Aidan loved rules. Rules were simple, clean, and never talked back. In his three hundred years as a grim reaper, the ledger in his hands had never once been wrong. Names appeared, clock ticks ran out, souls were collected, and Aidan moved on to the next task without skipping a beat. Until tonight. He stood in the corner of a dimly lit coffee shop, wrapped in a dark trench coat that rendered him invisible to mortal eyes. Rain rattled against the glass windows. At the small table near the window sat Alia. She was laughing over a warm mug of cocoa, completely oblivious to the fact that, according to page forty-two of Aidan's leather-bound notebook, her heart was scheduled to stop at precisely 11:14 PM. Aidan checked his pocket watch. 11:13 PM. He unclipped his silver reaping blade from his coat and took a quiet step forward. He waited for the telltale sign-the heavy, cold stillness that always blanketed a room right before a human took their last breath. 11:13:58. 11:13:59. 11:14:00. Nothing happened. Alia took another sip of cocoa and laughed at a joke on her phone. Aidan frowned. He tapped the glass face of his watch, thinking the hands had stuck, but the second hand kept ticking smoothly forward. 11:14:15. Frustrated, Aidan flipped open his ledger. As his eyes hit Alia's name, glowing golden ink rushed across the page as if written by an invisible quill. The black date stamped next to her name dissolved into smoke. New numbers burned into the paper: Extended: +30 Days. "What in the world..." Aidan whispered, his voice cracking the heavy silence of the room. In three centuries, death had never been postponed. You were born, you lived, and when your time was up, you died. The cosmic ledger didn't offer extensions. There were no bonus rounds. He glared at Alia. Was she a witch? A demon in disguise? A glitch in the universe? If he returned to headquarters empty-handed without a soul or an explanation, the Council of Reapers would strip him of his title and throw him into the abyss. He couldn't just walk away and check back in a month. He needed answers now. Aidan closed the ledger with a sharp snap. Since he couldn't take her soul tonight, he had no choice but to figure out what was keeping her alive-and that meant getting close to her. Very close. As Aidan stood frozen in the quiet corner, trying to figure out his next move, a strange shiver ran down Alia's spine. She paused, suddenly feeling like someone was staring at her intently. She glanced around the warm coffee shop, but everyone seemed busy. A couple whispered across the room, the barista cleaned the counter, and an old man read his paper. Nobody was paying attention to her. What is this feeling? She thought, rubbing her arms. Why do I feel like I'm being watched? Am I just imagining things? It was a strange sensation. Something about it felt dangerous, but at the same time, it didn't make her panic. Shrugging it off, she decided to stop caring about it and reached for the tote bag on the chair beside her. She unzipped it, pulled out a neat leather notebook and a black pen, and flipped to a page titled Bucket List. But just as her pen touched the paper, her phone loudly buzzed on the table. Alia looked down at the screen. The caller ID read Ms. Cindy. Her eyes widened in instant shock. She quickly grabbed the phone, but she didn't answer right away. She just stared at the glowing screen while it kept ringing, her hand frozen in place. Watching from the shadows, Aidan's curiosity flared. What could make her look so terrified? He stepped forward, leaning down close over her shoulder to get a better look at the screen. Without warning, Alia suddenly stood straight up. Aidan recoiled, dodging backward just in time as her head almost slammed right into his face. "Phew! That was close!" Aidan gasped, exhaling a sharp breath. Even though Grim Reapers were invisible to human eyes, physical contact was a dangerous rule. If a mortal collided with a reaper, they wouldn't just bump into them-they would feel a sudden, unnatural freeze, often getting sick with a terrible fever for a whole week. Unaware of the bullet she had just dodged, Alia quickly packed her notebook and pen back into her tote bag, slinging the strap over her left shoulder. She turned around to leave-putting her face only an inch away from Aidan's. Aidan froze, his heart dropping into his stomach. Only he was aware of how dangerously close they were, but what shocked him most was her gaze. Alia was looking straight into his eyes, almost as if she could actually see him standing there. "What are you?" Aidan whispered, his voice trembling even though he knew she couldn't hear him. Before she could take her first step toward the door, Aidan quickly shifted out of her path. He let out a long, heavy sigh as he watched her walk away toward the rain outside, realizing his mission was going to be much more complicated than he thought. Alia pushed open the heavy glass door of the coffee shop and stepped straight into the pouring rain. The cold water instantly