ᴛᴀɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʜᴇʀ

ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ

Akira frowned as she read the text message. I need you.

Her stomach tightened. Ciel wasn't the type to say things like that unless something was seriously wrong. Without hesitation, she quickly texted him back.

Akira: What happened? Where are you?

Her mind raced as she watched the three dots appear and disappear, like he was struggling with what to say. She checked her watch—still had an hour left on her lunch break.

"Eve, sorry, I have to leave for a bit. I'll be back before the break finishes," Akira said hurriedly, standing up from the table.

"Everything okay?" Eve asked, concerned.

"I'll text you," she promised, giving her a quick hug before heading out.

Just as she exited the building, her phone buzzed again.

Ciel: Parking lot. Waiting.

She exhaled sharply and made her way downstairs, her heart thudding a little too fast. As she stepped outside, she barely took three steps before she heard a voice behind her.

"Akira, right?"

She turned and found herself facing Kai Moriyama—the CEO.

He smiled at her in that easy, confident way of his. "Heading out for lunch?"

"Ah, I—" She stopped herself before calling him Sir.

Kai chuckled. "Call me Kai. I told you before."

"Right. Sorry, Kai. I actually have an emergency, but I'll be back before lunch ends," she explained quickly, shifting on her feet.

He nodded, his expression still light but observant. "That's okay. Take care."

"Thanks."

Akira turned away and scanned the parking lot. When her eyes landed on Ciel's Audi, she rushed toward it. He was slumped forward, his head resting against the steering wheel.

Her stomach twisted. Something was really wrong.

"Ciel," she called softly, slipping into the passenger seat. "What happened?"

Ciel didn't lift his head. His voice was muffled against the leather. "Who was that you were talking to?"

Akira blinked. "Huh? Who?"

"The man in the suit," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

She frowned. "You mean Kai? He's my boss, the CEO."

Ciel's hands clenched on the wheel. He started muttering to himself in a low, frantic voice.

"Shut up," he whispered. "She says he's just her boss."

Akira stared at him. "Ciel, what the fuck are you mumbling about?" Her confusion was quickly turning into concern.

"Get out."

Her eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?"

"Go!" His voice rose, raw and sharp.

Her patience snapped. "You know what? Fuck you. I left my damn lunch break to check on you, thinking something happened, and now you're pulling this shit? Call me when you're done being a little bitch."

She reached for the door handle, but before she could leave, Ciel grabbed her wrist.

"No. Wait. I'm sorry." His grip trembled. "Please stay."

Something about the way he said it—so small, so broken—made her pause. She sighed and closed the door.

"My head," he whispered. "It hurts. It feels like... there's another voice in there. And I can't shut it out."