Auren was completely focused on her work. The project Kael had assigned her demanded absolute concentration. Her slender fingers flew over the keyboard, her eyes glued to the documents, line after line, paragraph after paragraph. She drew up diagrams, made corrections, set priorities. Everything had to be flawless. There was simply no time for a break—and she hadn't even noticed how the office had slowly emptied. Lunchtime had passed her by.
Kael, meanwhile, tried to immerse himself in his own tasks. He dove into reports, sorted through paperwork, signed off on decisions—doing everything he could to keep the morning's irritation from resurfacing. Work had always been his anchor. But even that couldn't drown out the growing sense of hunger. He glanced at the clock—lunch should have started a while ago.
On his way to the cafeteria, he glanced in her direction—and stopped. Auren was still sitting there, bent over her papers in deep concentration. Her lips were lightly pressed together, her dark eyes racing over the text. She didn't seem to notice the office was empty.
Kael frowned. Had she not eaten?
He walked closer and leaned his hands on the edge of her desk, slightly bending forward.
"Are you planning to eat at all?" His voice was low, with a metallic edge that held more concern than he would've liked to admit.
Auren flinched, as if surfacing from deep water, and looked up.
"What?... Oh. Yeah… I just wanted to finish this section," she muttered, rubbing her temples.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"The section can wait. Get up. We're going to lunch."
She blinked, as if not quite understanding what he meant.
"We?"
"Yes, we," he said shortly, folding his arms across his chest. His posture and tone left no room for argument. "You can't work on an empty stomach."
Auren opened her mouth to protest, but caught his gaze—firm, sharp, uncompromising. There was more than an order in his eyes. There was something personal, something unspoken.
She sighed quietly and nodded.
"Alright, boss. Whatever you say."
Without another word, Kael turned and headed toward the cafeteria. Auren followed him, feeling the strange weight of the moment settle over her. What was that? Concern or another attempt to assert control?
But more importantly—why did it suddenly feel so warm inside?
***
Auren sat across from Kael, trying to focus on her food, but she could feel dozens of eyes on her. The entire cafeteria seemed to be holding its breath. Conversations died down whenever someone passed by their table, only to pick up again with double the intensity once they were at a safe distance.
Kael noticed. He ate calmly, though the corner of his mouth twitched into an irritated smirk for a moment.
"They're watching us like we're some kind of show," Auren said, pretending not to care, though she subtly ran her fingers through her hair as if checking if everything was in place.
Kael slowly lifted his gaze to her, then glanced around the room. A few employees, caught under his stare, quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in their meals.
"Get used to it," he said indifferently, taking another sip of his coffee.
Auren raised an eyebrow.
"Get used to what? That we're now the hottest topic of conversation?"
He set his cup down on the tray and leaned back lazily in his chair.
"Working next to me means always being in the spotlight."
Auren rolled her eyes and went back to her meal.
"God, your ego."
"It's not ego," he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice, "it's a fact."
His low, slightly mocking tone sent a shiver down her spine, but Auren quickly pulled herself together.
"Well, I can only hope your star power doesn't blind me," she said sarcastically, popping a piece of food into her mouth.
Kael smirked.
"Careful not to burn yourself—you're already playing with fire."
Auren didn't reply, but her heart skipped a beat.
The Reason for the Attention
Auren had assumed that all the attention was focused on Kael. After all, he was the director—known for his strong personality and strict standards. But the longer she felt the weight of those stares, the more she realized: they were aimed at her.
The women exchanged displeased glances, their eyes trailing judgmentally over her figure. The men, on the other hand, looked at her differently—some with admiration, others with open interest, and a few with a hint of mockery, as if trying to figure out what was so special about the new girl that had caught Kael's eye.
Auren pretended not to notice but tensed inwardly. It was only her second day here, and she was already the subject of gossip.
"What?" Kael's voice suddenly broke the silence.
She looked up and saw him watching her—lazily, but attentively.
"You look like you're ready to run away."
"To be honest, I am," Auren admitted, gripping her fork slightly tighter. "I don't like being stared at like this."
Kael's gaze swept across the cafeteria, instantly grasping what she meant. He smirked, but there was a flicker of something strange in his eyes—an irritation that wasn't there before.