soaked through her clothes as she sprinted toward the sidewalk, desperately looking up and down the dark street for a taxi. She held her phone over her head to shield it from the downpour, her eyes fixed on the bright screen. A new notification popped up: "Come at the office right now." It was a text from Ms. Cindy-her demanding boss. Alia worked at a well-known cosmetics company. When she was hired three years ago, her contract was for a Marketing Analyst position. She was supposed to analyze customer trends and plan product campaigns. But Ms. Cindy had other plans for her. Ever since day one, Cindy had treated Alia like her personal assistant, forcing her to handle last-minute errands, late-night coffee runs, and endless urgent tasks at all hours of the day. Today was supposed to be Alia's official day off. Yet, here she was again, freezing in the storm, her phone buzzing with another unshakeable command. This had been her life for three exhausting years, but no matter how many times it happened, she still wasn't used to it. The heavy, familiar weight in her chest returned-the feeling that her life wasn't really her own. Yellow headlights cut through the thick sheets of rain as an empty taxi finally pulled up to the curb. Alia flagged it down, her hands shaking from the chill, and yanked the door open. "Downtown, please" she panted, sliding onto the back seat and wiping wet hair from her face. She stared out the water-streaked window as the city lights blurred past. What she didn't know was that just a few feet behind the cab, standing completely dry in the middle of the torrential rain, Aidan was watching her go. His ledger glowed faintly in his hand, the golden letters "+30 Days" still pulsing against the dark cover. She's running herself to death for a job, Aidan thought, his dark eyes narrowing as he stepped into the street and vanished into thin air, following the taxi through the storm. The taxi pulled up to the looming glass skyscraper that housed Aura Cosmetics. Rain poured down the tall windows, turning the warm city lights into blurry smears of yellow and red. Alia stepped into the quiet lobby, and rode the elevator to the twelfth floor. The floor was dark except for the harsh white light spilling out from the corner office. She took a deep breath, patted down her damp jacket, and walked inside. Ms. Cindy sat behind a massive oak desk, her dark hair pulled into a tight bun, tapping her manicured nails impatiently on her tablet. "You took twenty minutes" Cindy said without looking up "I thought I told you it was urgent." "I'm sorry, Ms. Cindy. The rain made it hard to get a cab" Alia said softly, standing near the door. "Is there an issue with the quarterly report?" "The report is fine" Cindy dismissed with a wave of her hand"The board shifted the product launch for the new spring line to tomorrow morning. I need the entire marketing deck completely redone with updated regional analytics before 8:00 AM." Alia felt her stomach drop"Tomorrow morning? But I thought the team was meeting on Monday" "The team isn't here, Alia" Cindy interrupted, finally looking up with a cold, fake smile "You are. That's why you're my favorite. You always get things done." She gestured toward Alia's small desk just outside her office glass wall. "Everything you need is in your inbox. I expect it finished before sunrise." Without another word, Cindy grabbed her designer coat and walked past her toward the elevators, leaving Alia standing alone in the silent, empty floor. Alia let out a long, exhausted breath. She walked to her desk, sank into her chair, and rubbed her tired eyes. She opened her laptop, the bright screen illuminating the deep shadows under her eyes. Just another day, she thought bitterly. In the shadowed corner near the printer, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, stood Aidan. Because he was invisible to human eyes, he could observe her freely. He watched the way her shoulders slouched under the weight of exhaustion, the subtle tremble in her fingers as she typed, and the endless stack of folders piled beside her keyboard. This is what took her life, Aidan realized. He pulled out his ledger, flipping to page forty-two. He scanned her original cause of death: Cardiac arrest brought on by severe exhaustion and chronic stress. She wasn't supposed to die in a dramatic accident or at the hands of a villain. She was literally working herself into an early grave. And if the ledger hadn't glitched tonight, her heart would have stopped right there at her desk. Aidan watched her type for two solid hours without stopping to drink water or rest her eyes. A strange, unfamiliar spike of annoyance flared in his chest-not at Alia, but at the system that allowed people to crush themselves like this. Suddenly, Alia gasped, clutching her left shoulder as a sharp cramp pinched her muscles. She leaned back in her chair, wincing, and rubbed her neck with a small groan. Aidan took a step out of the shadows. He knew he shouldn't interfere, but watching her suffer