Bryle nodded amiably to Mr. Cyprus and promptly straightened up.
"No, not at all, sir. We were just chatting."
I was blushing from embarrassment I tried to seem casual as I said,
"We were just catching up."
Mr. Cyprus gave a hesitant nod, but his demeanor didn't change.
"Alright then. I just wanted to remind you about the meeting this afternoon."
Naturally, I said, getting agitated. "I'll be there."
He smiled briefly and turned away,
leaving me feeling vulnerable and uncomfortable.
Bryle gave me a quick glance and an eyebrow lift.
" hmmmmm, That was... interesting."
I laughed a little nervously.
"Hahah, Yeah, you could say that."
He smiled and amused eyes sparkled.
"Don't worry about it. You know where to find me if you need anything."
"Thanks, Bryle,"I said appreciating his help.
I couldn't help but wonder what Mr. Cyprus thought of the spectacle as he was leaving.
I was confused and curious about what he had seen and what it might indicate,
and I felt anxious for it..
A little while later, a delivery man showed up at the workplace with a tray that had three coffees.
They were directed to Mr. Cyprus's office.
I observed the delivery man approach to me sending the three coffees.
In a moment, Mr. Cyprus opened his door and
looked at me for a short moment before focusing on the delivery.
After expressing gratitude to the delivery person,
he approached my desk with two of the coffees.
"You should take a little break,"
he stated as he gave me a coffee.
With an appreciative smile,
"Thank you, Mr. Cyprus."
I accepted the coffee.
"Why don't you join us in my office? There's someone I'd like you to meet."
Out of curiosity, I followed him into his office.
The lady from before was inside,
seated at the table and thumbing through her phone.
As we walked in, she looked up and gave us a lovely smile.
"Emilia, this is one of our dedicated team members,"
Mr. Cyprus began as he introduced me.
"This is Emilia Harper,
a good friend from college and the developer of the game Ardent Affection."
My eyes grew wide with shock.
I blurted out, feeling a mixture of excitement,
"The game with Cyrus?"
Emilia chuckled quietly. "Yes, that's the one. It's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too,"
I shake Emilia's hand having sparkling eyes looking at her stunning face.
My earlier jealousy melted away into genuine admiration as
I realized she was the creative force behind one of my favorite games.
Mr. Cyprus handed Emilia the third coffee and gestured for us all to sit down.
As we sipped our coffees,
the conversation flowed easily.
Emilia shared amusing stories about how she developed the game Ardent Affection.
She mentioned how Cyrus,
one of the main characters, was inspired by none other than Mr. Cyprus himself.
I felt my cheeks flush bright red.
The realization that Cyrus was a carbon copy of Mr. Cyprus was
both thrilling and amazing.
I struggled to maintain my composure,
my mind racing with thoughts of my otome game
experiences and how closely they mirrored the reality of my workplace.
"So," I began, trying to sound casual despite my embarrassment,
"did you draw inspiration from other people as well, or was it just Leo?"
Emilia laughed lightly.
"Oh, there were other influences too,
but Leo was definitely a big part of it.
I wanted Cyrus to have that blend of charm and professionalism
that Leo naturally possesses."
I made an effort to pay attention to the discourse,
but my mind kept returning to how much Cyrus looked like Mr. Cyprus.
I experienced a strange combination of adoration and unease,
and it was difficult to ignore the link.
I wanted to tell them about my experience playing Ardent Affection,
but I couldn't quite put it into words because of the similarity of Cyrus and Leo.
Mr. Cyprus smiled comfortingly at me, seeing my hot cheeks.
"I hope it's not too strange to hear that Cyrus was modeled after me" he said with a little
embarrassment.
"At first, I actually turned down her offer because the idea of my face being out there for everyone to see was embarrassing."
He glanced over at Emilia, who was teasing him about how Ardent Affection became a hit because of him. Emilia playfully nagged him, thanking him for the game's success. As I watched them, a small twinge in my heart reminded me just how close they seemed to be.
"Miss Violet, what do you think?" Emilia stare at me with her bright smile.
Even though I was still a little nervous, I forced a smile.
"ahh? ohh, No, not strange at all. It's actually kind of fascinating."
Emilia gave a passionate nod.
"I'm glad you think so! It's always interesting to see
how characters come to life through someone's experiences and personality."
The environment became more laid back as the chat went on,
and my initial humiliation subsided.