"Get used to it," he repeated in the same calm tone.
Auren scoffed.
"You keep saying that. But what if I don't want to get used to it?"
Kael set down his cup and leaned a little closer.
"Too late. You're too beautiful to go unnoticed."
She blinked, startled, staring at him in confusion. But Kael had already looked away, as if he hadn't said anything unusual.
All Eyes on Her
When Auren stood up from the table, it felt as though a wave of attention rose with her. The entire cafeteria seemed to shift—every gaze that she thought was meant for Kael now locked directly onto her.
A chill ran down her spine.
Women glanced at her with veiled jealousy and quiet judgment, eyeing her from head to toe. The men, by contrast, looked at her openly—some with smirks, clearly amused by her discomfort.
Auren adjusted her clothes and swallowed nervously.
But it became truly clear when Kael stood up behind her. If the attention had only been about him, people would have glanced and then gone back to their meals. But they didn't look away. They kept watching—her.
Kael silently observed as every eye in the room remained fixed on Auren. He saw the expressions—jealous, sizing her up, mocking. It was as if the whole room was trying to assess whether she was worthy of standing beside him.
His jaw clenched slightly.
Without a word, he stepped a little closer to Auren, closing the space between them. It was a subtle movement, but obvious enough for those around to catch the signal. She was now in his shadow—under his silent protection.
A few of the men who had been staring a bit too openly quickly averted their eyes. The women continued whispering, but more cautiously now.
"Let's go," he said curtly, his voice firm—almost a command.
Auren nodded, still feeling the weight of the stares, but somehow... it felt a little easier to bear.
Why? She didn't know.
But with him next to her, the attention didn't feel quite as overwhelming anymore.
***
Three Days Later
Three days flew by in the blink of an eye. But for Auren, they felt like a true trial. She threw herself into her work with such intensity that it seemed she had fused with her desk. From morning till night, without rest, she focused entirely on the task Kael had given her.
Every morning, she arrived at the office earlier than everyone else and left only when the city was already wrapped in a misty night haze. On her desk, stacks of documents piled up like living creatures. Her laptop screen rarely went dark—its glow was her constant companion, while cups of coffee replaced each other as if trying to keep pace with her tireless efforts.
She dove into marketing strategies, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, hunting for the tiniest details that could make all the difference. She didn't overlook the competitors either. Sometimes she got so absorbed that she forgot to eat, only absentmindedly sipping cold coffee as she continued to study the data.
Her colleagues watched her. Some with admiration, others with envy. No one had expected the newcomer everyone gossiped about to be so driven. But she ignored them, focused solely on her goal.
In the evenings, returning home, she could feel her body resisting the exhaustion. Throbbing temples, tense muscles... And yet, even when she lay in bed, thoughts of the project wouldn't leave her alone. They circled in her mind, refusing to give her a moment's peace.
On the third day, as the deadline approached, she gave one final look at the last page and let out a heavy sigh. It was done. She had finished. Only one thing remained—presenting the results to Kael.
She gripped the project folder tightly, her fingers feeling every page within, and with a quiet sense of pride, headed toward the director's office. Each step echoed in her chest with quiet anticipation—the tension of the past three days building to a peak. She took a deep breath before knocking on the heavy door.
"Come in," came the deep voice.
Auren pushed open the door and stepped inside. Kael was seated behind his desk, leaning back in his chair, his eyes fixed on his laptop screen. But the moment she approached, he lazily lifted his gaze. For a few seconds, he silently observed her, then his eyes shifted to the folder in her hands.
"Already?" The surprise in his voice was genuine, unguarded.
Auren lifted her chin and, with a faint smile, placed the folder on his desk.
"Did you doubt me?"
Kael raised an eyebrow and slowly reached for the folder, never taking his eyes off her. She held his gaze, feeling his eyes scanning her face, trying to decipher the confidence she exuded.
The office fell into silence. Kael flipped through the pages slowly, as if in no rush, his fingers lazily brushing the corners of the paper. Auren, unable to look away from his face, watched closely for a reaction. His brows occasionally rose, his lips pressed together slightly—but his expression remained unreadable.