in silence was becoming surprisingly hard to do. He closed his eyes and concentrated, letting a faint, controlled cool breeze circulate through the stuffy room. Alia blinked as a gentle, refreshing draft brushed against her face. The heavy, warm air in the office instantly cleared, cooling down her flushed skin and making her feel surprisingly alert. "Where did that come from?" she murmured, looking around the airless room in confusion. Aidan smiled faintly from the corner. It wasn't much, but it gave her a moment to breathe. As she went back to her typing, Aidan stared down at the glowing "+30 Days" written in his book. Who had given her this extra month? And was thirty days really enough time to save a girl who didn't even realize she was killing herself? Aidan looked down at his pocket watch. The hands pointed to 6:42 AM. Across the room, Alia was soundly asleep, her head resting softly against her crossed arms on the cluttered desk. Her quiet, steady breathing was the only sound in the dim office. Aidan walked over, stepping silently until he was standing right beside her. He leaned in, taking a closer look at her face. Free from the dark shadow of death, she looked peaceful. As he stared at her soft features, a strange feeling flickered in his mind-she looked oddly familiar, like someone he had seen before, though he couldn't recall where or when. He couldn't help but think she was remarkably pretty, too. Just as Aidan was leaning closer, the heavy office doors suddenly creaked open. Upbeat voices bounced off the walls, startling him. Instinct took over, and in a split second, he vanished into thin air, reappearing across the room near the high windows. Alia stirred, awakened by the cheerful chatter right in front of her desk. She rubbed her tired eyes and slowly blinked. When she opened them, a bright, smiling face greeted her. It was Abby. Abby was not just her coworker; she was her roommate. They had lived together in the same small apartment for three years, making them as close as sisters. "You didn't come home last night" Abby said, resting her hands on the desk. "I thought maybe you were out having a romantic night! But then I walked in here and saw you practically living in hell" Abby knew better than anyone how much Alia suffered under their ruthless boss. In fact, everyone on the floor did. Joining Abby were Frank and Georgina. Frank was a warm-hearted marketing senior manager for creative department, and Georgina was his sharp, loyal assistant. "Did she trap you in hell again?" Frank asked, shaking his head in sympathy. Alia offered a weak, tired smile, opening her mouth to answer-but a sharp, cold voice cut through the air before she could speak a single word. "Who said I was putting her into hell?" All four of them froze. Their eyes widened in sudden terror. Alia quickly pushed her chair back and stood straight up, her heart dropping right into her stomach.

The three of them Abby, Frank, and Georgina stood frozen in place while Cindy raised an eyebrow, glaring at them coldly. Slowly, Cindy turned her sharp gaze toward Alia. "Did you finish everything I asked for?" Cindy asked, her voice dripping with artificial politeness. "Yes, Ms. Cindy," Alia answered quietly, standing straight. "I've already sent it to your email." Cindy nodded once without giving a single word of thanks. She turned on her heel and walked back toward her office door, pausing right at the frame. She turned around and gave the group a cold look. "Aren't you guys busy?" Abby, Frank, and Georgina immediately scattered, diving straight back to their desks before their boss could find a reason to fire them. Meanwhile, Aidan, who was supposed to stay in the office with Alia, was suddenly summoned by his superior, Alexander-the direct manager who works for God, the boss of all bosses. "Do you have any idea why a soul that was supposed to be collected last night was given another month to live?" Aidan asked as soon as he stepped into Alexander's bright white office. "I was already briefed about it," Alexander said calmly, leaning back in his seat. "The council has given you a new task. This is the very first time something like this has ever happened to us. The council wants a full investigation, and you were assigned to the job." "What?" Aidan protested, throwing his hands up. "My hard job got replaced by an even harder job?" "You don't have a choice, and you know it," Alexander said, raising an eyebrow. "Besides, the council is offering to cut 1,000 years off your remaining time as a reaper before you can reincarnate." "Only 1,000 years?" Aidan scoffed. "What? Should I tell the council you're turning it down?" Alexander reached for the glowing white telephone on his desk. "Wait," Aidan said quickly. "I have conditions. Since I have to investigate in human form, I want a comfortable life so I can actually concentrate on the mission." The door of Alexander's office suddenly opened, and a tall, cute guy walked in. His name was Tyrone. Right behind him was a small, thin guy named