Ensnaring Darkness

XIV. In which he received a Quickie reward

"Did you do something?" Daemon's question made Julien froze in the act of stealthily closing a notification on his phone. It read "Congratulations on completing your first Quick(ie) mission! Your reward will take effect immediately! In the future, all kinds of rewards will be given. Make sure to complete all missions to avoid unfavorable circumstances with the person you desire!". His hand trembled and for a moment he felt a spark of pain from his left wrist.

A forced laugh slipped past his lips. "What do you mean sir? I didn't do anything"

'I didn't, aside from adding a teardrop on his coffee', He added softly in his mind.

Daemon's frown eased up a bit. but his next words felt like thunder to Julien's ears.

"He wants you in his office. It's probably nothing to worry about."

He thought back on what he did in the elevator. Did Knox find out? But he made sure to turn away from the CCTV cameras. He thought back on what he did in the elevator. He was sure that the bite mark in his left wrist was beginning to bruise, turning from red to bluish purple. Julien felt dizzy from worry. It was the fault of that mysterious app! Why was he even swayed with the reward of gaining favorable circumstances with Knox? He wasn't even a hundred percent sure it was real!

"Go on Julien. Don't keep him waiting."

He almost stumbled out of the room. His legs felt as heavy as lead as he strode towards Knox's office. Riley was anxiously waiting outside the door and he quickly grabbed Julien as he approached.

"Where did you buy that coffee, Juli?" Riley asked worriedly and Julien felt his stomach drop.

"T-the nearest coffee shop."

"I don't know the details but it happened the moment he received it. Like he instinctively knew something different. So I told him you bought the coffee. He suddenly asked for you!"

Julien paled. What did he do? Perhaps, Sir Aldrei was messing with him and the coffee was actually the opposite of what Knox prefers in his drink? But how could that explain why he knew it even before drinking it?

"W-what do I do?" he mumbled weakly, feeling his strength drained from him.

"Let's see first what he's going to say." Riley took a deep breath and moved away from the door, smiling encouragingly at him. Julien swallowed with difficulty and let himself inside. The low temperature of the room varies greatly with outside that he involuntary shivered as he stepped inside. Knox was behind his table, flipping through documents, a cup of coffee near him, seemingly untouched but Julien couldn't tell for sure.

Julien stood feeling numb in front of Knox. The latter raised his head and regarded him quietly.

"Mr. Alderean, where did you get this?" Knox asked in a low voice, gesturing at the cup of coffee. Julien almost wanted to cry. He calmed himself.

"I bought it from the cafe opposite our building, Sir."

"And did you know that this exactly my preferred blend?"

"Yes, sir."

Knox's stare suddenly turned sharper.

"Who told you?" his voice became colder and warning bells rang in his mind.

"T-that... Sir Aldrei told me." Julien stammered.

But Knox's sharp expression did not recede back to normal, instead, it even turned severe. "Are you telling the truth?" He enunciated each word as if he knew Julien was hiding something from him.

'It's impossible for him to find out!' Julien nodded, too afraid to utter a word lest he might give himself away.

Slowly, Knox's expression turned back to normal.

"My preference for things is highly private. Only trusted persons know some of them. I want to keep it that way." Knox said meaningfully.

Before Julien could decipher what he meant, Knox's next words made him blank out.

"On another matter. I called you here to tell you that you'll be my temporary assistant for this month."

It took a full minute for him to digest the sudden order and respond.

"But sir, I am Sir Daemon's-"

"You'll still be Daemon's secretary, Mr. Alderean, but since Riley will be away for a week of training starting tomorrow, you'll handle some of his duties. The others are delegated to other employees."

"Oh." Julien felt conflicted between being relieved he wasn't found out and pleasant surprise and anxiety on suddenly being one of Knox's assistant. How did this conversation lead to this? Is it the effect of completing the Quickie mission, he can't help but there's more to it than that! But he was too anxious to question why Knox would suddenly choose him just from buying his preferred blend of coffee.

"What are my duties, sir?"

"You will accompany me during meetings," Knox replied smoothly and focused back on reading the document and Julien felt like he was silently dismissed.

"Yes, Sir. I'll be going now, sir."

Just as he was to step out of the door, Knox spoke in a light tone, almost sounding approving and seductive. The latter was how it sounded to Julien whose thoughts had already circled around being one of Knox's assistants for a week.

"The coffee was delicious"

Julien's heart skipped a beat. How exactly could he survive a week close to Knox?