I was thankful for the opportunity to learn more about Emilia's
creative process and how she brought Cyrus to life,
and I started to look forward to hearing more about it.
As I glanced at the time, a wave of realization hit me.
"Uhmm, Mr. Cyprus, in a few minutes our meeting will start.
I should go out first to prepare the things needed for the meeting.
I need to get going," I said, bowing my head slightly in a respectful gesture.
"Ah, yes, sure. You may go,"
Mr. Cyprus replied.
"I'll follow you after."
I nodded and made my way out of the office,
trying to maintain my composure.
As the door closed behind me, Emilia noticed Leo smiling.
"Ohoho, what was that expression, Leo?"
Emilia teased, her tone light and playful.
Emilia's laughter rang out, her amusement evident.
"Leo, I think you're in love, hahaha!"
"What? Don't talk nonsense," he said, clearly flustered.
Emilia's laughter softened as she continued,
"Okay, I must go now too. I have an urgent meeting later too,
but Leo, I'm happy to see you're doing well."
"Thanks, Emilia," Mr. Cyprus replied,
trying to regain his composure.
"Safe travels."
With a final smile, Emilia exited the office, leaving Mr. Cyprus.
After a short while, Mr. Cyprus followed me to the meeting room.
As he approached, his demeanor had returned to its usual professional calm,
though there was a hint of warmth in his eyes.
"Ready for the meeting?"
he asked, adjusting his suit and giving me a reassuring smile.
"Yes, everything is set up and ready to go,"
I replied, feeling more composed now that the meeting was about to start.
We entered the meeting room together,
and as we took our places,
the earlier tension seemed to melt away.
The meeting proceeded smoothly,
with Mr. Cyprus contributing valuable insights and maintaining a supportive presence throughout.
Our conversations were more relaxed as a result of our
earlier lighthearted conversation with Emilia,
and I noticed that I felt more at ease and self-assured in the meeting setting.
After the meeting,
Bryle approached me with a friendly demeanor,
his smile warm and genuine.
"Hey, great job today. If you need any help with the projects or
just want to chat, you know come to me."
I smiled, feeling a bit of relief and gratitude.
"Thanks, Bryle. I appreciate it."
As we continued talking,
I noticed Mr. Cyprus watching us from a distance,
his expression difficult to read.
There was a slight tension in his posture, and I couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong.
A few moments later,
Mr. Cyprus walked over with a purposeful stride,
his eyes fixed on me.
"Could I have a word with you in my office?"
he asked, his tone firm but not unkind.
I glanced at Bryle, who gave me a curious look before nodding in understanding.
"Sure, I'll catch you later," he said, stepping back to give us space.
I followed Mr. Cyprus to his office, a mix of curiosity and apprehension swirling within me.
As I entered his office, Mr. Cyprus closed the door behind us and motioned for me to sit down.
"Everything alright?" I asked, trying to gauge the situation.
Mr. Cyprus took a deep breath before speaking.
"I just wanted to check in with you.
I noticed you and Bryle seemed to be getting along well."
I nodded, trying to keep my tone neutral.
"Yes, Bryle's been really helpful. We were just discussing some of the ongoing projects."
Mr. Cyprus looked at me with a hint of something unreadable in his eyes.
"I see. I just wanted to make sure everything is going smoothly
and that you're comfortable with your workload."
I appreciated his concern but couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his words.
"Yes, everything's fine. Bryle and I have been collaborating well on the tasks."
Mr. Cyprus's expression softened slightly,
though there was still a trace of tension.
"Good. If you ever need anything or if there's something you want to discuss,
don't hesitate to come to me."
I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Thank you, Mr. Cyprus. I will."
After I left Mr. Cyprus's office,
I rejoined my colleagues who were gathered near the break room,
chatting animatedly about the successful meeting.
The buzz of excitement was palpable, and soon,
someone suggested celebrating with a dinner party.
Bryle, noticing my presence, walked over with a friendly grin.
"Hey, we're planning a dinner party to celebrate the success of the meeting.
Everyone's excited, and we'd really love it if you could join us.
It wouldn't be the same without you!"
I smiled, feeling a sense of warmth and camaraderie.
"I'd love to come. Thank you for inviting me."
As we continued discussing the details,
Mr. Cyprus happened to overhear our conversation from his office.
He stepped out and approached us with a thoughtful expression.
"I couldn't help but overhear your plans," Mr. Cyprus began,
his tone carrying a mix of authority and genuine interest.