Shan glanced at the rear-view mirror for the fourth time in two minutes. His boss- Mr. Moreaux, was sitting unusually still in the back seat.
One arm protectively draped behind the silently crying princess- Ms. Solace beside him. The other hand clutching a tissue box like it was some kind of life-saving invention.
Shan couldn't help it. He grinned.
"So," he murmured under his breath, low enough that only the leather seats heard, "the cold-blooded wolf of the boardroom has a soft spot after all…"
He chuckled, steering gently around a bend.
He could still hear the memory of Lucien's voice from earlier...sharp, rushed, and alarmingly unpolished:
"She's going to the Solace Mansion? Alone? Cancel everything...
But... Mr. Moreaux, we've already promised this meeting with Ruxin group...
I said cancel... Shan. Push the schedule, postpone the meeting, reschedule the investor call. I need to be there."
Never had Shan seen his boss this panicked. Even during the data breach scandal. Not even when a global investor tried to sue them blind.
He'd never seen his boss run before either for such matters.
But he ran.
Straight from the rooftop helipad to the garage, tie half-untied, breath ragged, cursing the elevator for being too slow. Shan had to jog to keep up.
That's when he knew... Mr. Moreaux wasn't just curious about Dr. Arno Theryn Solace.
He was falling.
No...had already fallen. Hard.
And now, as Shan drove quietly through the rainy streets, watching his boss gently nudge a warm cup of coffee into Arno's hands (they stopped briefly at a café because, apparently, "she skipped dinner, Shan!"), Shan could only smile to himself again.
"I swear," he muttered, eyes twinkling in the mirror, "if anyone else saw you like this, boss… they'd think you got body-snatched."
I met his eyes in the mirror briefly.
"What did you say?"
Shan straightened immediately. "Nothing, Mr. President! Just... glad to see you're not yelling at investors tonight."
I narrowed my eyes but didn't push.
Then I glanced back down at Arno, whose head now leaned lightly against my shoulder, her breathing soft, the coffee cup nestled in her lap.
She looked peaceful.
Shan, adjust the temperature so she wouldn't get chilled, I ordered. Then pulled the blanket over her legs from the side compartment.
Shan watched this entire thing like he was watching the final scene of a long K-drama.
He sighed to himself. "God, they're gonna kill me if I don't get this wedding invite."
The car moved on, quiet and warm inside, while outside the rain blurred the city lights like a painting just beginning to dry.
Shan drove slower than usual.
---
The car rolled to a soft stop in front of my private villa, the rain hasn't stopped yet. Shan stepped out first, umbrella in hand, already anticipating what I'd do next.
"She's still asleep, Mr. Moreaux," he said quietly, opening the rear door.
I nodded.
Her head had slipped lower against my chest during the drive, her hair warm against my shoulder, her breath feather-light. She didn't stir when I gently took the coffee cup from her lap and set it aside. Nor when I slipped one arm under her knees and the other behind her back.
I carried her.
Her weight was light but the moment heavy...so heavy it settled in my chest as I stepped out into the rain, shielded by Shan's umbrella. Her fingers curled slightly into my shirt like she knew, somewhere deep in sleep, that I was here.
Inside the villa, the warm light and polished floors greeted us. The head maid, Ms. Carvelle, appeared instantly at the base of the staircase.
She paused when she saw what I was holding.
"Prepare a room," I said briskly, but not unkindly. "Make sure it's warm, quiet. And have something light prepared in case she wakes up hungry."
Ms. Carvelle blinked once, then gave a sharp nod, hiding her surprise.
From behind the corner, young maids were peeking out from the hallway, whispering -
"Is that…?"
"She's so pretty…"
"Could she be—?"
"Our future Lady?"
Mr. President had never brought a woman here before, a maid said.
She must be special, we have to treat her better, another one remarked.
With a polished smile I started up the staircase, careful not to jostle her.
Halfway up, I felt the slightest shift against me. A soft sound escaped her lips, then her lashes fluttered.
I slowed.
Her eyes cracked open, hazy and confused. "Blue Bird…?"
"You're safe," I said quietly, glancing down. "You fell asleep."
She blinked, her brows knitting together. "Where... are we?"
"My villa," I said. I'm sorry. "You were exhausted. So, I didn't want to wake you." Did I scare you?
"Oh." no...no...not really. I'm fine. Sorry to trouble you. She said politely.
Second later she looked dow only then realizing she was in my arms. A flush crept up her neck, fast and fierce. "Y-You could've just… woke me up..."
It's okay, I said.
She went still.
I couldn't tell if her silence meant gratitude or protest. But her hand didn't push me away.
By the time we reached, Ms. Carvelle had already prepared a room beside mine.
I stepped inside, laid her gently. She sat up slightly, watching me the whole time like I was something new.
Lucien Moreaux, her patient, enigma- now a man who carried her through the rain.
"I'm not dreaming, am I?" she asked, her voice so quieter that only she heard it.
A pause stretched between us.
"Thank you," she whispered.
She finally stared at the room...warm beige lights, soft sheets, and a vase of sunflowers by the window... Then, softly, "Why… did you bring me here?"
I leaned my shoulder against the doorframe, hands in my pockets. "Because I was afraid you'd be alone. I didn't want you waking up to the sound of silence.
Her lips parted.
"You can stay as long as you want," I said. "No pressure. Just… comfort. Safety."
Her gaze flicked away, then back to me. "Thank you, Bluebird."
My lips parted with a small smile in the corner.
Then...
"Achoo!"
Her body jolted slightly with the sneeze. She sniffled and rubbed her nose, cheeks coloring in embarrassment.
I straightened immediately. "Ms. Carvelle," I called out, and the head maid appeared within seconds.
"Prepare a warm shower for her. And make sure the clothes are soft.
The maid nodded and disappeared.
Arno sniffled again. "I'm fine, really, you don't have to fuss..."
Don't worry about that, I said gently. Mmm...then I'm going back to my room...
Okay, Bluebird, she smiled.
---
After her shower
I knocked twice and entered without waiting, balancing a tray with lemon tea and a packet of tissues in one hand. The other carried the hair dryer.
I was dressed down- gray drawstring pants and a black sando, nothing fancy. Just something I could breathe in.
Her head snapped toward me...and then sue froze like an iceberg.
The color drained from her face and then rushed back all at once, crashing into her cheeks.
"I- uh...nose- nosebleed!" she sputtered, turning away as she cupped her face with both hands.
I blinked. "Did I… give you a shock?"
"You...you..." she looked back, horrified. "Why are you dressed like...like that?!"
I looked down at myself. "I live here."
"That's not an explanation!"
"It's a pretty good one," I shrugged, setting the tray down on the side table.
She groaned, still covering her face. "You're doing this on purpose…"
"Doing what?" I said innocently, plugging in the dryer. "Saving you from wet hair and a cold?"
"I can do it myself," she said, peeking at me from between her fingers.
"I know you can," I replied, crouching beside her. "But I want to. And you'll catch a chill if you do it wrong."
She hesitated, clearly torn between pride and the comfort of someone simply taking care of her.
I gently took the towel-wrapped strands of her hair in one hand and turned on the dryer with the other.
The warm air blew softly through the silence. She sat still, watching my reflection in the mirror, her expression unreadable.
"You're strange," she murmured.
"I've been called worse," I said. "But for the record… I don't do this for just anyone."
She didn't reply. But her shoulders relaxed.
And her nose, thank God, stopped bleeding.
I was feeling good actually... To be honest, I was trying to attract her...may be...no no...I'm just helping someone in need... I said to myself... Nothing else..!
---