Nolan went through his nightly routine and went to bed. A small child ran on the dirt road; big trees grew on either side, the entangled vines making them into a canopy. He had stumbled in the forest while trying to catch fluttering butterflies. He bumped into a middle-aged woman; Nolan looked up. The woman was looking at him kindly, her blond hair swayed with the wind, and the green eyes twinkled at him. Her translucent wings fluttered behind her. She picked up tearful Nolan and dropped him at his house. She dropped a soft kiss on his forehead before leaving. Nolan''s eyes opened slowly; he touched his forehead in a daze. A smile crept up his lips, and he shook his head slightly.


    While he was getting ready for his part-time job, he got a call that his workplace was temporarily closed as the owner was sued. He carried out his other part-time jobs, and he came home in the evening tired and with an additional worry on his shoulders from morning’s call. Finally, he took out the card; after gently tracing the edges, he dialled the number. He didn’t expect Freya herself to pick up the phone immediately. His hand clenched slightly on hearing her voice, which at this moment, unlike their previous meeting, was cold and monotone. He explained his willingness to accept her offer, and Freya asked him to meet at the office the next day and gave him the address. Her tone felt like she was occupied, but when she ended the call, Nolan felt like he heard her say, “Goodbye, Lan.” It seemed like he was hearing things. However, when he looked up, the mirror reflected the figure, who was stunned and had red ears.


    The next day he woke up early and was overtaken by the dilemma of what to wear. His wardrobe didn’t have many formal clothing options. At the end he decided to wear a black turtleneck with charcoal jeans and a charcoal tote bag. He reached the office by bus, rubbing his hand at the sides as he entered inside. The workplace had a sleek interior; he went over to the receptionist and introduced himself. She had been informed about him beforehand, asking him to sit in the waiting area as she contacted someone. A while later a man came down to escort him. Nolan observed the man; he wore a black suit, his hair meticulously styled, and a poker face. The elevator ride suffocated him with silence. His reflection in the polished doors showed a man trying to contain his nervousness—fingers unconsciously smoothing down his black turtleneck, heart drumming against his ribcage. They got off the elevator on the top floor, passed through a lobby, and came in front of a large brown door.


    The man knocked at the door; the subtle scent of leather and jasmine welcomed him as the doors opened to Freya''s office, where sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden halo around her figure. Nolan silently followed him; it was a spacious office, with a sitting area on one side, a floor-to-ceiling window, and a desk chair set up on the other side. A crystal nameplate with laser-engraved text looked particularly eye-catching. Freya looked up at them; she was in formal white attire, flicking through some documents. She nodded at the man and then saw Nolan softly gazing at her. She set aside the document; Nolan lightly greeted her. Freya then introduced Nolan to the man standing next to him; he was her secretary, Soren. Now that the Elysian household was thinking of expanding their business abroad, Soren was going to work on the project with her brother. Freya then ordered Soren to help Nolan learn the ropes since he would be taking over his position later. As autumn painted the city in amber hues, Nolan found himself stepping into a new chapter of his life. The transition from serving drinks to becoming Freya''s secretary wasn''t just a job change—it was the beginning of his metamorphosis. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ***


    Nolan had been working hard, absorbing all the knowledge that Soren imparted to him; even Soren acknowledged his fast progress. Nolan’s interactions with Freya were not a lot, but he noticed that she was a strictly professional person, a tad bit of a workaholic, and the warmth she exuded in the first one-on-one meeting wasn’t the part of her personality she often showcased. He gradually got used to working there, forming good relationships with his other colleagues, though his looks would sometimes leave them dazed. At one point, Nolan had to accompany Freya on a business dinner since Soren wasn’t available. It was a big hotel, lavishly adorned, employees dressed to the nines, and the guests were prominent figures. Freya had a dinner with three business leaders; there were a few rumours about their colourful lifestyles, but she couldn’t cancel the dinner. A while later, Nolan noticed that those old men were subtly making Freya drink. He was agitated at their rudeness but had no idea how to interject on her behalf. They stepped out of the hotel; the slightly cool air aided in clearing the suffocation he felt inside.


    His gaze settled on Freya, who was walking haphazardly, a little giggly, and her face was flushed. He hurried after her, trying to reason with her and help her to the car. But she pushed him away as she started to walk in the opposite direction. Nolan ruffled his hair in frustration, his meticulously combed hair messed up, adding a little element of boldness to his looks. He took a deep breath and carried her in his arms softly. Surprised, Freya looked at him, her eyes blinking softly, then she put her arms around his neck, followed by a warm smile. “Um... I... You are drunk. Let me help you settle in the car,” he said sheepishly while stuttering. She ignored his words; the cool night air carried the faint scent of cherry blossoms as Freya''s fingers traced his features. Her touch was feather-light, leaving trails of warmth across his skin. The street lamps cast a soft glow on her flushed cheeks, while hazel eyes sparkled. Her hands found their way to his cheeks, pinching them softly.


    “Handsome,” she giggled. “Um... Miss Freya!?” he spoke only to be ignored once again as she continued her ramblings. Each giggle that escaped her lips sent shivers down his spine, making his heart accelerate in his chest. “Beautiful... I love your eyes,” she smiled and then touched his hair, “how soft,” she exclaimed. Poof! Nolan blushed visibly, and his heartbeat raced. He hurriedly placed Freya in the back seat and shut the door, taking deep breaths. He dropped Freya off at her house and took the bus back home, still getting flustered as his mind kept replaying the earlier scene.