"Be calm. Steady." Tristian said, adjusting Kassan's suit — particularly her French tie, designed for her in France by her paternal grandfather. Kassan nodded at her reflection.
"Yes. I'm calm and steady."
"You're ready for the interview. I hear this reporter is well known — get yourself in front of their audience and we won't lose a single admission next year." Tristian said,
encouraging. Kassan bounced on her heels, settling into the suit.
"Why are you jumping?"
"Oh — why am I jumping?" They looked at each other. She smiled sheepishly while he facepalmed. "Please don't ruin this interview, Ms. Kassandreau."
"I won't — wait, I mean, trust me." She laughed awkwardly while he visibly braced himself against the imaginary losses already piling up in his head. "You're exhausting me already, Ms. Kassandreau."
She kept laughing, awkward as ever. He took her hand and led her toward the company's media room. They crossed the corridors — for Kassan, this kind of closeness was new.
Neither her wife nor James had ever behaved the way Tristian did. Passing strange, perplexed stares from everyone they crossed, they stopped just outside the door, an inch from knocking.
Kassan's eyes were fixed on his — still trying to process everything around her. She looked down at his hand around hers, then back to the door, waiting for it to open.
"Oh, Tristian — come in." Andrew, Mrs. Dupen-Lee's secretary, opened the door for them. His eyes flicked to their joined hands before settling back into neutrality.
They walked in. Tristian let go of her hand right before they came under everyone's gaze.
Kassan, standing center, glanced down at her own hand, then watched Tristian step out of reach.
She looked around — Mrs. Dupen-Lee, Sy, Tristian, and a handful of boardroom staff were already seated. She turned the other way — a female reporter, watching her.
She gave a brief nod and walked toward her, hand pressed over her chest — the Dupen-Lee family's signature gesture of respect.
"Please, have a seat." the reporter said.
Kassan took the seat beside her. "I assume I don't need to introduce myself."
"Then how exactly am I supposed to know who you are?" the reporter said, leaving Kassan to briefly question her own existence.
She glanced around, confused, her confusion spreading to the room too. Uncomfortable, she said, "Um — I'm Kassandreau Dupen-Lee."
"Oh. Nice to meet you, Ms. Dupen-Lee." The whole room went silent. It was the first time anyone had addressed her by surname alone.
She nodded, reluctant. "I'm Nayim Long — I'll be conducting your interview today. Thank you for your cooperation." She smiled. Kassan mirrored it.
"So, Ms. Dupen-Lee — what do you do for a living?" the reporter asked. Kassan went completely blank. She looked around — at the empty faces, the ceiling, the corners of the room — and finally back at the reporter. She was too stunned to even say she was the CEO of the very company being interviewed.
Kassan laughed, dry. "Was that a joke? I don't usually catch those easily."
Nayim tilted her head. "It wasn't a joke, Ms. Dupen-Lee." Kassan nodded, reluctant, telling herself to endure just a little more embarrassment before making her exit.
"I mean — you're asking what I do for a living, while interviewing the CEO of this company."
The reporter's expression shifted slowly, eyes and mouth widening. "Oh my — you're the company's owner. This interview is for you, Ms. Kassandreau."
Kassan flinched back. "Wait — how did you not recognize me when I literally spelled out my full name, woman?"
● ● ●
"What's next? Please — no more people who can't recognize my own face." Kassan said, dropping into her chair. Tristian glanced over from the desk, resting his cheek on his palm.
"Mm-hm. And what about me?"
She narrowed her eyes at his flirty grin. "What do you mean?"
"I walked in knowing absolutely nothing about who you were. Should I be avoided too?"
Amused, she blinked twice and straightened, facing him. "You're not a stranger anymore. How could I avoid you?"
He smiled, nodding. "I couldn't either." He walked over to her, settling beside her on the couch. "You've got a visit scheduled to the EXIS program. We should head over before it's too late." She nodded. He leaned in, reaching beyond her. For a second, she forgot how to breathe. His breath grazed her cheek — her heart pounded like it might explode.
Their eyes met — but he didn't hold the gaze, reaching instead for the file behind her. She gradually realized what was actually happening and let her breathing settle.
Midway through reading, he glanced up at her.
"What's wrong? You good?" he asked, hand on her shoulder. She shot him a look, trying to steady her breathing. "N— nothing. It's just hot in here."
He looked around. "Doesn't seem like it — the AC's already running. Want me to lower it?"
"You should. Now." she ordered. The temperature was adjusted — though that was never really the issue.
"...So, when's James coming back?"
"Missing him already?" He smirked as she rolled her eyes.
"Be straight."
"Just kidding. He's back on tomorrow's afternoon flight."
"So your duty as my temporary EPA ends tomorrow afternoon."
"Yes, madame." He smiled, and so did she. "You speak French?" she asked, curious. He walked ahead, gesturing for her to follow.
"I do. Unlike you — you're entirely French and I've never once heard you speak it. Even with your parents, it's all English."
As they walked, she chuckled quietly.
"Something funny?" He gave her an annoyed look. "I mean — if you don't speak French, why's your mansion's nameplate in French?" he pressed.
"It's to honor my parents, man."
"Honor your parents? That's the reason?"
"There's a real reason behind it."
"What is it?"
"I'm not their biological child." It was a lot for him to take in. He froze mid-step, staring at her, blank. "...what?!"
She laughed. "Yes, man. I'm adopted. I'm Singaporean, not French." He stood there, completely stunned, hollow. "Wait — how? Whoa, that's a lot to process all at once!"
"I get it." She kept laughing, patting his shoulder. He blinked twice. "Did everyone already know that?"
"Probably. Most do."
"So your parents adopted you from Singapore and brought you to France." She nodded.
"Exactly. And don't worry — I do know how to speak, write, and understand French. I just don't use it much, since I'm usually surrounded by international people."
"Whoa." They stopped at a door marked "EXIS" above them. Kassan turned to him.
"From here, only I'm allowed in. You can head back."
He watched with a pensive expression as she walked through and the doors shut behind her. She glanced back at the closed door, the edge of her lips curving slightly. From either wall, robotic arms extended out, removing her coat and tossing it aside.
She stood there in a white t-shirt and wide black trousers, hands in her pockets, as a figure approached.
"Welcome." A mechanical voice. Kassan glanced at the silhouette. "I hope I'm not late."
"You can never be."
● ● ●
Out of everything, two figures, two separate threads, moving with one shared aim, stood at the back of the tall AUREXIS building. A silhouette, never seen there before, was spotted.
A call connected. Somewhere — a place AUREXIS had no reach into.
Unknown-1: Yes?
Unknown-2: I've got some information you might be interested in.
Unknown-1: What kind?
Unknown-2: The program EXIS.