The morning sun sliced through the bakery window, promising a peaceful day for Angelica. However, her problem, very handsome but still a problem was standing in front of her.

"Good morning," Justin greeted, a touch too cheerfully for the early hour. He was flanked by two companions, a talkative man, and a statuesque woman. Angelica's senses, heightened by her Celestial heritage, detected something familiar in the woman – another Angel, perhaps. Unlike humans, Celestials possessed an innate ability to sense each other, a skill Angelica hadn't honed due to her unorthodox upbringing.

She forced a smile in return. "Good morning... sir. What would you like to order today?"

Justin, clearly aware of his charm, flashed a winning smile. "Two pistachio croissants, two vanilla buns, an espresso, a cappuccino, and an Irish coffee." His gaze lingered on her as he spoke, a tactic she recognized all too well. Silently, she cursed him under her breath.

Riku and Rika, ever-efficient, whisked the order away, placing it on the designated table. But Justin remained rooted in front of Angelica.

"Um, you can take a seat, sir," she prompted, slightly exasperated. "My assistants have already delivered your order."

"Justin," he corrected with a chuckle. "The pastries weren't for me, well, except the espresso. They're for my colleagues." He mirrored her forced smile. "Actually, I'm interested in something entirely different." His eyes rested on the robots. "Perhaps… a conversation with you?"

Angelica surveyed the bakery. Only three patrons occupied the remaining tables. With a sigh, she instructed her androids to handle things while she stepped aside. She prepared an espresso for Justin and a cappuccino for herself, settling into a corner booth across from him.

Justin, impeccably dressed in a navy suit accented with silver accessories that mirrored her own style, exuded an air of professionalism. He was undeniably handsome, but the perfect facade didn't fool her completely. She could sense a faint Celestial aura emanating from him, yet it felt… incomplete. Panic clawed at her. If she could sense his Celestial nature, could he sense hers as well? She felt her confidence faltering.

"Your bakery has a certain charm, I must admit," he began, his voice smooth like honey. "My assistant, Luccio, spoke highly of it."

"Luccio?" Her brows furrowed. "He's my executive assistant." He gestured towards the woman beside him. "This is Celestine, another member of my team. We work together closely."

"Our first encounter wasn't exactly pleasant," Justin conceded, "so I thought a fresh start might be beneficial."

Angelica's gaze flickered between them, her emotions in turmoil. While the idea of talking wasn't inherently bad, she couldn't ignore the sense of unease gnawing at her.

"I'm Angelica Chevalier, owner of Space Buns," she said, her voice cooler than intended. "These are my assistants, Riku and Rika. They're also family." His interest in the androids, veiled beneath a thin layer of business acumen, was difficult to ignore.

"Actually," he began, hesitating slightly. He decided it was best to omit his true identity, as CEO of a prominent tech company. His lie about the assistant role had already served its purpose. Angelica's obliviousness to his true standing was an advantage he intended to uphold. "I have a keen interest in technology, particularly AI development. Your androids are truly one of a kind."

Her arms crossed defensively. Given their extravagant attire, his claim felt somewhat incongruous. "Alright," she replied, maintaining a neutral tone, "let's just say I'm willing to believe it. Just for now"

His demeanor shifted, a hint of coldness replacing the earlier charm. This was likely his true nature, she realized. "Indeed," he agreed sharply. "However, I would appreciate the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of your robots, Angelica."

"I'm afraid you already know more about them than I do," she retorted quickly. "Technology isn't my forte."

"Fair enough," he conceded, yet refused to surrender. "Perhaps, at some point, you'd allow me to examine them more closely?"

"Absolutely not," she stated firmly, leaving no room for discussion.

"Not even a small glance?" He said sadly.

"No," she repeated, her voice unwavering.

His gaze narrowed. "You seem quite protective of your… associates."

Angelica sighed. "They are family," she declared, her voice filled with conviction. Justin was ready to talk more with her but Celestine approached them.

“Justin. I apologize for the interruption we have to go. Now” she said sharply, barely looking at Angelica. 

“We’ll finish the discussion the next time we meet, Angelica” The man stood up and left quickly together with his companions. 

The girl left out the breath she was holding, only now realizing how tense she was. 

“How are you feeling?” Riku approached her with a concern. 

“Tense…I don’t know, Riku” It was getting troublesome for her. Not only she has to hide the fact she saved him but what is worse, he gets interested in her robots, claiming that they’re unique. They were that’s true but it was because they were her family. 

“We’ll protect you” Rika walked toward them. She was always more confident than Riku “If they try something weird, we will protect you”. Angelica smiled at them.

 “I’m sorry for interrupting your little talk but we have a meeting with Alexander Beaumont in an hour” Celestine explained as they were approaching the office. The mere mention of the name sent a flicker of annoyance through Justin. It wasn't the business rivalry that irked him, although it played a part. It was Alexander himself – a man who embodied everything Justin despised about Celestials. He was all manufactured charm and performative benevolence, like a wolf in angelic sheep's clothing.

"Let's get this over with," Justin muttered, stepping into the elevator. The air crackled with a silent animosity as they ascended. Alexander, to Justin, personified everything wrong with the Celestial hierarchy – an arrogance veiled in saccharine smiles. For him, he was a Devil, not an Angel.

The metal doors of the elevator slid open, revealing the polished hallway. Luccio, hunched over his holographic tablet, murmured, "Alexander is already here. Early, as usual."

Justin grimaced. "Of course he is."

Two imposing Angel guards flanked the double doors to Alexander's office, their faces stoic and emotionless. Luccio, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, offered a nervous smile before heading toward his own desk. He wasn't part of this meeting. He was just a human, after all.

As Justin and Celestine entered the room, Luccio's gaze lingered on them. He, a human, worked alongside two Celestials – a rarity in this world where humans and Celestials existed in separate spheres. Unlike most Celestials, their CEO, Justin, treated everyone with respect, regardless of their lineage. This unwavering principle was what Luccio admired most about him.

A pang of sadness flickered through Luccio. Despite Alexander's claims of advocating for humans, his inner circle remained exclusively celestial. The world, as it often was, was still divided by an invisible barrier. Yet, within PAX, Luccio felt a sense of belonging, a small sanctuary in a world rife with prejudice.