The boardroom suddenly felt smaller.
Aria stood frozen as the older man walked in slowly.
Elegant suit.
Sharp eyes.
And a calm confidence that made everyone else in the room feel insignificant.
Kael’s posture stiffened immediately.
Kael:
The man smiled lightly.
Uncle: “And miss the show? Absolutely not.”
Aria looked between them.
Aria:
The man turned to her with curiosity.
Uncle:
Her eyes widened.
Aria:
Leo whispered beside her.
Leo:
Kael stepped slightly in front of Aria.
Subtle.
Protective.
Kael:
The uncle chuckled.
Uncle:
He slowly walked around the table.
Uncle:
His gaze returned to Aria.
Carefully studying her.
Uncle:
Aria felt a chill.
Aria:
The uncle nodded calmly.
Uncle:
Kael’s voice hardened.
Kael:
The uncle leaned against the table.
Relaxed.
Almost amused.
Uncle:
Leo quietly muttered.
Leo:
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Aria elbowed him.
Aria:
The uncle continued.
Uncle:
Kael said nothing.
Uncle:
The uncle’s smile widened.
Uncle:
Aria frowned.
Aria:
The uncle nodded.
Uncle:
Kael scoffed.
Kael:
The uncle shrugged casually.
Uncle:
Then he turned back to Aria.
His tone suddenly softer.
Uncle:
Aria blinked.
Aria:
Uncle:
Leo whispered.
Leo:
Aria whispered back.
Aria:
The uncle folded his arms.
Uncle:
Silence.
Aria blinked again.
Aria:
Kael’s jaw tightened.
Kael:
The uncle smiled.
Uncle:
He stepped closer to Aria.
Uncle:
Uncle:
Leo choked on air.
Leo:
Aria stared at him.
Then slowly crossed her arms.
Aria:
The uncle laughed.
Uncle:
Kael suddenly stepped forward.
Now he was standing directly between them.
Kael:
The uncle raised an eyebrow.
Uncle:
Aria leaned sideways to look around Kael.
Aria:
She pointed at the uncle.
Aria:
Leo nodded enthusiastically.
Leo:
Aria:
The uncle sighed dramatically.
Uncle:
Aria shook her head.
Aria:
The uncle studied her carefully.
Then he smiled again.
But this time it looked… satisfied.
Uncle: “Interesting.”
Kael frowned slightly.
He didn’t like that reaction.
The uncle straightened his suit.
Uncle: “Well then.”
He began walking toward the door.
But stopped before leaving.
Without turning around he said quietly -
Uncle:
Aria blinked.
Aria:
The uncle looked over his shoulder.
His eyes glittered.
Uncle:
Then he left.
Silence filled the boardroom.
Aria slowly turned toward Kael.
Aria:
Kael didn’t answer.
Instead, he walked to the window.
Hands in his pockets.
Thinking.
Leo looked between them nervously.
Leo:
Aria folded her arms across her chest.
Aria:
Back he swung to face her.
Faces shift into something heavier. A quiet settles where words once moved.
Kael:
Aria’s stomach tightened.
Aria:
Kael hesitated.
It had been a while, really, since that moment they crossed paths -
He looked uncertain.
After a pause, his voice dropped to a whisper
Kael:
Aria frowned.
Aria:
Kael pulled air into his lungs.
Kael:
Aria blinked.
Aria:
Kael turned his gaze straight toward her.
Then spoke the sentence that shifted each detail.
Kael:
Aria’s eyes widened.
Fingers slipping, Leo almost lost grip of the tablet.
Leo: “
Then silence fell, just like that
The screen lit up as Aria's phone broke the quiet. It started buzzing without warning.
The glow lit up her face. A quick glance showed what she needed.
The moment passed, her face shifting fast.
Fear.
Confusion.
Kael noticed.
Kael:
Her eyes lifted, heavy and quiet. Up came Aria’s gaze, slow like fog rolling over stone.
Aria:
A voice came through when the phone rang. She picked up.
A scream slipped out between static on the line.
Brother (voice shaking): “Aria… someone is looking for you.”
Aria froze.
Aria:
A silence settled between them. The air grew still, heavy with what went unsaid.
Then he said -
Brother:
“A man from Orion.”
Not far into the moment, Aria shifted her weight, facing Kael. The air between them tightened without a sound.
Frost crept across Kael's face before another word was spoken.
It clicked right away when he saw the face. That moment made everything clear.
