In The Near Future

Darien sat in his office on the swivel chair with his back to the office door, lost in thought as he twirled the seat to face the window.

"Really, Ms. Ling? An angry bird, that's your impression of me?" A tiny smile crept onto his lips, faintly reflected in his eyes. However, when he recalled how tense she had been, that smirk quickly faded. Is she afraid of me? Why did she wear that expression on her face?

That night at his hotel when they first met and she did all those unforgettable things to him, he had considered her brave. But after meeting her again, he understood differently.

Lunch Hour

As the men exited, Darien remained behind, prompting Zee to wonder if another meeting was in the works. Her disappointment didn't escape his notice, nearly prompting him to laugh. He couldn't help but speculate about her thoughts during the prolonged meeting.

"Join me, Ms. Ling!" Darien beckoned to the girl standing at the far end of the table. Zee turned and walked toward him, her head held lo