18. LISTS

Alina’s fingers trembled slightly as they hovered over the door handle to Caelan’s office. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was bound to be a nerve-wracking conversation. Every time she found herself in his presence, it felt like the air grew thicker, harder to breathe, and her usually steady confidence wavered. Today was no exception. She needed to discuss a few local authors from their town who specialized in writing about ancient Chinese history and culture, a subject that was dear to her heart. But the idea of stepping into his space, of being alone with him, made her pulse race for reasons she couldn’t quite explain.

Pushing open the door, she entered, the familiar, overwhelming sense of his presence immediately settling over her. Caelan entered behind her and walked over to his grand oak desk, his attention fixed on a stack of documents. The light from the large windows behind him cast a soft glow around his figure, making him look almost otherworldly. He didn’t glance up immediately, giving Alina a moment to gather herself. She shut the door softly behind her, the click echoing in the quiet room.

“Caelan,” she began, her voice soft yet determined as she approached his desk. “I wanted to discuss something with you… it’s about the local authors in town who’ve been writing extensively about ancient Chinese history.”

His grey eyes lifted from the papers, locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. There was something about his gaze so piercing, so enigmatic that always left her feeling exposed, as if he could see through all her defenses. She forced herself to maintain eye contact, unwilling to let him see the effect he had on her.

“What about them?” His voice was smooth, calm, betraying none of the tension that coiled within her.

“They’re quite talented, and their works have garnered a fair amount of attention in certain circles,” Alina continued, her voice steady despite the way her hands had started to sweat. “I believe their work could be a valuable addition to our project. They bring a unique perspective to the table, especially regarding the ancient Chinese customs and traditions that are rarely explored in mainstream literature.”

Caelan listened intently, his eyes never leaving hers. The weight of his gaze was almost unbearable, but Alina pressed on, determined to make her case. The importance of these authors and their work was something she felt deeply about, and she wanted him to understand that.

As soon as she finished speaking, Caelan leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “Interesting,” he murmured, his eyes narrowing slightly as if considering something far beyond the conversation at hand. Then, without a moment’s hesitation, he reached for the intercom on his desk.

“Hope, Will,” he said, his tone firm and commanding, “I need you both in my office. Now.”

Alina barely had time to process his sudden decisiveness before the door swung open and the twins, Hope and Will, hurried into the room. They were always quick to respond to Caelan’s requests, and Alina couldn’t help but notice the quiet efficiency with which they operated.

“Yes, Mr. Caelan?” Hope asked, her chestnut hair catching the light as she moved to stand beside his desk, notebook in hand. Her eyes swayed to Alina an slightly widened when she those familiar mismatched eyes.

Will stood just behind her, his demeanor equally professional, though his eyes flickered briefly over to Alina, giving her a small, almost imperceptible nod.

“I need a comprehensive list of the local authors who focus on ancient Chinese history,” Caelan instructed, his voice authoritative. “Get me their latest works, background details, everything we need to assess their potential for our upcoming project. I want this done immediately.”

“Of course, sir,” Will responded, already jotting down notes as Hope nodded in agreement.

“Right away,” Hope added, her tone reflecting the same urgency that Caelan’s had. The twins exchanged a brief glance before turning on their heels and exiting the room with the same quiet efficiency they’d entered with.

The door clicked shut behind them, leaving Alina alone with Caelan once more. The silence that followed was heavy, thick with unspoken words and lingering tension. She tried to focus on the reason she was there, on the importance of the authors she’d just advocated for, but her mind kept drifting back to the man sitting across from her. There was something about him, something magnetic and dangerous, that made it impossible for her to think straight.

She shifted slightly in her seat, feeling the weight of his gaze on her once again. “Thank you for taking this seriously, Caelan,” she sighed, hoping to break the silence. “These authors… their work means a lot to me. I think they could really contribute something special to our event.”

Caelan’s expression softened ever so slightly, and for a brief moment, Alina thought she saw something flicker in his eyes—something that looked almost like understanding, or perhaps even empathy. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by the usual inscrutability that defined him.

“I can see that,” he replied, his voice lower now, almost contemplative. “I’ll personally review the list once it’s prepared.”

Alina nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and unease. There was something so unsettling about the way he could switch between the professional and the personal, leaving her feeling off-balance, as if she were standing on the edge of a precipice, unsure of which way to turn.

As the minutes passed, the silence between them grew more pronounced. Alina tried to focus on the task at hand, on the authors and their work, but her thoughts kept circling back to Caelan, to the way his presence seemed to fill the room, making her acutely aware of every breath she took. She could feel her pulse quicken, a reaction she both loathed and was fascinated by.

Caelan’s office was imposing, much like the man himself—tastefully decorated, with dark wood furniture and walls lined with shelves of books that spoke to his vast knowledge and experience. The scent of polished wood and faint cologne lingered in the air, a constant reminder of his dominance in this space. Alina felt out of place here, like an intruder in a world that was far more complex and dangerous than she was prepared to handle.

She glanced around, trying to distract herself from the intensity of her thoughts. Her eyes fell on a painting hanging on the far wall—a serene landscape, peaceful and still, so unlike the storm raging inside her. She wondered if Caelan ever felt the same unease, the same disquiet that she did. But when she looked back at him, his expression was calm, his demeanor as controlled as ever.

Finally, the door opened again, and Hope and Will returned, each holding a stack of papers. They moved swiftly, placing the documents on Caelan’s desk before stepping back to allow him to review their work.

“Here’s the list, sir,” Hope said, her tone professional. “We’ve compiled the names of all the relevant authors, along with summaries of their most notable works and their backgrounds. We’ve also included any critical reception and their current standing in the literary community.”

Caelan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the papers before he picked up the first one, his eyes scanning the details. Alina watched him carefully, trying to gauge his reaction, but his expression remained unreadable.

“This is excellent work,” Caelan finally said, setting the paper down and looking up at Alina. "I am very satisfied that someone had found an interesting topic to work on.”

Alina blinked, surprised by his words. She hadn’t expected to be given such responsibility, especially not with something so close to her heart. “Thank you, Caelan,” she managed to say, her voice steady despite the swirl of emotions within her. “I’ll make sure everything is handled properly.”

He gave her a slight nod, acknowledging her words before turning his attention back to the list. “Hope, Will, I want updates on this regularly. Make sure everything is in place for our next steps.”

“Understood, sir,” Will replied, and with another brief nod, the twins exited the room once more, leaving Alina and Caelan alone again.

The silence that followed was almost unbearable. Alina’s thoughts raced as she tried to make sense of everything that had just happened. She was grateful for the opportunity Caelan had given her, but there was something about the way he looked at her, the way he seemed to peer into her soul, that left her feeling unsettled.

“Is there anything else you’d like to discuss, Alina?” Caelan’s voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present.

She hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. There were a thousand questions swirling in her mind, most of them having nothing to do with the project. But none of them seemed appropriate, none of them seemed safe. So she shook her head, forcing a small smile. “No, that’s all for now. Thank you for your time.”

He studied her for a long moment, his gaze lingering on her as if searching for something unspoken. Then, with a slight incline of his head, he dismissed her. “Very well. We’ll reconvene once you’ve made some progress with the authors.”

Alina stood, trying to ignore the way her legs trembled as she did so. She turned and walked toward the door, her heart pounding in her chest. But just as she reached for the handle, she paused, glancing back at him.

“Caelan,” she began, her voice softer than before, “thank you. For trusting me with this.”

He looked up from the papers, his expression unreadable