When he finally closed the folder, the silence lingered for a few more seconds. He leaned back in his chair and, folding his fingers together, looked at her.
"I'll admit, I'm impressed."
A warm wave passed through Auren's body. He rarely gave compliments, so those words meant more than she had expected. Still, she didn't allow herself to show any joy. She wasn't about to reveal a weakness.
"Did you expect anything less?"
Kael thoughtfully ran his tongue across his teeth, his gaze sharpening.
"I expected you'd at least ask for help. Or complain that the task was too difficult."
"You underestimated me," she said, her voice firm, with a faint hint of challenge.
Kael looked at her intently, then suddenly leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk. Their faces were now separated by only a few inches.
"Looks like I'll have to revise my expectations," his voice dropped—lower, richer, like he had allowed himself to relax. "Apparently, yes."
Auren didn't look away, even though his closeness made her heartbeat quicken. She smiled faintly, narrowing her eyes.
"In that case, I hope the next task will actually be difficult."
Kael smirked, his gaze turning lazy and appraising.
"Oh, don't worry. I'll make sure to come up with something that'll keep you in my office a little longer."
Auren raised a brow, crossing her arms.
"Then you'd better try harder, boss."
Something dangerous flickered in his eyes, but instead of replying, he leaned in just a little more. She caught a subtle whiff of his cologne—something that lingered in the air long after.
"You're dismissed," he said with a grin. "For now."
Auren chuckled, spun on her heel, and walked to the door. Just as her hand reached for the handle, his voice stopped her.
"Auren."
She turned. Kael was watching her closely, with that same half-smile no one could ever quite figure out.
"Good work."
Her breath caught for a second. She nodded, slipped out of the office, and closed the door behind her.
Only once she was back in her room did she finally allow herself to smile.
Auren left Kael's office with a faint smile on her lips. Her heart was still beating a little faster than usual, and his words of praise echoed in her mind. She had done it. She hadn't just completed the task—she had exceeded his expectations.
With pride, she headed back to her desk, feeling a warm glow inside. This moment was her small victory, the result of hard work that had finally earned her real recognition.
Sitting down at her desk, Auren ran her palms over the surface, almost as if trying to remember the feeling— the feeling when all your efforts finally pay off. For the first time since she had joined the company, she felt like she could make it. She could succeed here, despite all the challenges.
But those happy thoughts vanished as soon as Kael's office door opened again.
Auren looked up and met the eyes of two marketing department employees who were studying her closely. There was no friendliness in their gaze—only skepticism and hidden mockery.
"Auren, right?" the man asked, his voice almost indifferent, but his expression revealed more.
Everything inside her tensed. The joy left her, replaced by a sense of caution.
She didn't yet know what exactly they were going to say, but by their looks, she could already tell it wasn't going to be anything good.
"Yes, that's right," Auren answered calmly, straightening in her chair.
The man exchanged glances with his colleague, who, crossing her arms over her chest, smirked.
"We've been told you're quite... a promising employee," she said, her voice dripping with mockery.
"Especially considering you've only been here a few days, and you've already managed to catch the director's attention," the man added, tilting his head slightly.
Auren clenched her fingers around the armrest of her chair but didn't let any irritation show on her face. She knew rumors spread quickly in companies, but she hadn't expected them to take this form.
"Get to the point," she said evenly.
"Of course, of course," the man nodded, not hiding his smirk. "You see, we have an urgent project. Very important. We need a marketing campaign strategy prepared and presented to the investors."
The woman next to him leaned in a little closer, her gaze cold and assessing.
"We thought, since you got into the company so quickly, you should prove you're not just here for show."
Auren pressed her lips together. She understood that this wasn't just a task—it was a kind of test. They were trying to put her in a difficult position, to see if she could handle it. Or, more likely, they hoped she would fail.
"When's the deadline?" she asked in a steady voice, not letting them see her doubts.
"Friday. The presentation to the investors is at ten in the morning," the man lazily checked his watch. "So you don't have much time."
Auren narrowed her eyes. Today was Wednesday. Two days. They clearly didn't expect her to succeed.
"Alright," she took the folder they handed her and added firmly, "I'll manage."
The man smirked, his gaze filled with discontent and a hint of irony.
"Well, we'll see."
