The office buzzed with the hustle and bustle of people moving in and out, the peak of the afternoon rush setting in. Though office hours stretched until 6 p.m., by 3 p.m., Eve pushed back her chair and rose from her desk. With purposeful strides, she made her way to the large office at the end of the floor.

She stopped at the door, where the words Marketing Manager were emblazoned in bold letters, and knocked.

Inside, a middle-aged man glanced up from his work. The moment his eyes met hers, a smile spread across his face.

"Come in," he said as Eve pushed the door open and walked in. 

The scent of herbal tea hit Eve the moment she stepped into the office. Everyone knew the manager swore by his tea—he believed it would help him live longer.

"Yes? What is it?" he asked, rising from his chair.

Eve frowned slightly. There was no need for him to stand just to greet her.

She settled into the chair across from his desk. "Sir, I need to leave early today," she said carefully, watching his reaction. He was an unpredictable man, ruled by his moods.

To her surprise, he simply smiled. "Oh, love, is that even worth worrying about? You can leave whenever you like."

Eve blinked. That was... unexpected. He had always granted her requests, but there was usually a certain look in his eyes—a look she understood all too well. A look that was missing today.

She had long suspected he harbored inappropriate thoughts about her, though he had never acted on them. Instead, he indulged her requests as if trying to impress her. But today, his approval came too easily, too respectfully.

"I've already finished all my work," she clarified, testing the waters.

"Oh, why stress over that?" He waved a dismissive hand toward the bustling office beyond. "I'm sure someone out there would be delighted to pick up the slack for you."

Then it hit her.

He had heard the rumors.

He thought she had some kind of connection with Adrian Voss, the big boss himself.

A laugh almost escaped her. How ridiculous. His eagerness to curry favor was almost comical.

Still… in a cutthroat world like this, a little preferential treatment wasn't the worst thing. A small smile played at her lips as she stood.

"Thank you, sir," she said before leaving the office.

She walked to her desk, reaching for her bag when Lena appeared beside her, curiosity brimming in her eyes.

"Are you leaving early today?" Lena asked, her voice laced with intrigue.

"Yes, darling, I am," Eve replied, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"Why?" Lena's tone was scandalous, making Eve roll her eyes.

"Stop spinning fanfictions in that pretty little head of yours," she teased, flicking Lena's forehead with a smirk.

Lena pouted but perked up at Eve's next words. "I have to take Leo to the psychologist today."

Instantly, Lena's playful expression vanished. Her concern was genuine—after all, she had watched the boy grow up over the past six years, ever since he started coming to the office after school.

"Why? Didn't you stop going to the psychologist two years ago? Did something happen to Leo?" she asked, her voice rising with worry.

Eve shook her head. "Nothing serious. I'll catch you up tomorrow." She glanced at her watch. "I'm running late."

"Alright, go, go. I won't keep you," Lena said, giving her a light push toward the elevator.

She stepped into the elevator and waited as the numbers on the screen changed. A soft ding signaled her arrival, and the doors slid open. She stepped out onto the ground floor.

Just as she scanned her surroundings, she spotted Leo entering the building, his usual expression calm and unbothered.

She walked toward him and stopped in front of him. He looked up as she pulled him into a hug. His head barely reached above her breast—he had always been shorter than the other boys his age.

"How was your day, love?" she asked, finally letting go.

Leo only nodded in response.

His skin always carried a faint pinkish hue, making it hard to tell what he was feeling. Was he embarrassed? Was he thinking about something? It was difficult to say.

"Do you want to eat something?" she asked, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder.

He shook his head. He never ate in the afternoon.

She took his hand, and together, they walked out of the office toward the bus stop.

"We're going to see Sister Lisa today," she told him as they waited.

His fingers tensed slightly. He knew what that meant—they were going to the psychologist.

But he only nodded.

A minute later, the bus arrived. She stepped in, pulling Leo gently behind her. It was rush hour; the bus should have been packed. But to her surprise, plenty of seats were empty.

She silently thanked the gods for their grace and set Leo down by the window seat before sitting beside him herself.

As the bus pulled away from the station, a sleek black luxury car sat parked on the far side of the road. It stood out against the city's usual hustle and bustle as if it were merely an observer—separate, untouchable.