A hush settled over the space where voices had been. Stillness took hold, heavy and sudden. Not a sound broke through. Everything just stopped.

Her eyes locked onto him, wide, as if his words made no sense. What came out of his mouth sounded reckless, impossible almost. A quiet moment passed before she even blinked.

Rohan stayed partly stretched across the couch, stunned.

Aria: “…You cannot be serious.”

Fingers tucked tight across his chest, Kael stood still. A slow breath broke the silence around him.

Kael: “I’m completely serious.”

Rising bit by bit, Rohan lifted himself into a seated position.

Rohan: “Wait… wait… let me understand.”

A finger moved toward the space that separated one from the other.

Rohan: “The CEO of Orion wants to pretend to date my sister?”

Kael nodded.

Kael: “Yes.”

Rohan blinked.

Rohan: “…I’m strangely okay with this.”

Instantly, Aria shifted her body to face him.

Aria: “You are not helping!”

Rohan shrugged.

Rohan: “Look at him.”

Fingers slicing through the air, he pointed at Kael like a storm breaking.

Rohan: “If my sister is going to fake date someone, at least the man is tall.”

Head down, Aria pressed her palms tight against her skin.

Aria: “This family is embarrassing.”

Laughter nearly slipped out, though Kael fought it down.

Forward a little he tilted after that.

Kael: “Listen.”

Aria raised her eyes once more.

Still suspicious.

Aria: “I’m listening. But I already hate it.”

Kael explained calmly.

Kael: “My uncle wants to use that photo to damage Orion.”

Aria: “Right.”

Kael: “But if the relationship is real…”

Aria sighed.

Aria: “Then it’s not a scandal.”

Kael nodded.

Kael: “Exactly.”

Rohan lifted his arm as if answering a teacher.

Rohan: “I have a question.”

One stared, then the other followed. He stood there under their eyes.

Rohan: “How long have you two been secretly in love?”

Aria: “ROHAN!”

Kael laughed.

Back in his seat, Rohan allowed a quiet smile - messy outcomes always suited him best.

Back toward Kael stepped Aria again.

Aria: “This is still a terrible idea.”

Kael: “Probably.”

Aria: “But you want to do it anyway.”

Kael: “Yes.”

Aria paused, her eyes fixed on him. Then silence stretched between them.

Fingers tucked tight across her chest.

Aria: “And how exactly would this work?”

A pause came before Kael spoke.

Then answered.

Kael: “Very carefully.”

________________________________________

The Next Morning at Orion Headquarters

The office was buzzing.

Rumours were moving fast before anyone could stop them.

One worker spoke low while another leaned close by the coffee maker. Quiet voices mixed with the hum of brewing. A glance passed between them before they stepped away.

Employee 1: “Did you hear?”

Employee 2: “About the CEO?”

Employee 1: “Yes!”

Employee 2: “And the new girl?”

Employee 1: “Yes!”

A shadow shifted, then Leo stood there. Behind them now, he had arrived without sound.

Holding a coffee cup.

Leo: “I love office drama.”

Both employees jumped.

Employee 2: “Leo!”

A slant of light caught Leo propped near the register. He stood there like he had nowhere else to be.

Leo: “So… what exactly are we gossiping about today?”

One worker glanced at another. A pause followed, then a nod passed between them.

Then whispered.

Employee 1: “They say the CEO has a secret girlfriend.”

Something caught Leo's attention - his eyes stretched wide open.

Leo: “No way.”

Employee 2: “And she works here.”

Leo gasped.

Very loudly.

Leo: “This company is finally interesting.”

________________________________________

Office Entrance

Aria moved ahead, her steps shaky as she approached the structure.

That idea? It didn’t sit right with her yet.

Not even slightly.

Her phone buzzed.

A whisper came from Kael.

Kael (text): "Come to my office first."

Aria sighed.

Aria: “Of course.”