Daico. Both of them were grim reapers, too. "You are going to do this investigation with them," Alexander said, pointing toward Tyrone and Daico. "What?!" Aidan shouted, his jaw dropping as he stared at the two of them. "You want me to work with them?" Tyrone gave a big, bright smile and waved happily at Aidan. "Hey there, partner! This is going to be so much fun!" Next to him, Daico just adjusted his oversized glasses and sighed, looking like he would rather be anywhere else in the world. "I work alone," Aidan said firmly, turning back to Alexander. "They will only slow me down." "This isn't a request, Aidan," Alexander replied smoothly, setting down his pen. "Tyrone will help you blend in with humans because he actually understands modern human culture. And Daico is the best tracker in our division-his sharp mind will help you trace the glitch in the ledger." Aidan pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a massive headache coming on. "Fine. But what about my human identity? I need a place to live, a car, and a reason to be around her." Alexander smiled and handed Aidan a black leather folder. "Everything is prepared. As of today, you are the new human Executive Director at Aura Cosmetics-and her new direct manager." Aidan looked down at the documents inside. "And what about these two?" "Tyrone will be your personal assistant," Alexander said, gesturing to the smiling reaper, "and Daico will work in the IT department to monitor the company's network for any supernatural activity." Aidan let out a long, frustrated sigh, closing the folder. He was used to simple reassignments, but now he had to live like a human, work at a makeup company, and manage two chaotic partners-all to figure out why one ordinary girl refused to die on time. "Alright," Aidan said, his eyes narrowing with determination. "Let's go meet Alia." The next morning, the sun rose over a bright, clear sky. Alia walked into the lobby of Aura Cosmetics, clutching a hot cup of coffee. Her eyes were still heavy with sleep, but she had managed to put on a neat blouse and slacks, ready to face another hard day. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator onto the twelfth floor, she noticed something was very different. The entire office was buzzing with nervous energy. Staff members were running back and forth, cleaning off empty desks, wiping down windows, and whispering in hushed, excited tones. Alia walked over to her desk, where Abby was frantically organizing a giant pile of folders. "What's going on?" Alia asked, setting her coffee down. "Why is everyone running around like crazy?" Abby leaned in close, her eyes wide. "You haven't heard? Ms. Cindy isn't the top boss on this floor anymore. Headquarters suddenly appointed a brand-new Executive Director to oversee our department!" "A new director?" Alia blinked in surprise. "Today?" "Yes!" Abby squealed quietly. "Word on the street is that he's young, insanely rich, and ridiculously handsome. Look over there!" Alia turned her head toward the grand corner office, the one right next to Ms. Cindy's. Standing inside were three men in tailored suits. One was a tall, cute guy with a bright, friendly smile who was busy setting up a laptop on the main desk. Another was a smaller, thin guy with thick glasses, silently plugging cables into the wall behind the computer. And standing right in the middle, looking out the floor-to-ceiling glass window with his hands tucked casually in his pockets, was the third man. Alia's breath hitched in her throat. He wore a crisp black suit that fit his tall, lean frame perfectly. His dark hair was neatly styled, revealing a sharp jawline and intense, striking eyes. Even from across the room, he carried an air of cold authority that made the whole floor feel a little colder. Wait... Alia thought, her heart skipping a strange beat. Where have I seen him before? Before she could process the thought, Ms. Cindy strutted out of her office, clapping her hands loudly to gather everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone, listen up!" Cindy announced, her voice tight with forced warmth. "Please welcome our new Executive Director, Mr. Aidan!" Aidan slowly turned away from the window and stepped out of his office, walking straight toward the center of the room. His sharp grey eyes scanned the crowd, completely ignoring the whispering employees, until his gaze landed directly on Alia. Their eyes met, and for a long, quiet second, time seemed to freeze all over again. Aidan offered a faint, smooth smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Good morning, everyone," he said, his deep voice carrying easily across the silent room. "I look forward to working with all of you." Alia stared at him, her mind racing. She didn't know why, but looking into his eyes gave her the exact same mysterious shiver she had felt in the coffee shop two nights ago, the strange feeling that her quiet, exhausting life was about to change forever. The office broke into polite applause as Aidan finished