LOGINSlowly, the grandeur of the ballroom began to fade away. After the love story, the music became more gentle during dinner, and the guests waited patiently to offer their congratulations to the newlyweds. Most of them were more interested in discussing how shocking this marriage had been and made everyone polite as she greeted each person.
With a calm demeanor, Nathaniel held on to Madeline's hand, protecting her from all the sharp stares and inexplicable whispers that could be heard throughout the room.
“Congratulations, Mr. Nathaniel and Miss Madeline were mentioned as guests from the ARS Company board during their wedding, which was an extraordinary event.
‘I thank you so much,’' Madeline said with a slight smile on her face. With each handshake, she felt like she was in a perfect performance of her own character. The sight of a smile, courtesy, and affection appeared to be indicating love, but in reality was nothing more than the thin layer
A small child ran after a pigeon, laughing freely. His mother followed with quick yet patient steps. Two elderly people sat on the bench across from her, speaking quietly.“The weather’s nice today,” one of them said.“Yes,” the other replied. “Not too hot. Just right for sitting.”Madeline caught the exchange in passing, then returned to her own quiet observation. She didn’t feel separate from the world, but she wasn’t pulled too deeply into it either. She was somewhere in between present, yet unbound.A young man sat on the bench beside her, opening a lunchbox. After a few minutes of silence, he turned slightly.“Excuse me,” he said politely. “This bench is okay, right?”Madeline shook her head. “It’s fine. Go ahead.”The man smiled briefly, then returned to his meal. Silence again but a comfortable one. After a few bites, he spoke. &ldqu
He rose slowly, careful not to wake Madeline, and padded lightly toward the kitchen. He turned on a small light, heated water, ground coffee by hand, a ritual he rarely did himself. The soft sound of coffee beans grinding felt almost meditative. This morning, he wanted to keep the rhythm slow.As the aroma of coffee began to fill the room, Madeline appeared in the doorway, her hair slightly tousled, wearing a thin cardigan. She smiled faintly, eyes still half asleep.“You woke up first,” she said softly.Nathaniel turned to her. “I didn’t want this morning to be noisy.”Madeline stepped closer, leaning against the kitchen counter. “Thank you,” she said, as if she understood exactly what he meant.They sat across from each other, each holding a warm cup. There was no long conversation. Just small sips, brief glances, and smiles that came without effort. Outside, the
Madeline stepped closer, briefly touching his arm. “Dinner’s simple. But warm.”“That’s the best kind,” he said and he truly meant it.They sat together, sharing just enough stories without dissecting the exhausting details. There was soft laughter, comfortable pauses. Outside, the world kept moving. Inside, time slowed.After dinner was finished and the dishes cleared away, they moved to the living room. The main light was dimmed, leaving only the soft glow of a corner lamp that made the space feel more intimate.Madeline sat on the sofa with her legs folded beneath her, while Nathaniel leaned beside her, removing his watch and placing it on the small table.For a few moments, they were silent. The quiet wasn’t awkward; it felt like a safe space to breathe.“There was something today,” Madeline said at last, her voice gentle, not pressing. “I could
The reply came quickly, as if Madeline were smiling behind the screen.Good luck with your work. See you later.Nathaniel put his phone away. When the meeting room door opened and the sound of footsteps filled the space again, he stepped inside with quiet confidence.The meeting room slowly filled once more. Chairs were pulled back, paper brushed against paper, and low conversations floated through the air before finally settling.Nathaniel stood at the head of the table, waiting until all attention focused on him. The faces before him looked tired, yet focused a sign that the morning session had drained energy, but also built common ground.“All right,” he said, his voice calm but clear. “This afternoon session won’t be long. We’re focusing on one thing: making sure the foundation we built this morning is truly ready to be implemented.”He turned on the projector. T
The corridor felt quieter than it had that morning. Nathaniel’s footsteps echoed softly on the marble floor, steady but unhurried. He pressed the elevator button, loosening his tie slightly as he waited for the doors to open. For the first time since morning, he truly felt the weight on his shoulders begin to ease not disappearing, but redistributed in a more human way.The elevator descended slowly. Inside, he checked his afternoon agenda: a brief lunch with the core team, then a call with legal, followed by a review of vendor contracts before the afternoon session. Busy, yes but not suffocating. He remembered Madeline’s message don’t forget to eat a simple reminder he used to ignore, now feeling like an anchor.In the lobby, sunlight poured through the tall glass panels, reflecting off neatly arranged green plants. Nathaniel paused for a moment, took a breath. He decided to walk to a small restaurant across the building, not the private dining room
“All right,” said one of the board members, a middle-aged man with a cool tone. “Let’s talk about reputational risk. Sonia’s name has resurfaced in the project structure. We all know the history.”Several pairs of eyes immediately turned to Nathaniel.He did not rush to answer. His hands were neatly folded on the table, his posture upright. “I’m not blind to that,” he said at last. “Precisely because of that history, we’ve set clear boundaries. Her role is well defined, her responsibilities measurable, and all strategic decisions remain under the board’s authority.”“And if a conflict of interest arises?” another asked sharply.“We’ve prepared mitigation mechanisms,” Nathaniel replied calmly. “Independent audits, dual reporting lines, and a termination clause if standards are violated. There’s no gray area.”A brief silence