A soft chime sounded as she entered the lift. The doors closed behind her without a word.

Meanwhile -

Across the lobby -

Right away, one worker saw her, then another did too.

They started whispering.

Folks had started whispering it just hours ago.

Aria felt their stares.

Words slipped out under her breath.

Aria: “Perfect. Absolutely perfect.”

________________________________________

Kael’s Office

Aria walked in.

Kael stood by the window.

Sitting still, just like every other time. Quietness sits heavy on their face again now.

With a quiet click, she shut the door behind her.

Aria: “This is already a disaster.”

Her voice reached him before he moved. Then slowly, Kael faced in her direction.

Kael: “The rumours started?”

Aria nodded.

Aria: “Everyone is staring at me like I’m a celebrity scandal.”

Kael rested by the desk, weight shifted to one side. A quiet moment held him there.

Kael: “That means the plan is working.”

Her eyes narrowed as she looked his way. A silent heat burned in her stare.

Aria: “I don’t enjoy being the plan.”

Kael smirked slightly.

That is when he moved nearer.

Aria pulled away without hesitation.

Aria: “Why are you coming closer?”

Kael: “Because if we’re pretending to date…”

He stopped right in front of her.

Too close.

Kael: “We should look convincing.”

A sudden pause gripped Aria's chest.

A glance slipped sideways, fast. Her eyes moved elsewhere just then.

Aria: “This is very unprofessional.”

Kael shifted a little nearer.

Kael: “That’s the point.”

Suddenly -A sudden crash echoed as the office door flew apart.

Into the room came Leo, making quite an entrance.

Then froze.

Close together stood Aria beside Kael. Their shoulders nearly touched, almost brushing. Near each other they remained, silent under the dim light. Not far apart at all, just a breath between them.

Leo’s eyes widened.

Leo: “Oh.”

Silence.

Leo slowly backed toward the door.

Leo: “I see I have interrupted… corporate romance.”

Aria panicked.

Aria: “It’s not - ”

Kael interrupted calmly.

Kael: “It’s fine.”

Leo grinned.

Very widely.

Leo: “Oh this is excellent.”

Aria groaned.

Aria: “Leo please don’t tell anyone.”

Leo looked offended.

Leo: “Aria.”

A quiet touch landed over his heart. The weight of it stayed there, unmoving.

Leo: “I would never spread gossip.”

He paused.

Then added cheerfully -

Leo: “I simply allow it to grow naturally.”

Kael laughed.

Aria stood there, eyes down, as if the floor might open up and swallow her whole.

________________________________________

Meanwhile Somewhere Else

A chair held Kael’s uncle inside a room built for comfort. Soft light fell across polished surfaces where he stayed still, watching nothing move beyond the wide window.

A Vossice appeared in his hands, passed over by one of the people working beside him.

Assistant: “Sir… the rumours started.”

The uncle looked at the screen.

News from Orion employees.

Photos.

Whispers.

CEO Kael secretly dating employee Aria.

A grin crept across his face, one corner at a time.

A dangerous smile.

Uncle: “Interesting.”

Sitting farther into the seat, he tilted it backward. The wheels stayed still on the floor.

Uncle: “Let’s see how long this little romance lasts.”

He spoke again, soft and low

Uncle: “Before someone gets hurt.”

________________________________________

Back in Kael's Office

A sharp clap burst from Leo without warning.

Leo: “So.”

Eye contact landed on him - Aria first, then Kael followed close behind.

Leo: “When is the first date?”

Aria blinked.

Aria: “…What?”

Leo looked serious.

Leo: “If you’re pretending to date, people will expect to see you together.”

Aria froze.

Kael looked thoughtful.

Too thoughtful.

Aria slowly turned toward him.

Aria: “…Don’t.”

Kael smiled slightly.

Kael: “We might need to go on a public date.”

Aria stared at him in horror.

Aria: “You’re enjoying this.”

Kael let the truth stand without speaking.