The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.
Lillian stepped out onto the executive floor, holding her tablet against her chest.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Desks.
Computers.
Phones ringing softly.
Just another morning.
Then she noticed it.
The silence.
Conversations stopped.
Two employees near the coffee machine abruptly looked away.
Someone quickly minimized a webpage on their monitor.
Lillian's stomach tightened.
She kept walking.
Maybe I'm imagining it.
But as she passed another desk, she heard it.
A whisper.
"…that's her."
Her grip tightened slightly on her tablet.
She kept walking.
Head up.
Professional.
Like nothing was wrong.
But the tension in the room followed her all the way to her desk.
She sat down slowly, turning on her computer.
Across the room, two employees leaned toward each other.
Their voices were low.
But not low enough.
"That's the woman from the article."
"You mean the CEO's secretary?"
"Yeah."
Another voice joined in.
"Well… that explains a lot."
Lillian stared at her screen.
Her chest tightened.
She knew exactly what they meant.
She forced herself to breathe slowly.
Ignore it.
Her inbox opened.
Dozens of emails.
She focused on them instead.
Work.
Schedules.
Meetings.
Anything but the whispers behind her.
Then one voice drifted a little louder.
"I mean… look at him."
"Billionaire CEO."
"Of course someone would want that."
Lillian's fingers froze above the keyboard.
Another quiet laugh.
"I wonder how long she's been working her way up."
Her throat tightened.
Before she could stop herself, she turned slightly.
Two employees were leaning together near the hallway.
They hadn't noticed she heard them.
The words hit harder than she expected.
Not because they were surprising.
But because they still hurt.
She turned back to her computer quickly.
Focus.
Just focus.
Across the floor, the elevator doors opened again.
Sebastian Wolfe stepped out.
Immediately, the entire atmosphere shifted.
Employees straightened in their chairs.
Phones were picked up.
Keyboards suddenly became very interesting.
Sebastian walked calmly across the floor, his sharp blue eyes scanning the room.
He noticed everything.
The tension.
The silence.
And then he saw her.
Lillian sat at her desk, shoulders slightly tense.
Her usual calm focus looked… different.
Quieter.
His gaze narrowed slightly.
Then he heard it.
A whisper behind him.
"…that's him."
"And that's the girl from the article."
Sebastian stopped walking.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
He turned his head.
Two employees near the hallway froze when they realized he had heard them.
The entire floor went silent.
Sebastian's voice was calm.
But cold.
"If you have enough time for gossip," he said quietly, "then you clearly don't have enough work."
The two employees immediately turned pale.
"Yes, Mr. Wolfe."
"Sorry, Mr. Wolfe."
Sebastian held their gaze for a moment longer.
Then he continued walking.
But instead of heading toward his office…
He walked straight to Lillian's desk.
The entire floor noticed.
Lillian was typing when a familiar shadow appeared beside her.
She looked up.
Sebastian stood there, hands in his pockets.
His expression was calm.
But his eyes were sharp.
"Good morning, Lillian."
Her heart skipped slightly.
"Good morning, Sebastian."
A few employees nearby pretended very hard not to listen.
Sebastian leaned casually against the edge of her desk.
"Did you eat breakfast?"
Lillian blinked.
"…What?"
"Breakfast."
She glanced around nervously.
"Uh… yes."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You're lying."
"I am not."
"You always lie badly."
She sighed softly.
"I had coffee."
"That's not breakfast."
"I was busy."
Sebastian tilted his head slightly.
"Busy ignoring everyone staring at you?"
Her cheeks warmed.
"You noticed that?"
"I notice everything."
She looked down at her desk.
"I'm fine."
He studied her for a moment.
"Lillian."
"Yes?"
"You know none of what they're saying matters."
She gave a small smile.
"I know."
But her voice sounded a little too quiet.
Sebastian straightened slightly.
"Lunch."
She blinked again.
"Lunch?"
"Yes."
"With me."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Sebastian…"
His voice was calm.
"That wasn't a suggestion."
She sighed softly.
"Okay."
"Good."
He pushed away from the desk.
But before walking away, he added casually:
"Also, if anyone bothers you again…"
His eyes briefly scanned the office.
"…tell me."
Lillian nodded.
"Okay."
He gave her one last look.
Then walked toward his office.
Behind them, the entire floor buzzed with silent shock.
Later that afternoon.
Sebastian sat at his desk, reviewing reports.
His phone buzzed.
He picked it up.
The caller ID read:
Corporate PR Director
He answered calmly.
"Yes."
The voice on the other end sounded tense.
"Mr. Wolfe, we may have a developing situation."
Sebastian leaned back in his chair.
"The article."
"Yes."
"What about it?"
"The reporter is asking questions."
"About?"
"About Lillian Parker."
Sebastian's expression darkened slightly.
"Did you give them anything?"
"Of course not."
"Good."
There was a pause.
"However… they may publish a second article."
Sebastian was silent for a moment.
Then he said calmly:
"That's fine."
"Sir?"
"They can publish whatever they want."
The PR director sounded uncertain.
"You're not concerned about the company image?"
Sebastian's voice was calm.
"No."
Another pause.
"What would you like us to do?"
Sebastian looked out through the glass wall of his office.
Across the floor, Lillian sat at her desk.
Focused.
Working.
Trying to ignore the attention.
His decision was immediate.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Correct."
"Sir… that could create speculation."
Sebastian smiled slightly.
"Let them speculate."
That evening.
Lillian was packing up her bag when her phone buzzed.
A message from Sebastian.
Sebastian:
Dinner tomorrow night.
She typed back.
Lillian:
Another work dinner?
His reply came quickly.
Sebastian:
No.
She frowned slightly.
Lillian:
Then what kind of dinner?
A few seconds passed.
Then his next message appeared.
Sebastian:
The public kind.
Her eyes widened slightly.
She quickly walked toward his office.
Knocking lightly.
"Come in."
She stepped inside.
Sebastian looked up from his laptop.
"You look confused."
She held up her phone.
"What do you mean by 'the public kind'?"
He closed his laptop calmly.
"I mean dinner."
"Yes, I understood that part."
He stood and walked toward her.
"What I mean is…"
He stopped in front of her.
"…somewhere people will see us."
Her heart skipped.
"You want reporters to see us?"
"Yes."
"Sebastian, that's the opposite of avoiding rumors."
"I know."
She stared at him.
"Why would you want that?"
His voice softened slightly.
"Because I'm not hiding you."
Her breath caught.
"And if the press wants a story…"
He smirked faintly.
"…we can give them one."
Lillian shook her head slowly.
"You're unbelievable."
"Usually."
She sighed.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
"And what should I wear?"
His eyes briefly scanned her.
"Something that makes headlines."
Her cheeks turned pink.
"You're impossible."
"Yet you keep working for me."
She smiled slightly.
"Unfortunately."
Sebastian's voice softened.
"Tomorrow night, Lillian."
She nodded.
"Tomorrow night."
Neither of them noticed—
Across the city.
A reporter refreshed his laptop screen.
A new article draft sat open.
And the title slowly appeared.
"Who Is Lillian Parker? The Woman Beside Billionaire CEO Sebastian Wolfe."