Nova sighed, her voice heavy with exhaustion and frustration. "Uma, I'm so stressed out. Indigo's going abroad and wants me to stay at Aiden's place. I said no, and now I'm stuck. Can I crash at your place for a month? Oh, and about Aiden picking me up last night and who he is, please keep it to yourself."
Uma chuckled on the other end of the line. "You're turning down Mr. Martinez's fancy mansion to stay in my tiny apartment? Are you nuts?"
Nova's cheeks turned pink, and she replied shyly, "Quit teasing me. Just tell me if it's cool or not."
Uma quickly responded, "Of course, I'm just messing with you. Come on over."
Nova finally breathed a sigh of relief and got ready to dive into her work.
As she walked down the hallway, Pax maliciously stuck out his leg, tripping her. Nova stumbled forward but luckily fell into Quinton's arms. Quinton quickly steadied her.
Once she regained her balance, she glared at Pax, her eyes blazing with anger. "What is your problem? That's too much!"
Pax shrugged nonchalantly and arrogantly replied, "Who told you to walk without watching where you're going?"
Quinton stepped in, righteously scolding Pax. "How can you do that? Tripping someone on purpose and acting like it's no big deal?"
Pax scoffed, "None of your business. Stop being a busybody." With that, he called Juliet and walked away.
Nova returned to her desk, rubbing her temples. The headache from her hangover hadn't subsided, and her mood worsened. She muttered to herself, "Why is everything going wrong today?"
Just then, she opened her email and was shocked by an urgent assessment notice. She had to submit a paper by 8 AM the next morning on a topic she was unfamiliar with. Her head throbbed even more as she anxiously muttered, "What am I going to do? The deadline is so tight, and I don't know much about this topic. This is impossible!"
Quinton approached and saw the worry on Nova's face. He helpfully suggested, "Don't panic. The translation department's old library has some relevant materials. You can check it out after work."
Nova looked at Quinton gratefully, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Thank you, Quinton. I really appreciate the tip."
After work, Nova revised her draft multiple times, deliberating over every detail before deciding to try her luck at the library.
She registered on the internal network and entered the library, unaware that Pax was quietly following her.
Pax watched her go in, a sinister smile curling on his lips. He planned to trap Nova inside for the night. He locked the library door and flipped the main switch in the hallway, plunging the entire corridor into darkness.
Inside the library, Nova found a helpful book and sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, engrossed in her reading.
As the light dimmed, she checked her watch and realized it was already 7 PM. She got up to leave but found the door locked. She tried turning the handle forcefully, but it wouldn't budge. It was clear someone had locked it from the outside.
Nova looked around, realizing this was the old library and everyone had already left for the day. No one would be passing by.
As the outside grew darker, she fumbled for the light switch, hoping to illuminate the room, but the lights didn't respond.
After several attempts, panic set in. She realized someone had done this on purpose. Fearfully, she called out, "Is anyone there? Help me!"
After shouting for a while with no response, fear spread through her body. She began to worry that she might be stuck there all night.
In her panic, Nova picked up her phone, thinking about who to call for help.
She knew not everyone could easily get into the translation department. Aiden's face flashed in her mind. She thought if he made a call to the office, someone would come to rescue her.
But remembering how she had refused to stay at his place earlier, she felt embarrassed to ask for his help now. After hesitating, she nervously found Aiden's number and sent a message: [I'm trapped in the old library at the translation department. The door is locked. Can you contact the office to send someone?]
After sending the message, Nova felt anxious and ashamed for troubling Aiden. She muttered to herself, "I hope he doesn't mind."
Soon, her phone vibrated with a reply. The short message was firm and reassuring: [I'm coming. Don't be afraid.]
Seeing the message, Nova felt both touched and a bit hopeful. She knew Aiden's status made this a big favor, and she silently hoped she wasn't causing him too much trouble.
Outside the library, the night grew darker, and the dense branches blocked out most of the light, making the inside pitch black.
Nova stopped calling out and tried to calm herself in the darkness. Her mind wandered to the intimate moment she had shared with Aiden the previous night, making her cheeks burn. She shook her head, trying to dispel the thoughts, muttering, "Why am I thinking about this now?"
At the translation department's entrance, a few employees were leisurely walking out when a sleek black car screeched to a halt in front of them.
Under the glaring headlights, Aiden's composed and distinguished figure stepped out, leaving the employees stunned. They stood there, bewildered, wondering why Aiden was there at that hour.
One of them whispered, "What's going on? Why is Mr. Martinez here now?"
Owen, familiar with the place, quickly walked over to Aiden and respectfully led the way to the old library. Their hurried footsteps echoed under the dim streetlights, casting long shadows.
Inside the library, Nova paced back and forth, trying to quell her fear. Exhausted, she finally sat on a chair by the door, anxiously waiting.
Suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps approaching. Her heart leaped with joy, hoping it was Aiden or someone he had sent to rescue her.
Owen's voice came through the door, asking her to stay calm and promising to find someone to unlock the door. Then the footsteps faded away.
Nova could feel a heated gaze fixed on her from outside, making her heart race and her anxiety grow.
Soon, she heard strong, determined kicks against the door. Startled, she moved aside.
With a loud crash, the old iron door fell from its frame, letting in a sliver of light. Still in shock, Nova felt a strong arm pull her into a tight embrace.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here," Aiden's deep, soothing voice whispered in her ear, offering undeniable comfort.
The fresh, woody scent of his body wash enveloped her, a scent she had noticed in his bathroom before. It filled her senses, leaving her mind blank, only aware of her own rapid breathing and Aiden's steady heartbeat.
A gentle hand stroked the back of her head, and she couldn't help but cling to Aiden's suit jacket, her body trembling slightly.
In that moment, the broken door seemed to shatter some unspoken barrier. In the darkness, they held each other tightly, as if sharing a deep, unspoken, and intense emotion.
Instinctively, Nova looked up, only to bump her nose against something hard. Then, a warm body pressed close, and cool lips met hers.
In an instant, Nova's mind exploded with fireworks, her rational thoughts scattering like startled birds, leaving only her senses to take over.