The alarm rang, and for once, Aurora heard it right away.
She got up, got dressed calmly — her usual white blouse, the long black skirt, one of her favorite work outfits.
In the kitchen, Mia was already pouring the coffee.
"Today's the day," she said, handing her the cup.
"What day?"
"The meeting with that author. The one from the book you've been reading all week."
Aurora took a sip of coffee. "Ah, right. That one."
They ate breakfast, the news playing quietly in the background.
"Do you know anything about him?" Mia asked, grabbing the keys.
"Nothing. Just the pen name."
---
They walked toward the studio at their usual pace, chatting about this and that.
"It's a good book," Aurora said. "I don't know if it'll become something huge, but it has potential."
"Marcus seemed pretty convinced."
"Marcus loves everything he reads on Tuesdays," Aurora laughed.
They walked into the studio, greeting the colleagues they passed in the hallway.
Richard was already in the meeting room, seated, a coffee in front of him, some documents spread across the table.
"Morning," he said, looking up.
"Morning," they answered together.
Aurora and Mia sat down.
"Do we know anything more about him?" Mia asked. "Besides the name?"
Richard shook his head. "Not much. I only know he's already turned down two publishing houses before meeting with us."
Aurora raised her eyebrows. "Two?"
"Two," Richard confirmed. "Which means he knows what he wants, and he doesn't sign with just anyone."
He paused, flipping through the documents in front of him.
"He's not the biggest name on the market. Not yet. But if this book keeps growing the way it has been, he could become one."
Aurora nodded, without adding anything else.
"Anyway," Richard said, glancing at the clock. "They should be arriving soon."
---
They were all gathered in the waiting area, near the executive offices.
Richard walked in, his stride purposeful, slipping his phone into his pocket the moment he crossed the threshold.
"You made it," he said to Marcus, with a nod. "Good."
Marcus nodded.
Aurora and Mia were already seated, waiting.
A few minutes passed.
Then, from the hallway, an assistant appeared.
"They're here," he said, leading two men toward them.
A murmur passed through the staff present — low voices, barely audible, glances exchanged between them.
Mia leaned slightly toward Aurora.
"God," she murmured, barely above a whisper.
The two men approached.
One in a dark suit, a step behind.
The other walked slightly ahead, dressed in black — shirt, trousers, elegant shoes, a long coat over his shoulders.
They stopped in front of the group.
Richard stepped forward and held out his hand.
"Pleasure. Richard Hale."
"Leon Steele."
They shook hands.
"You're the author. Leaving Void."
"Yes."
Leon turned to Marcus and held out his hand.
"Marcus."
"Pleasure."
Then his gaze shifted to Aurora.
It stayed on her for a second.
Maybe two.
Aurora felt her heart beating in a way she couldn't control.
"Leo—"
The word came out broken, unfinished, before she could stop it.
"Leon," he said, extending his hand to her.
Aurora shook it, her voice coming out lower than expected.
"Aurora."