speaking. Ms. Cindy clapped with exaggerated enthusiasm, her tight smile betraying how much she hated sharing her authority on the floor. "Mr. Aidan will be managing high-level strategies for our upcoming brand launches," Ms. Cindy announced, her voice ringing across the quiet room. "And as his assistant, Tyrone will be handling his schedule, while Daico joins our IT department." Tyrone stepped forward and flashed a radiant, high-energy smile at the room. "Hi, everyone! So excited to work with all of you!" A few female staff members giggled and whispered among themselves, charmed by Tyrone's friendly aura. Meanwhile, Daico simply gave a short, silent nod before walking off toward the IT room, his eyes fixed on a tablet. "Now, back to work," Ms. Cindy commanded, waving her hand dismissively. The crowd dispersed, returning to their desks in a flurry of hushed chatter. Alia sat down at her desk, still trying to calm the sudden fluttering in her chest. She stole a quick glance toward the glass office. Inside, Aidan was taking off his dark suit jacket, draping it neatly over his chair. He looked completely at home in the human corporate world, though his sharp posture and distant look set him apart from everyone else. Suddenly, a shadow fell over her desk. Alia looked up to find Tyrone standing there with a clipboard, smiling down at her warmly. "Hi! You must be Alia" Tyrone said smoothly. "Oh, yes! Hi" Alia said, quickly standing up. "Are you looking for something?" "Director Aidan requested your presence in his office," Tyrone replied, gesturing toward the glass doors with a wink. "He wants to review the latest market research files you sent last night." Abby, who was sitting next to Alia, gasped softly behind her hand and shot Alia a wide-eyed look that clearly meant: Good luck! Alia swallowed hard, adjusting her shirt. "Right away. Thank you." She grabbed her notebook and walked toward the director's office. Her heart hammered against her ribs with every step. When she reached the door, she took a light breath, raised her hand, and knocked twice. "Come in," a deep, calm voice called out from inside. Alia pushed the glass door open and stepped into the spacious office. The scent of faint, cool cedarwood filled the air-the exact same scent she had noticed outside the coffee shop days ago. Aidan was sitting behind the sleek dark wood desk, typing on his laptop. He didn't look up immediately, letting the silence stretch between them for a moment. "You called for me, Mr. Aidan?" Alia asked gently, holding her folder tight against her chest. Aidan stopped typing. He slowly raised his head, his piercing grey eyes locking onto hers. Up close, his sharp features were even more striking, but it was the quiet intensity in his gaze that made her breath catch. "Alia," he said, pronouncing her name slowly, as if testing the weight of it on his tongue. "Take a seat." She walked over and sat in the chair across from his desk. "Is there an issue with the market reports I submitted to Ms. Cindy?" "No," Aidan said calmly, leaning back in his chair and crossing his hands over the desk. "The reports are thorough. In fact, they are much better than the ones submitted by your upper management." Alia blinked, taken aback by the unexpected compliment. "Oh... thank you." "However," Aidan continued, his voice dropping slightly, "I noticed you sent those files at 3:15 AM." Alia froze. "You stayed in this office all night alone, working until dawn," Aidan said, watching her reaction closely. "Tell me, Alia... do you always push yourself until you're on the edge of collapsing?" Alia lowered her eyes, feeling a strange mix of embarrassment and comfort. No one at the company had ever asked her how much she was pushing herself-they only cared about the results. "It was an urgent task," Alia answered softly, looking back up. "I just wanted to do my job well." Aidan stared at her, feeling a strange tug in his chest. She almost died from cardiac arrest caused by exhaustion, he thought, remembering the red letters in his ledger. And yet here she is, still trying to justify it. "Your hard work is noted," Aidan said, keeping his face cool and professional. "But starting today, your workload will be routed through me. You will not stay past 6:00 PM without my permission." Alia's eyes widened in surprise. "Pardon?" "That is all," Aidan said, turning his focus back to his laptop screen. "You may return to your desk, Alia." Alia sat still for a second, completely stunned by the strange boundary set by her new boss. "Thank you, Mr. Aidan," she murmured, standing up. As she walked toward the door, Aidan watched her shadow against the frosted glass. Thirty days, Aidan thought quietly to himself, his eyes lingering on her back. I have thirty days to find out who changed your fate... and to make sure you stay alive until then. Alia returned to her desk in a total daze. "Well? What did he say?" Abby whispered loudly, leaning so far over her desk she nearly knocked over her pencil holder. "Did he scold you about