By the third day—
Things started to change.
It began with small things.
"Good morning!" Lina greeted brightly.
At first, people didn't respond.
They weren't used to it.
But she kept doing it anyway.
Every day.
Without fail.
"Good morning!"
"Don't forget to eat lunch!"
"You're doing great today!"
At some point—
Someone smiled back.
Then another.
And another.
The cold, stiff atmosphere slowly softened.
"…What's happening to this office?" one employee whispered.
"I don't know… but I don't hate it."
Meanwhile—
Adrian noticed everything.
From his office, he watched as Lina moved from desk to desk—not interfering, not overstepping…
Just… existing warmly.
Like sunlight slipping through a window.
One afternoon, he stepped out unexpectedly.
The entire floor stiffened instantly.
But Lina?
She waved.
"Good afternoon, sir!"
No fear.
No hesitation.
Just… natural.
Adrian stopped walking.
Looked at her.
And—
"…Good afternoon."
The entire office froze.
Did the CEO just respond?
Lina beamed like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Have you eaten?" she asked.
A dangerous question.
Everyone knew that.
But Adrian simply replied—
"Yes."
"Good! Don't skip meals, okay?"
A pause.
"…Okay."
If the employees weren't shocked before—
They definitely were now.
As Adrian walked away, the whispers exploded.
"Did you see that?!"
"He answered her!"
"He didn't get mad!"
Lina blinked at the reactions.
"…What?"
She genuinely didn't understand.
But inside his office—
Adrian sat down quietly.
His hand paused over his documents.
And for reasons he couldn't explain—
The office didn't feel as suffocating anymore.