When they left, Auren stood for a few seconds, staring at the closed door. Then, taking a deep breath, she opened the folder and began reading.
She couldn't afford to lose.
Auren focused intently on the documents, her fingers seemingly moving on their own as she read through each section of the strategy. Time passed unnoticed. She was so absorbed in her work that she didn't immediately hear the door to her office creak open.
"Is Kael in?" a voice asked.
Auren looked up and met the gaze of a man standing in the doorway. She didn't know him personally, but his confident posture and manner told her immediately—this was no ordinary colleague.
The man was impeccably dressed: a dark gray suit fit him perfectly, and a silver bracelet on his wrist caught the light, adding to his elegance. His face—sharp features, a high forehead, a neat nose, and expressive lips—gave him an attractive and charismatic presence. However, it was his eyes… Dark, slightly narrowed, with a mocking glint, as if he could see more in people than they wanted to show.
"Yes, he's in," Auren answered, setting the papers aside.
The man didn't rush to leave. He tilted his head slightly, giving her a measuring look. His gaze swept over her face, her long lashes, neatly styled hair, then moved lower, lingering on her neat yet figure-flattering outfit. The look wasn't crude or provocative, but there was an underlying awareness in it.
"Now I understand why the office is buzzing," he said almost quietly, but Auren caught every word.
"Excuse me?" she frowned, slightly thrown off.
"Nothing," he smirked, raising his hand in a light gesture. "Just thinking out loud."
With that, he turned and walked toward Kael's office. But just as he grabbed the door handle, he tossed over his shoulder:
"By the way, if anyone starts talking nonsense, don't waste your energy on it. People here love to gossip, even when they don't know the truth."
Auren furrowed her brow even more but didn't say anything. The man disappeared behind the door to Kael's office, and soon, their conversation began.
Kael leaned back in his chair, closing the folder with documents. He was about to take a small break when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," he called, not taking his eyes off the screen.
The door opened, and Diego—one of the few people Kael trusted not only as a colleague but also as a friend—entered. Outside of work, they could drink together and discuss personal matters, but within the company, they kept it official.
"Got a minute?" Diego asked, closing the door behind him.
"Go ahead," Kael nodded, gesturing for him to sit.
Diego sat down, hesitating for a moment as if choosing his words.
"Are you aware that people have been talking about your secretary for the past few days?"
Kael slowly raised his gaze to his friend.
"About Auren?" His voice was even, but there was a barely noticeable tension in it.
"About her, specifically," Diego confirmed, crossing his arms over his chest. "They're saying she's not here on merit, but because you like her. That she got the job through the bed."
Kael straightened abruptly, his eyes turning cold as ice.
"What?"
"I thought it was nonsense too, but rumors spread fast. Especially after that time you made her have lunch with you," Diego chuckled, shaking his head. "Now everyone's convinced that you're not just attached to her."
Kael clenched his jaw, his fingers instinctively balling into fists.
"Who's spreading this?"
"I don't know for sure, but I'm certain it's from marketing. They clearly don't like that she's been given the project."
Kael ran his tongue across the inside of his cheek, suppressing the urge to curse. He knew exactly how the office environment worked—if someone stood out, envy spread quickly.
"Does Auren know?"
"Not yet, but I think she will soon."
Kael was silent for a moment, then stood up sharply, heading toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Diego raised an eyebrow.
"To deal with it."
The door to Kael's office flew open with such force that it slammed against the wall. Auren flinched, turning toward the noise, and saw him—Kael, grim and tense, his eyes filled with anger. He looked as if he were about to explode at the slightest wrong word.
"Kael..." she began, but didn't have time to continue.
He didn't even look at her. Without slowing his steps, he crossed her office, as if ignoring her presence, and forcefully pushed open the door, walking into the hallway.
Auren blinked in shock, watching his back. What had just happened?
A few seconds later, Diego emerged behind him. He looked calmer, but there was still uncertainty in his eyes. He paused for a moment in the doorway, biting his lip, as if thinking something over.
Auren opened her mouth, about to ask what was going on, but he beat her to it:
"Forget it."
She frowned.
"Forget what…?"
But Diego had already turned and left, leaving her completely bewildered.