the reports?" "No," Alia said, sitting down slowly. "Actually... he told me my workload goes through him now, and I'm not allowed to work past 6:00 PM without his permission." Abby's jaw dropped. "Wait, really? Is he an angel sent from above or something?"Alia chuckled nervously, but her heart was still beating wildly. An angel? Not quite. But there was definitely something extraordinary about Mr. Aidan. Inside the glass office, Aidan sat behind his desk with his fingers crossed. Opposite him, Tyrone was grinning ear to ear while leaning back in a chair. "You really set a strict leave-time for her, boss?" Tyrone chuckled. "Very professional. Though, if you keep looking at her like that, the entire office is going to think you're in love with your staff member." Aidan gave Tyrone a warning look. "I am monitoring her. The ledger said her death was caused by sudden cardiac arrest from extreme overwork and stress. If I let her work herself to death again, the glitch resolves itself, and we learn nothing about who altered her timeline." "Right, right, strictly business," Tyrone said, waving a hand casually. "By the way, Daico sent a message from the IT room. He ran a full scan on the company server and found no trace of dark energy or unauthorized magical interference. Whoever tampered with Alia's record did it directly on your ledger, not through the human system." Aidan's eyes darkened. "Which means the person who changed her fate is someone from our world." Before Tyrone could reply, the door to the office burst open. Ms. Cindy walked in without knocking, carrying a towering stack of thick folders. "Mr. Aidan," Cindy said with a tight, fake smile. "Since you're still getting settled, I've prepared the Q4 budget reviews, the regional distribution contracts, and the marketing strategies for the new line. I'll need all of these reviewed and signed by 5:00 PM today." She dumped the mountain of paperwork onto Aidan's desk, causing a cloud of dust to puff into the air. "Also," Cindy added, casting a sharp look out toward the main office area, "I noticed you were talking with Alia. She's just a junior staff member, so don't let her waste your time. I usually handle her tasks directly because she needs constant supervision." Aidan slowly looked up from the stack of papers, his grey eyes piercing right through her. The air in the room instantly dropped several degrees, making Cindy shudder slightly. "Ms. Cindy," Aidan said in a flat, icy tone. "As Executive Director, I decide whose work is a waste of my time. As for these files, my assistant Tyrone will organize them. You may return to your duties." Cindy's smile twitched, her face flushing with embarrassment. She opened her mouth to argue, but the sheer coldness in Aidan's gaze made her close it immediately. "Of course, Mr. Aidan," she muttered, turning around and hurrying out of the office. Tyrone whistled softly. "Oof. Cold as ice, boss. I like it." By 3:00 PM, Alia's stomach was rumbling. She had been working non-stop since morning, analyzing sales data without taking a single break. Deciding to grab a quick coffee from the breakroom down the hall, she stood up and walked down the quiet corridor. The office breakroom was empty, washed in warm sunlight streaming through the large side window. She poured herself a fresh cup of dark roast coffee and leaned against the counter, taking a warm, comforting sip. "No sugar?" a deep voice asked from the doorway. Alia started, nearly spilling her drink. Aidan was standing at the entrance, his jacket off and his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, looking completely relaxed. "M-Mr. Aidan!" Alia stammered, holding her cup with both hands. "Oh, no, I prefer black coffee. It keeps me awake." Aidan walked over to the coffee machine, his presence instantly filling the small room. He poured himself a cup, his movements smooth and deliberate. "Bitter coffee to survive a bitter day?" he asked softly, glancing at her sideways. Alia let out a soft, genuine laugh-the first real smile Aidan had seen on her face all day. "Something like that. It's just been a very chaotic few days." Aidan turned to face her, leaning back against the counter just a foot away from her. "You look tired, Alia." Alia looked down at her coffee, feeling a little self-conscious under his intense gaze. "I guess I am. But everyone works hard here. It's just part of life." "It shouldn't be," Aidan said, his tone softening in a way that surprised even himself. "Life isn't meant to be spent just surviving from one deadline to the next. You should live it." Alia looked up, meeting his grey eyes. There was a sudden, profound depth in his words that hit her right in the chest. For a moment, she forgot he was her high-level director. He felt like someone who understood her on a level no one else ever had. "How do you know what life is supposed to be like, Mr. Aidan?" she asked quietly, a tiny, curious smile playing on her lips. Aidan paused, a faint, hidden amusement flashing across his eyes. "Let's just