Chapter 11
Tanin stuttered at Damian's question, caught off guard by the sudden interrogation. She hesitated, trying to formulate a response, but the memories of her past life flooded her mind. In her previous existence, Damian had once asked her if she planned to work in the company. She had declined, choosing instead to remain a housewife, hiding all her talents and abilities. That decision had only further isolated her and made her invisible in his world.
This time, things were different. She straightened her posture and looked him directly in the eye. "I came first in my class at university," she began confidently. "And I'm also a fashion designer, but that's more of a talent I was born with. I didn't go to school for it—it just comes naturally to me."
Damian's eyes widened, genuine shock flashing across his usually stoic face. "You… you're a fashion designer? And first in your class?" he asked, as if confirming he hadn't misheard her.
Tanin smiled softly, relishing the rare sight of his astonishment. "Why do you look so surprised, Damian?" she asked, her voice teasing but measured.
He rubbed the back of his neck, his expression shifting to something unreadable. "I just never knew you were this talented," he admitted. "You've always seemed so…" He trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence without offending her.
"So ordinary?" she supplied for him, her smile now faintly bittersweet.
He frowned but didn't deny it. "No, that's not what I meant."
Tanin chuckled lightly, waving his concern away. "It's fine, Damian. I know how I must have seemed to you before. But people can change, you know."
He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "If you're as good as you say, I want to see it for myself. Can you draft a design for me? Something original. How long will it take you?"
Tanin raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the challenge. "Give me a day," she replied confidently.
"Fine," he said, straightening up. "I'll be back tomorrow to see it." With that, he turned and walked out of her office, leaving her to her thoughts.
---
Tanin found herself with little to do after Damian left. The department hadn't assigned her any tasks yet, so she was idling, playing a simple game on her computer to pass the time.
Just as she reached a critical level in her game, a knock came at the door. She sighed and paused the game before calling out, "Come in."
The door opened to reveal Leila and Kitana, each carrying a pile of files and documents. Kitana wore an expression of poorly concealed irritation, while Leila looked neutral but slightly nervous.
"We were told to bring these to you," Kitana said curtly, placing her stack on the desk with an audible thud. Leila followed suit, setting hers down more gently.
Tanin glanced at the files and then at the two women. "What are these?" she asked, picking up the first file and flipping through it.
"Reports on the company's cybersecurity infrastructure," Leila explained. "They include information about ongoing vulnerabilities, recent attacks, and strategies to strengthen the systems."
Tanin nodded, understanding the importance of the documents. She noticed Kitana watching her, a glimmer of resentment in her eyes. "Thank you for bringing these," Tanin said, her tone even. "You can go now, Kitana. I'll handle it from here."
Kitana's eyes widened slightly. "But I—"
Tanin cut her off with a polite but firm smile. "I don't want to trouble you further. I'm sure you have plenty of other tasks to complete."
Kitana clenched her fists at her sides but didn't argue. She turned on her heel and left, her posture stiff with frustration. From the corner of her eye, Tanin caught the sharp glare Kitana shot her before the door closed behind her.
Once they were alone, Tanin turned to Leila. "I'll need your help organizing these," she said.
Leila nodded eagerly. "Of course, High Luna."
Tanin and Leila spent the next few hours going through the files. Tanin's sharp mind quickly grasped the complexities of the company's cybersecurity issues. As she worked, she noticed Leila glancing at her with admiration.
"You're really good at this," Leila remarked, unable to keep her thoughts to herself.
Tanin smiled but didn't respond directly. If only you knew how much I've changed, she thought.
---
Meanwhile, Kitana was pacing angrily in her cubicle. She had planned to use this opportunity to shine in front of Damian, but instead, she found herself overshadowed by Tanin yet again. Her coworkers avoided her, clearly siding with Tanin after the earlier incident.
Kitana's resentment simmered as she clenched her jaw. "I'll prove myself," she muttered under her breath. "I'll show everyone that I'm the one who deserves to stand by Damian's side."
---
Back in her office, Tanin leaned back in her chair, her fingers lightly drumming on the desk. She glanced at the piles of files they had sorted and felt a small surge of satisfaction.
As she looked at the work she'd accomplished, her thoughts drifted to Damian's question earlier. When did you become a computer genius?
A faint smile played on her lips as she thought about how she would answer him tomorrow, not with words, but with actions.
Tanin was still lost in her thoughts when the soft knock on the door startled her. Before she could respond, Leila entered, carrying a neatly packed lunch.
"High Luna," Leila began hesitantly, "this is for you."
Tanin raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What is this?"
Leila placed the lunch box on the desk and smiled. "It's from Lycan Damian. He sent it for you."
A warm feeling blossomed in Tanin's chest. She wasn't sure if it was joy, gratitude, or a mix of both, but her lips curved into a genuine smile. "He sent this? Really?"
Leila nodded. "Yes, High Luna. He specifically instructed me to ensure that you had lunch."
Tanin opened the box to reveal an array of her favorite dishes, thoughtfully prepared and still warm. Her heart softened at the gesture. "He can be thoughtful when he wants to be," she murmured to herself, then looked at Leila.
"Well, since he was considerate enough to send me lunch, I think it would only be fair to share it."
Leila immediately shook her head, stepping back. "Oh, no, High Luna. This is your meal. I couldn't possibly—"
Tanin cut her off with a playful smirk. "Leila, if I'm sharing, you're eating. And if you try to refuse again…" Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she leaned forward slightly. "I'll have to use my position as High Luna to order you."
Leila's eyes widened. "You wouldn't!"
"Oh, I absolutely would," Tanin teased, picking up a pair of chopsticks and holding them out to her. "So, sit down, Leila, and eat with me. That's an order."
Realizing she had no way out, Leila sighed dramatically and took a seat across from Tanin. "You're impossible, High Luna," she muttered, though there was a trace of a smile on her lips.
Tanin laughed lightly, opening the various containers and dividing the food between them. "I know, but you love me for it."
The two women ate together, the atmosphere in the room relaxed and light. Leila found herself enjoying Tanin's company more than she had expected. Despite her position and title, Tanin was warm and approachable, qualities Leila hadn't anticipated.
"You know," Leila began after a few moments, "you're nothing like what I thought a High Luna would be."
Tanin looked up from her meal, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "Oh? And what did you think I'd be like?"
"Well, I thought you'd be… colder, more distant. Like someone who would sit on a throne and just give orders," Leila admitted, a little embarrassed.
Tanin chuckled. "I can be that person when needed, trust me. But I don't see the point in putting walls between myself and the people I work with or care about. We're all part of the same team, right?"
Leila nodded, her respect for Tanin growing. "You're different, High Luna. And I think that's a good thing."
"Thank you, Leila," Tanin said sincerely. "But enough about me. Tell me about yourself. How long have you been working here?"
As they continued to talk, Tanin learned more about Leila's background and aspirations. She found herself genuinely interested in the woman's story and even offered her some advice on navigating her career.
By the time they finished their meal, both women felt a newfound camaraderie. Leila gathered the empty containers, preparing to leave.
"Thank you for eating with me," Tanin said with a warm smile.
"No, thank you, High Luna," Leila replied. "For everything. You're truly one of a kind."
As Leila left, Tanin leaned back in her chair, feeling a rare sense of contentment. She had not only handled her work but also built a connection with someone who could become a valuable ally.
However, the smile on her face didn't last long. A part of her couldn't shake the feeling that her seemingly peaceful day was just the calm before the storm.