Maya arrived earlier than she needed to and stood outside the Vane-Auber building for a few seconds before walking in. She didn't want to be late on her first day because this job meant too much to her. After adjusting her bag, she stepped inside and felt that same quiet pressure again, the kind that made everything feel strict and controlled.
The receptionist recognized her and told her to wait. Maya nodded and sat down, placing her bag beside her. She had already gone through her notes before leaving home, even though she knew this wasn't school. It was a habit she couldn't drop. She needed to be prepared for anything.
After a few minutes, someone came to get her and led her into the main workspace. The moment she stepped in, she noticed how everything was arranged. The desks were aligned, materials placed neatly, and everyone was already working. No one was idle, and no one looked relaxed. It felt different from anywhere she had worked before.
She was shown where to sit and given a few files with simple instructions: review, adjust, and avoid mistakes. Maya nodded and started immediately. At first, no one spoke to her, but she could feel it. The looks. The quiet attention. She didn't need anyone to say anything to understand she didn't belong there in their eyes.
The whispers still came anyway, low enough to pretend they weren't meant for her, but clear enough for her to hear. They said she didn't fit in. Maya didn't react. She kept her eyes on her work and continued, checking every detail carefully. Measurements, lines, structure. She didn't rush because she couldn't afford to.
After some time, something caught her attention. One of the designs didn't look right. It was a small detail, but noticeable. She stared at it for a moment, unsure if she should leave it or fix it. If she left it, it would stay wrong. If she fixed it, she might be stepping out of line. After a brief hesitation, she corrected it.
A voice called her, and she looked up to see the same man from yesterday standing a few steps away. He told her to follow him. Maya stood up immediately and followed, aware of the eyes on her as she walked past. They stopped in front of a door she already recognized, and she stepped inside without hesitation.
Caspian stood there, holding the file. He looked at her once before speaking, asking why she made the change. Maya answered simply that it was wrong. He pointed out that she didn't report it first. She told him she fixed it. His tone didn't change when he reminded her that she doesn't make decisions there.
Maya didn't argue. She told him she understood.
He asked if she really did, and she said yes.
There was a brief pause before he told her to report first next time. She agreed, and he dismissed her. Maya left without saying anything else.
When she returned to her desk, the atmosphere had shifted. The looks were sharper now. Someone asked if she had already been called, and she answered yes. Another warned her to be careful, saying it wasn't normal. Maya kept her eyes on her work and replied that she was just doing her job. They said it didn't look that way, but she didn't respond again. There was no point.
The rest of the day passed slowly. Every movement felt watched, and every decision felt heavier. She stayed focused and made sure everything she did was correct because she didn't want to give anyone another reason to talk.
But one thing stayed in her mind.
Caspian.
The way he spoke. Cold. Direct. No space for explanation.
She didn't like it.
To her, he wasn't someone to admire.
He was someone to
By the time the day ended, Maya packed her things quietly and left without looking around. Outside, the air felt lighter, but her thoughts didn't. She had stepped into a place where every move mattered, and one thing was already clear. Caspian Vane-Auber was not someone she wanted to get close to.