say," Aidan replied smoothly, taking a sip of his coffee, "I've been watching humans for a very long time." The rest of the afternoon passed in a quick blur. True to his word, Aidan diverted the heavy piles of paperwork away from Alia's desk, leaving her with a manageable workload for the first time in months. When the large digital clock on the office wall clicked to 5:58 PM, the entire floor was still packed with employees typing away furiously, braced for another long night of unpaid overtime. Ms. Cindy stepped out of her office, holding a fresh stack of review sheets, her eyes searching the room for Alia. "Alia," Ms. Cindy called out, her voice sharp. "I need you to cross-check these distribution files before you leave tonight. It should only take two or three hours." Alia felt her stomach sink. She reached out to take the folder, habit forcing her to comply. "Oh... okay, Ms. Cindy-" Before her fingers could touch the paper, a tall shadow fell over both of them. "She won't be doing that," a calm, deep voice interrupted. Ms. Cindy froze, her hand halting in mid-air. Aidan stood right beside Alia, holding a coat over his arm. His dark suit was immaculate, his posture imposing and cold as he looked down at Cindy. "Mr. Aidan," Cindy stammered, quickly pulling her hands back. "This is urgent work for tomorrow's meeting-" "Then you should have planned your department's schedule better," Aidan said smoothly, his tone leaving zero room for argument. He looked down at the wall clock as it hit exactly 6:00 PM. He turned his grey eyes to Alia. "Pack your bag, Alia. Your workday is finished." Alia blinked, looking back and forth between her furious boss and her unbothered new director. "Um... right now?" "Right now," Aidan replied quietly. "I believe I made the rule clear this morning." Across the room, Tyrone gave Alia a subtle thumbs-up, while Daico silently turned off his monitor in the IT corner and packed his laptop. With a fast-beating heart, Alia cleared her desk, slipped her notebook into her tote bag, and grabbed her cardigan. Ms. Cindy stood there, her cheeks burning with humiliation, forced to watch her most overworked employee leave on time for the very first time. "Have a good evening, Ms. Cindy," Alia said softly, stepping around her. As Alia walked toward the glass elevators, Aidan walked alongside her, matching her quiet pace. The soft hum of the elevator filled the silence as they descended toward the main lobby. "Thank you, Mr. Aidan," Alia said, her voice barely above a whisper as she stared at the glowing floor numbers dropping down. "You really didn't have to do that." "I always follow through on my rules," Aidan said, looking straight ahead at the glass reflection. "You look surprised." "I am," she admitted, giving a gentle laugh. "In this company, leaving at six feels like breaking the law. I almost forgot what the sun looks like when I leave work." Aidan glanced sideways at her. Under the bright lobby lights, her tired eyes looked a little lighter, a soft relief replacing the usual exhaustion on her face. A strange, unfamiliar warmth stirred in his chest-a feeling a 300-year-old Grim Reaper had no business feeling. They stepped out into the cool evening air outside the building entrance. The city sky was painted in rich shades of orange and deep purple as the sun began to set. "Get home safely, Alia," Aidan said, stopping by the wide glass doors. Alia turned to him, clutching her bag straps, a warm smile gracing her lips. "Goodnight, Director Aidan. See you tomorrow." She turned and began walking down the busy street toward the train station, her silhouette glowing under the streetlamps. Aidan stayed where he was, standing still in the middle of the rushing crowd of commuters. His leather ledger materialized silently in his coat pocket, humming with a faint, cool blue light. He pulled it out slightly, opening it to her page. The glowing red numbers of her lifespan remained unchanged: 29 days left. Tyrone appeared silently beside him, leaning against a pillar with his hands in his pockets. "She made it through Day One, boss." "Yes," Aidan said softly, watching her fade into the evening crowd. "She did."

When Abby and Alia came home from work, they saw a big truck full of furniture and home decorations parked outside their apartment building. "What is this? Are people moving in at night?" Abby asked, blinking in surprise. "Is someone finally moving into that empty house?" Alia asked, pointing to the large home nearby. "Maybe? It must be a family," Abby guessed. "Not a family, just some coworkers," Aidan said calmly as he stepped out from the shadows near the entrance. Alia and Abby both jumped, spinning around at the sudden sound of his voice. "M-Mr. Aidan?" Alia gasped, her eyes wide as she looked at her high-level executive director standing casually outside her apartment building at night. "What are you doing here?" Aidan kept his expression cool and steady, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt. "I live here now. Across the