Realisation

Morning arrived in a slow, hazy blur.

Evelyn moved through the motions of her daily routine, but the unease from her dream still lingered, a quiet, insistent hum at the back of her mind. She dismissed it as nothing more than exhaustion—a reaction to yesterday's shock, nothing more.

She showered, letting the hot water wash away the last remnants of restless sleep, before slipping into a fitted gray pencil skirt and a white silk blouse. Her hair, still damp, was swept up into a sleek bun, a habit formed out of years of working in a world that demanded perfection. A touch of nude lipstick, a swipe of mascara—just enough to maintain her usual, polished image.

When she stepped into the kitchen, the scent of fresh coffee had already filled the air. She moved briskly, pouring herself a cup before turning her attention to breakfast.

First, she checked—Leo's door was still closed.

She allowed herself a small smile. Always slow in the mornings.

She worked quickly, placing a slice of toast into the toaster, cracking an egg into a pan, and cutting up fresh fruit. Simple, routine, familiar. The kitchen was filled with the soft sounds of clinking dishes and the gentle bubbling of water heating for tea.

By the time she set the plate down on the table, she heard the quiet creak of a door opening.

Leo shuffled into the kitchen, his ash-brown hair still slightly damp from where he had splashed water on his face. His school uniform was neat as always—an oversized sweater layered over a crisp white shirt and dark slacks. His long bangs, thick and straight, fell over his dark eyes, concealing them almost completely.

He was quiet as he took his seat, his small frame poised, movements careful and deliberate. Evelyn placed his tea in front of him, brushing a hand lightly over his shoulder before taking her own seat.

Leo picked up his fork and started eating without a word.

The silence between them was never uncomfortable. It was something she had grown used to—something that had become part of the rhythm of their mornings.

Still, she wanted to try.

"You slept okay?" she asked softly.

Leo paused, mid-bite.

Then, after a moment, he gave a small nod before taking another bite of toast.

Evelyn watched him from the corner of her eye.

So he was still not speaking.

She took a slow sip of her coffee, trying to ignore the way disappointment curled in her chest.

She had spent years trying to accept that Leo would never speak again. But last night had given her hope, hope that was slowly being crushed. 

As Leo ate, Evelyn moved quietly through the apartment, checking things as she always did—straightening a misplaced chair, adjusting the curtains, ensuring everything was in its place. It was a habit formed from years of routine, a way to keep herself grounded.

But as she passed by Leo's room, her eyes caught on something.

A dark coat, neatly placed on the desk.

She stopped.

Her gaze lingered on the fabric, smooth, heavy, far too expensive to belong here.

Adrian Voss's coat.

The realization sent a ripple through her, a delayed recognition of something she had been too overwhelmed to process last night.

He had given her son his coat.

She had been too shocked, too consumed with Leo speaking again to even notice it when they returned home. But now, in the calm light of morning, the sight of it struck her like a quiet, undeniable truth.

She exhaled slowly, stepping forward and picking it up. The weight of it in her hands was substantial, the material thick, tailored for someone accustomed to luxury.

She would wash it when she got home today and return it to him tomorrow.

It was a simple thought, a simple action—yet something about it felt heavier than it should.

Shaking the feeling off, she made the bed, smoothing out the sheets before folding the coat neatly over her arm. She carried it out into the living room, placing it on the sofa so she wouldn't forget it later.

By the time she returned to the kitchen, Leo had already finished eating. His plate was cleared, and he stood by the door, his school bag slung over his shoulder, waiting patiently.

Evelyn felt a faint warmth in her chest. He had always been like this—independent in small ways, never making a fuss.

She gave him a small nod before heading to her room to grab her bag and keys.

Together, they stepped out of the apartment. Evelyn locked the door behind them before following Leo into the elevator.

The early morning air was crisp, carrying the distant murmur of traffic and the rhythmic footsteps of office workers heading toward the subway.

Just as they reached the curb, Leo's school bus pulled up.

Evelyn placed a hand on his shoulder briefly—a silent goodbye.

He climbed the steps, disappearing inside without hesitation.

She stood there, watching the bus pull away, watching until it turned the corner and vanished from sight.

Only then did she turn toward her own stop.

The bus arrived moments later, and Evelyn took a seat by the window, watching the cityscape blur past. Towering buildings, flashing billboards, streams of people moving with purpose.

She barely registered the stops until a familiar robotic voice announced her destination.

"Voss Entertainment."

The gleaming skyscraper came into view as she stepped off the bus, its mirrored windows reflecting the morning sun.

Unlike yesterday, there was no convoy of sleek black cars outside.

No entourage.

Nothing to signal the presence of Adrian Voss.

She exhaled, adjusting the strap of her bag as she moved toward the entrance, blending effortlessly into the sea of employees pouring into the building.

The day had begun.

The chime of the elevator signaled her floor. As she stepped out and walked toward her desk, someone suddenly cut her off just before she could reach her seat.

"Eve, come here," Lena said, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her toward a desk. She sat her down before dragging a chair for herself, glancing around as if to make sure no one was watching. But Evelyn could feel the stolen glances from their coworkers.

"What is it this early in the morning, Lena?" she asked, sliding the bag off her shoulder.

"You have to tell me what happened yesterday," Lena said excitedly.

Evelyn gave her a questioning look.

"Come on, don't play dumb with me. You went up to the private floor of Adrian Voss, then he carried Leo out of the office with him, and you left in his luxurious car," she gushed.

She gleamed with excitement, practically bouncing in her chair as she waited for Evelyn's reaction.

Evelyn, on the other hand, simply stared.

The realization hit her all at once.

She had been so preoccupied—so wrapped up in the events of yesterday—that she hadn't even considered what it must have looked like to the rest of the office.

And of course, when it came to Adrian Voss, there were no small actions.

This was the Adrian Voss.

The man who rarely made public appearances, who was spoken of in hushed reverence or cautious whispers—and yet, he had carried her son in his arms and left with them in his personal car.

No wonder people were staring.

Lena grinned like a cat with a trapped mouse.

"You do realize how insane that sounds, right?" she pressed. "We are talking about THE Adrian Voss."

Evelyn sighed, straightening in her chair. She clicked on her PC, watching the loading screen flash across the monitor. "It's not as dramatic as you think," she muttered.

She told Lena what had happened yesterday.

Her friend listened with her mouth slightly open, her eyes practically sparkling.

"Not as dramatic?" she echoed, eyes wide with disbelief. "Evelyn. He let your son sleep on him for—what? Half the day?"

"And then," Lena continued, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "he personally drove you home just so Leo wouldn't wake up?"

Hearing Lena say it out loud only made the whole thing feel more surreal. If someone had told her yesterday morning that this would happen, she would have called them crazy.

But today, it was her reality.

A reality even Lena couldn't deny.

Evelyn sighed again, shaking her head.

"I have work to do, Lena," she muttered, turning her attention back to the computer screen.

"But this is Adrian Voss!" Lena whisper-shouted as if Evelyn had somehow forgotten. "Do you know what people would give just to get a single meeting with him? And you just—just casually spent hours with him??"

Evelyn rubbed her temple.

"Not willingly," she muttered. "It just… happened."

Lena sighed dreamily, crossing her arms. "God, I would kill to be you right now."

Evelyn shot her a dry look.

Lena only smirked. "Alright, alright, I'll stop." But the glint in her eyes said otherwise.

After a bit more reluctant convincing, Evelyn managed to shoo her back to her own desk.

Finally, silence.

She let out a slow breath, pressing her fingers against the keyboard, trying to refocus.

She had a lot to do today—things she needed to finish early.

There were other matters she had to take care of in the evening.