"Stop running your small brains, kids," Lilith chuckled, her piercing blue eyes gleaming with amusement. She leaned back slightly, crossing her arms as she observed the two with a faint smirk. "You both should worry about each other, not me," she added, her tone filled with subtle meaning.
Ava and Nova immediately froze, exchanging nervous glances.
"W-What do you mean by that?" Ava stammered, her face turning slightly pink.
"Yeah, Lilith," Nova spoke, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably. "What exactly are you implying?"
Lilith’s smirk deepened as she picked up her glass of water, casually swirling it in her hand. "Oh, nothing," she said lightly, though her eyes glinted mischievously. "You two just seem... very compatible sometimes."
Ava gasped, her eyes widening. "No way! Nova? Seriously?" She waved her hand dismissively, though her cheeks were now visibly flushed.
Nova, on the other hand, dramatically placed a hand on his chest, pretending to be hurt. "Me? With her? Please, Lilith, I have standards," he teased, though his voice cracked slightly, betraying his nervousness.
Lilith chuckled again, clearly enjoying their reactions. "Denial is such a cute look on you two," she remarked, standing up and grabbing her tray. "Anyway, I’ll leave you two to your... bonding."
As she walked away, Ava and Nova sat in stunned silence for a moment before they both turned to each other, speaking simultaneously.
"She’s crazy!" Ava exclaimed.
"She’s out of her mind!" Nova added.
But neither of them could ignore the faint awkwardness that lingered between them after Lilith’s pointed comment.
"I am done," Ava said awkwardly, standing up from the table, her tray clutched tightly in her hands. Nova, equally flustered, stood up right after her. Neither dared to meet the other’s gaze, both too lost in their thoughts after Lilith’s teasing.
As they turned to leave, their paths crossed awkwardly, and they bumped into each other.
Ava’s eyes widened in surprise as her tray wobbled dangerously. Instinctively, she grabbed onto Nova’s arm for balance.
Nova’s gaze shot to hers, equally startled. His hands hovered near her shoulders, unsure if he should steady her or not. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, his usual teasing tone replaced with genuine concern.
Ava nodded quickly, her cheeks flushing a deep pink. "Yeah, I’m fine... thanks," she muttered, still gripping his arm without realizing it.
Nova, noticing her hand on his arm, felt his ears heat up. He cleared his throat awkwardly, looking anywhere but at her. "Uh... good. Just watch where you’re going next time," he said, though his voice lacked its usual sarcasm.
Ava blinked, realizing her grip on his arm, and quickly let go. "You’re the one who wasn’t watching!" she countered defensively, though the redness in her cheeks betrayed her embarrassment.
Nova smirked faintly, finally finding a way to regain some footing. "Oh, so now it’s my fault? Classic Ava," he teased, but his tone was lighter than usual, almost playful.
Ava rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at her lips. "Whatever, Nova. Let’s just get back to work before Lilith come back again and start teasing us again."
***
Lilith returned to her workstation.
With an important meeting scheduled within the next half hour, she meticulously double-checked every detail. The files were neatly arranged, the presentation was tested for any glitches, and the handouts for the executives were ready.
By the time the meeting was about to start, everyone had already gathered in the conference room. The air was heavy with tension, as it usually was before a high-level meeting. People murmured quietly, shuffling through their notes and adjusting their suits. Lilith walked in last, carrying the presentation clicker and a few final documents for Sebastian.
Sebastian entered shortly after. He wore his signature black suit, tailored perfectly to his tall, muscular frame. His sharp jawline was set with focus, and his piercing dark eyes scanned the room, leaving no one unaffected by his aura. The faint sound of his shoes against the tiled floor echoed as he strode toward his seat at the head of the table.
Lilith’s eyes briefly flicked to him as he passed by her, their gazes meeting for a fleeting moment. She quickly looked away, keeping her expression neutral.
Sebastian took his seat, nodding curtly to the executives before glancing at Lilith, who stood near the projector screen. "Begin," he said in his deep, authoritative tone.
Lilith nodded and pressed the clicker to start the presentation. Her voice was clear and confident as she explained the main points of the report. Her aura and confidence grabbed everyone’s attention, and even Sebastian couldn’t help but admire her calm and precise way of speaking.
As the presentation went on, Sebastian’s eyes occasionally drifted toward Lilith. Her piercing blue eyes scanned the room as she spoke, her posture exuding a natural confidence that was impossible to ignore. She was more than just capable; she was magnetic.
When the presentation ended, Lilith returned to her seat, letting the executives talk about the next steps. But she noticed Sebastian’s gaze linger on her for a moment longer than it should before he shifted his focus back to the discussion.
Her lips curved into a small smirk. This so-called human doll didn’t say much, but his eyes revealed plenty.
The meeting room was busy with everyone sharing their ideas and plans. Lilith sat quietly next to Sebastian, sitting straight and calm as she watched them talk. Sometimes, she wrote down a note or looked at the screen.
Quinn, seated a few spots down, caught her eye and mouthed silently, "You’ve done a great job." His smile was encouraging, and Lilith gave a polite nod in acknowledgment.
However, Sebastian’s sharp gaze flicked toward Quinn, his expression instantly souring. His jaw clenched, and he leaned back in his chair, subtly shifting his position to block Quinn’s line of sight to Lilith. The movement was casual, but his eyes carried a distinct warning.
Sebastian looked at his assistant, feeling annoyed. When did Quinn get so irritating? He didn’t show much on his face, but a small frown appeared as his irritation grew.