ren's assistant moved to the side of the desk, beginning a whispered briefing. The office was suddenly alive with the sounds of high-stakes business—the rustle of papers, the soft tapping of styluses, and the low, serious hum of professional voices.
However, Noel's assistant suddenly faltered. Her professional mask slipped for a fraction of a second, her eyes darting repeatedly toward the designer sofa in the corner of the room.
Noel noticed the break in her concentration. He followed her gaze, his brow furrowing as he looked toward the lounge area.
There, in the middle of the most expensive office in the city, sat the "Gilded Viper" of the D'Arven family. But she didn't look like a viper. Helena—no, Aika—was fast asleep. She had completely curled up on the leather sofa, her shoes kicked off to the side. Her legs were tucked in, and she was hugging her tote bag to her chest like a stuffed animal.
Her breathing was deep and peaceful, her messy, wind-blown hair fanned out against the cushion. In a room full of people acting like high-functioning robots, she was the only thing that looked human.
The assistants looked horrified. They expected Noel to explode. No one—no one—slept in front of the D'Arven twins.
Noel stared at her for a long beat. He looked at her bare feet, then at the way she was clinging to that cheap bag. The irritation he usually felt when looking at her was replaced by a strange, quiet confusion.
Internal Monologue (Noel): Is she serious? We have the most important merger of the quarter in three hours, and she's treating my office like a nap room? And why... why does she look so small?
Ren looked over as well, a small, genuine smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He leaned back, crossing his arms as he watched his brother's reaction.
"The data, sir?" the female assistant whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to bring Noel's attention back to the screen.
Noel didn't look away from the sofa. "Lower your voice," he said, his tone low and dangerously quiet.
The assistant blinked, stunned. "Sir?"
"I said lower your voice," Noel repeated, finally looking back at the tablet but his posture remained stiff. "Continue the briefing. Quietly."
Ren noticed Noel's hushed command to the assistant. He followed his brother's gaze to the sofa and felt a strange tug in his chest. Without a word, he stood up, grabbed his designer suit jacket, and walked over. He draped it carefully over Aika, tucking the edges around her so she was fully cocooned in his scent and warmth.
He returned to the desk, leaning in to whisper to his own assistant. "Keep it down. Let's finish the projections."
Time blurred. The only sounds in the room were the scratching of pens and the low, muffled hum of the four professionals working in the center of the room.
On the sofa, Aika shifted. In her mind, she was back in her tiny, cramped dorm room. She could smell the familiar scent of old textbooks and cheap coffee. She tried to roll onto her side to find a more comfortable position, but she miscalculated the width of the "bed."
Thud.
Her foot hit the wooden frame of the sofa, and the noise echoed like a gunshot in the quiet office.
Six pairs of eyes immediately snapped toward her.
Aika groaned, her hand reaching up to rub her eyes. Her brain was still in "Sleep Mode," stuck at about 10% battery. She sat up slowly, her hair a wild, static-charged mess, with the sleeve of Ren's jacket sliding off her shoulder.
She blinked, looking to the right. Then to the left.
Internal Monologue: Where... am I? This isn't my bed. My bed doesn't smell like expensive cologne and leather. Why is the ceiling so high? And why are there four people in suits staring at me like I'm a biological specimen?
She stared at Noel's assistant, then at Noel himself. Her pupils dilated as her "Data Processor" finally kicked in.
Internal Monologue: Oh. Right. The novel. The twins. The 5:00 AM death march. I'm at work. I fell asleep in the middle of a villain's office. Aika, you idiot! Your survival probability just dropped to zero!
She sat frozen for a beat, her hand still frozen mid-air near her messy hair, her mouth slightly open. She looked like a cat that had just been caught knocking a glass off a table.
"Are you finished with your 'research'?" Noel asked, his voice dry and echoing in the silent room. He didn't look angry, but his intense stare made Aika feel like she was under a microscope.
Ren, on the other hand, was holding back a laugh. "Morning, Helena. Sleep well?"
The moment Aika's brain "logged in" and realized she wasn't in her dorm, her eyes nearly popped out of her head. She saw the two assistants—professionals who looked like they hadn't blinked in three years—staring at her. She saw Noel, looking like a judge ready to pass a death sentence.
She scrambled to her feet so fast she almost tripped over the hem of Ren's jacket.
"I—I am so sorry!" she stammered, her face flushing a deep, hot red that reached the tips of her ears. She bowed her head low, her hands clutching her bag so tight her knuckles were white. "Please excuse my... my lack of professionalism. It won't happen again. I apologize sincerely!"
She stayed frozen in that half-bow, too embarrassed to even lift her head and make eye contact.
Internal Monologue: Aika, you absolute failure! You wanted to show them you were 'sturdy' and 'smart,' and instead, you just showed them you can sleep through a corporate merger! I should just dissolve into the carpet. Can I evaporate? Is there a chemical process for human evaporation? I'm so embarrassed I might actually spontaneously combust.
The female assistant with the bob cut looked stunned. She had never seen the D'Arven daughter apologize for anything, let alone look so genuinely flustered and small.
Noel leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowed as he watched her. He had expected her to wake up and demand coffee or complain about the noise. Seeing her this mortified—this human—was causing another error in his mental file of her.
"Sit up, Helena," Noel said, his voice dropping the harshness for a second, though it was still firm. "You're making the assistants uncomfortable with all that bowing."
"Right. Yes. Sorry," Aika whispered, finally straightening up but keeping her gaze fixed firmly on a very interesting speck of dust on the floor. She felt like a student who had been caught sleeping in the front row of a lecture.
Ren cleared his throat, trying to break the heavy tension. "Hey, it's fine. Like I said, it's 5:00 AM. Even the coffee machine is still groggy."
But Aika barely heard him. She was too busy scolding herself.
Internal Monologue: Control yourself. Get it together. You are an intern. You are a scientist. Scientists do not nap on leather sofas in front of CEOs. Bad Aika. Very bad.
The two assistants stiffened as Aika approached. To them, she wasn't just an intern; she was a D'Arven, a name that usually meant trouble. They greeted her with deep, formal bows, their voices synchronized. "Good morning, Miss Helena."
Aika, still flushed with embarrassment and her eyes slightly bloodshot from the sudden wake-up call, didn't act like a spoiled heiress. Instead, she gave them a polite, awkward nod back—a gesture so humble it made the assistants share a confused glance.
"Good morning," she muttered, standing beside them. She felt like a rumpled lab coat standing next to two perfectly ironed suits.
Noel stopped typing and looked at her. His eyes scanned her face, noting the redness in her eyes and the way she was still slightly swaying from the heavy sleep. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Yes," Aika replied instantly, pulling herself as straight as possible, though she still felt like her brain was lagging. "My systems are... fully operational. I am ready to function."
Noel didn't look convinced, but he turned to the room at large. He gestured to the woman with the bob cut. "This is Laila, my lead assistant."
Ren followed suit, gesturing to the man beside him. "And this is my guy, Kael."
Noel leaned back in his leather chair, crossing his arms. He looked at Aika with an unreadable expression—half-testing her, half-challenging her. The cold "Boss" energy was back in full force.
"So, basic logic," Noel said, his voice echoing in the quiet office. "You can't shadow both of us at once. Choose. Which office do you want to work in as an intern? Mine, or Ren's?"
The room went silent. Laila and Kael held their breath.