The downpour ended at last.

Fog pressed against the windows, heavier than the silence between them.

Aria fixed her eyes on the path stretching out in front of her.

Her brother.

Her job.

Kael.

Out of nowhere, threads began twisting into knots. A single moment pulled it all apart.

Kael turned the ignition after a pause.

A silence sat between them, lasting sixty seconds. Not one word broke it.

Finally -

Aria: “He gave us twenty-four hours.”

Kael nodded.

Kael: “Yes.”

Aria: “So what’s the plan?”

Kael sighed quietly.

Kael: “There isn’t one yet.”

Aria frowned.

Aria: “That’s not very reassuring.”

Her eyes met Kael's for a moment. Then he looked away.

Kael: “I’m thinking.”

Aria: “You think a lot.”

Kael: “It’s part of being alive.”

Aria let her eyes drift upward. The gesture spoke volumes without a sound.

A faint grin showed anyway.

Yet it vanished fast.

Aria: “He wants me to betray you.”

Kael didn’t react.

Not right away, at any rate.

After a pause, his voice came soft

Kael: “Would you?”

Instantly, Aria faced his direction.

Aria: “What?!”

Kael kept his eyes on the road.

Kael: “It’s a reasonable question.”

Aria folded her arms across her chest.

Aria: “You think I would?”

Kael shrugged slightly.

Kael: “You’ve known me for… what… few days?”

Aria opened her mouth -

Then paused.

Truth hurt, that much stood clear.

Kael continued quietly.

Kael: “But he’s threatening your brother.”

Aria looked down.

Her voice softened.

Aria: “He’s the only family I have.”

The engine stopped making noise once more.

Foot on the brake, Kael let the car roll to a stop when the light turned red.

Out of nowhere, a strange remark slipped out.

Kael: “If you decide to help him…”

Aria looked up.

Kael: “I won’t stop you.”

Her eyes widened.

Aria: “What?”

Kael shrugged.

Kael: “You’d be protecting your brother.”

Her eyes stayed fixed on his face.

Trying to understand his expression.

Yet Kael's expression gave nothing away.

Aria: “You’re strangely calm about someone betraying you.”

Kael smirked faintly.

Kael: “I’ve had practice.”

Aria gave a quick shake of her head.

Aria: “You’re unbelievable.”

________________________________________

Outside Aria’s Apartment

When they finally arrived -Wind rolled a paper cup down the sidewalk. Silence hung where voices should have been. Nothing moved between the buildings.

Too empty.

Out came Aria from the car, fast. Immediately she left the vehicle behind.

Aria: “Rohan!”

Footsteps pounded as she moved fast to reach the door. The path narrowed under her quick pace. Entry loomed ahead through scattered light.

Right on his heels came Kael. Quickly moving after. Close behind he stayed. Not far back at all.

They rushed upstairs.

Aria turned the key, then stepped inside.

The stillness filled every room. Silence settled like dust on the furniture.

Lights on.

Furniture untouched.

Out came her brother, leaving the kitchen behind.

Completely unharmed.

Out came Aria’s breath, slow and quiet. Relief settled into her bones like dust after a long wind.

Aria: “Rohan!”

Her arms closed around him, holding on without letting go.

Rohan: “Whoa - okay - breathing is optional I guess.”

She pulled back.

Aria: “Are you okay?”

Rohan: “I’m fine.”

Footsteps echoed as he turned his head toward Kael, who waited just past her shoulder.

Rohan: “…Who’s the tall dramatic guy?”

Aria blinked.

Aria: “Oh. Right.”

She pointed.

Aria: “This is my boss.”

A flicker of surprise lifted one brow on Rohan's face.

Rohan: “The CEO boss?”

Kael nodded politely.

Kael: “Hello.”

Rohan fixed his eyes on the man. Still. Quiet. Watching.

then whispered to aria

Rohan:

“You work fast.”

Aria groaned.

Aria: “Not like that!”

Kael bit his lip until it hurt, just to keep quiet.

________________________________________

A Few Minutes Later

Beyond the hallway, chairs held each of them still. The air inside didn’t move much.

Rohan explained everything.

Rohan: “They came about an hour ago.”

Aria: “What did they say?”

Rohan: “They asked questions about you.”

Kael leaned forward.

Kael: “What kind of questions?”

Rohan: “Like when you joined Orion… what projects you work on… stuff like that.”

Aria frowned.

Aria: “So they were gathering information.”

Kael nodded.

Kael: “Yes.”

Rohan slumped into the cushions. He stayed there without moving much.

Rohan: “Then the older guy said something weird.”

Into their eyes he saw a quiet storm. Not one word passed between them.

Aria: “What?”

Rohan shrugged.

Rohan: “He said my sister is more important than she realizes.”

Empty air settled between the walls.

Her movement was quiet, a shift in the air as Aria faced Kael. The space between them changed without sound.

Aria: “What does that mean?”

Kael looked thoughtful.

Yet just as his mouth opened -

Aria’s phone buzzed.

A message.

Unknown number.

Her heart skipped.

With a quiet breath, she turned the cover inch by inch.

A picture showed up. Not much else at first glance.

Her breath caught as Aria's eyes flew open.

Aria: “…No way.”

Kael noticed.

Kael: “What is it?”

The phone shifted in her hand, pointing at his face.

It was a picture.

Inside the building where Orion runs things.

A private office.

Kael’s office.

What really caught me off guard came later.

The strangest thing turned out to be -

Aria and Kael.

Close they stood, just hours before. The gap between them nearly nothing at that moment.

Right where decisions start. Not later. Not after. Just there.

The note below the picture said:

"Interesting relationship between CEO and new employee."

A second note showed up right away.

Uncle (text): "The board will love this."

Kael was watched by Aria, her gaze moving without hurry.

Aria: “He’s trying to destroy your reputation.”

Kael sighed.

Kael: “Yes.”

Rohan blinked.

Rohan: “Wait… are you two actually dating?”

Out of nowhere, their voices crashed together in one loud burst. A split second earlier, silence had held the room tight.

Aria & Kael: “NO!”

Rohan leaned back.

Rohan: “Wow. Very convincing.”

Aria rubbed her temples.

Aria: “This is a disaster.”

A pause crept into Kael's expression, his gaze drifting inward.

Too thoughtful.

Aria noticed immediately.

Aria: “Why do you look like you just had a terrible idea?”

Kael leaned back.

Kael: “Because I did.”

Aria narrowed her eyes.

Aria: “I’m not going to like this.”

Kael turned his gaze straight toward her.

Then said calmly -

Kael: “What if we make the rumour true?”

Aria froze.

Rohan almost tumbled sideways, caught himself just before hitting the floor.

Rohan: “EXCUSE ME?!”

Aria just stood there, eyes locked on Kael, like he’d grown another head. A silence stretched between them, heavy and sharp. That look - blank disbelief mixed with quiet alarm. Her breath caught, then held too long. He wasn’t joking. Not even close. Something behind her ribs tightened without warning.

Aria: “You want us to pretend to be a couple?”

Kael nodded.

Completely serious.

Kael: “It might be the only way to protect you.”