Chapter 28: The kind that suggests she is observant
The man’s voice carried a hint of surprise, his brows slightly raised as he looked down at her.
Nora blinked, her expression shifting almost seamlessly. The sharp edge in her eyes softened, her lips curving into a faint, controlled smile.
"I could ask you the same," she replied lightly, as if nothing had happened moments ago.
But inside, her thoughts were already moving.
Fast. Because running into him here... was not a coincidence she intended to waste.
Allen watched Nora closely, yet the smile on his face never faded.
Back in high school, everyone had known about his quiet crush on her. He had been the awkward boy in the corner, hidden behind oversized glasses and braces, never bold enough to step forward and claim her attention.
And he had lost that chance.
But now... things were different.
Years had passed. He was no longer that timid boy. Success had reshaped him, confidence had replaced hesitation, and even his appearance had transformed enough to turn heads.
And standing in front of Nora now, he felt something he had not allowed himself to feel before.
Hope.
"You look... different," Nora said, her eyes scanning him with open curiosity. "Not like that boy with big glasses and braces."
There was genuine surprise in her voice, but also something else. Appreciation.
She had noticed him.
Allen felt a faint flush rise to his face, his smile turning slightly shy under her gaze.
"People change," he said lightly.
"Clearly," Nora replied, her lips curving as she took him in more carefully. He was... handsome. Far more than she had expected.
For a brief second, her earlier frustration seemed to fade.
"But you didn’t answer me," Allen continued, his tone soft but curious. "What brings you here? This is my workplace."
Nora’s smile faltered, just for a fraction of a second.
Her eyes flickered.
So he works here.
That changed things.
"Oh," she said, lowering her gaze slightly, letting a hint of disappointment seep into her expression. "I came to meet Mr. Emerson... but I guess he’s busy."
She did not need to exaggerate much. The frustration and humiliation from earlier were still fresh, making the sadness on her face appear effortless.
Allen’s expression softened immediately.
Even after all these years, even after being ignored back then, he still found himself affected by her in ways he could not control. He had followed her life from a distance, hearing bits and pieces through mutual connections, never truly letting go of that quiet admiration.
No—
Not admiration anymore.
It had grown into something deeper, something stronger, without him even realizing when the shift had happened.
"Do you want me to help?" he asked before he could stop himself.
Nora looked at him, feigning hesitation.
"Oh no, I don’t want to trouble you," she said, shaking her head lightly. "It would be too much of a hassle."
"It’s not a hassle," Allen replied quickly, almost too quickly. "You know I’m always willing to help."
There was sincerity in his voice. No hidden motive, no calculation.
Just genuine willingness.
Nora watched him for a moment, the corners of her lips slowly lifting.
"You’re so kind, Allen."
That smile— soft. Warm. Directed only at him.
It was enough.
The moment she smiled like that, Allen felt whatever restraint he had left dissolve completely. Any lingering thought of hesitation vanished before it could even form.
Before he could think it through, he was already acting.
"I’ll arrange it," he said, pulling out his phone. "You can meet him tomorrow."
Nora’s eyes lit up, exactly as he had hoped they would.
***
Meanwhile, somewhere in the city, Ivy stood leaning casually against the car, her arms loosely crossed as her brows drew together in thought. Her fingers moved to her chin, tapping lightly as if she were piecing something together.
From a distance, the guards watched her.
"What do you think she’s doing?" Nico whispered, his eyes fixed on her every move.
"Planning her escape, maybe," Percy replied under his breath. "She doesn’t look like the type to just sit around quietly."
The two exchanged a glance, both narrowing their eyes slightly as if trying to decode her intentions.
Before they could say more, another voice joined in.
"Guys, we need to stay alert," Benny said in a low, serious tone. "Don’t forget what happened to the guards before us."
That was enough to shift the mood.
"They were fired," he continued, his gaze sharpening as it locked onto Ivy, "and that too after this woman beat the hell out of them... when they were just doing their job."
A brief silence followed.
All three of them instinctively straightened, their focus intensifying.
They had been working under Xander for years, trained under strict discipline, never once failing their assignments. But the story about the previous team still lingered like a warning.
Leo had gone missing for a short time.
And when the guards had tried to intervene...
They had ended up on the receiving end of Ivy’s fury.
The result?
Dismissal.
Not because they failed—but because they mishandled her.
Now, standing here, watching her, none of them wanted to make the same mistake.
Their eyes narrowed in unison, studying her more carefully.
Too carefully.
"You’re being too obvious."
The calm voice cut through their whispers.
All three turned at once.
Teddy stood beside them, his posture relaxed, but his gaze steady.
He had been listening the entire time.
"Lower your voices," he added quietly. "And stop staring like that."
The men exchanged awkward looks before straightening slightly, though their curiosity did not fade.
"Teddy," Nico said, stepping a little closer, "you’ve been with her the longest today. Tell us honestly..."
"Did she seem suspicious?"
Teddy did not answer immediately.
His eyes drifted toward Ivy.
She was still leaning against the car, looking completely at ease, as if she had not noticed the scrutiny directed at her.
Or perhaps she had... and simply did not care.
Teddy exhaled softly.
"No," he said at last.
The three frowned.
"No?" Percy repeated. "That’s it?"
"She asked questions," Teddy added, his tone measured.
"What kind of questions?" Benny pressed.
Teddy’s gaze remained on Ivy for a second longer before he replied.
"The kind that suggests she is observant," he said calmly. "Not careless."
The three guards fell silent again.
That answer did not reassure them. If anything, it made them more cautious.
Because a careless person was easy to deal with. But someone who watched, who thought, who moved with intent—that was someone far more dangerous.
And when their gaze returned to Ivy, they gaped because she was already looking back at them.
Everyone: "..."
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