street." Abby's jaw dropped. She looked from Aidan to the large house, then back to Alia, her eyes shining with sudden, mischievous excitement. "Wait," Abby whispered loudly, nudging Alia hard in the ribs with her elbow. "Your handsome new boss just moved into your neighborhood? What are the odds of that?" Alia felt her face heat up instantly. "Abby, stop it," she muttered under her breath, before turning back to Aidan. "Is this a coincidence, Mr. Aidan?" Before Aidan could answer, the back doors of the moving truck swung open wider, and a tall, familiar figure jumped down to the pavement, carrying a large box. "Hey boss! Hey neighbors!" Tyrone called out with a bright, cheerful wave, flashing his signature winning smile. Right behind him, Daico stepped out of the house carrying a small laptop bag, pushing his glasses up his nose as he coldly scanned the street. Alia blinked, completely speechless. Her quiet apartment street had just been invaded by her entire upper management team. Abby stared at Tyrone, her eyes going wide as saucers. "Wait... your coworkers are moving into the big house too?" "Yes," Aidan answered smoothly, stepping forward before Alia could say anything. "Tyrone and Daico are my assistants. Since we're working on a major company project together, living nearby makes collaboration much easier." Tyrone jogged over, balancing a box of home supplies in one hand while giving Abby a dazzling grin. "Hi there! I'm Tyrone, Aidan's personal assistant. It's so nice to meet the neighbors!" Abby's face lit up immediately. "Oh! I'm Abby, and this is Alia. Wow, a whole management team as neighbors. This street just got a lot more interesting." Alia managed a tight, polite smile, though her mind was spinning. A major company project? Since when did Aura Cosmetics require its Executive Director, a personal assistant, and an IT specialist to move into a quiet residential neighborhood just to handle office work? It felt completely absurd. Daico walked past them toward the house, casting a cold, brief glance at Alia and Abby. "The network router is set up," he muttered to Aidan, his voice completely flat. "The perimeter is secure." Aidan gave a subtle nod. "Good. Get inside and finish unpacking." Daico turned around without another word and slipped back through the front door. "Well, we should let you guys settle in," Abby said, noticing the late hour and nudging Alia gently again. "Come on, Alia. Let's head inside." "Right. Have a good evening, Mr. Aidan... Tyrone," Alia said, offering a small wave. "Have a great night, neighbors!" Tyrone cheered, waving brightly as the two women turned toward their apartment building. As soon as they stepped inside the lobby and the door closed behind them, Abby grabbed Alia's arm, whispering in an excited frenzy. "Alia! Are you kidding me?! Your gorgeous, strict new boss just moved right next door with his ridiculously charming assistant? This is literally happening like a romance novel!" Alia let out a long sigh, pressing a hand to her forehead. "It's just a coincidence, Abby. Work is just getting way too close to home." Outside on the pavement, Aidan watched the apartment door close. His leather ledger hummed softly in his pocket. "Twenty-nine days," Aidan murmured under his breath, his eyes fixed on Alia's window upstairs. "Let's see if we can keep her safe." Inside the big house, the lights flickered on. Tyrone set his box down on the kitchen counter and stretched his arms. "Well, boss, the neighbors seem friendly. Especially Abby." Aidan walked to the front window and looked out at the street. Across the way, a light turned on in Alia's upstairs room. He could see her silhouette through the glass, moving around as she got ready for bed. "Focus, Tyrone," Aidan said quietly, his eyes fixed on her window. "We are not here to make friends. We are here to find out who changed the ledger." Daico walked into the room carrying a small black tablet. He tapped the screen a few times. "The local area is clear. No dark energy, no strange magic. But I will keep scanning the network every hour." "Good," Aidan said. He reached into his coat and pulled out the old leather book. The glowing red numbers on Alia's page stayed steady. 29 days. Aidan closed the book and turned away from the window. He needed to make sure she rested. If she stayed healthy, the glitch would stay broken, and the person who messed with her time would have to show their hand. "Go to sleep, both of you," Aidan told his helpers. "Tomorrow is a new day at the office." The next morning, the sun rose over the city, shining bright through the glass windows of Aura Cosmetics. Alia walked into the office a little before 9:00 AM. She felt better than usual. For the first time in years, she had actually slept a full eight hours instead of waking up in the middle of the night to check her work emails. As she sat down at her desk, Abby popped up from behind her divider with a cup of coffee in her hand. "Morning! Did you sleep well knowing your hot boss lives right across the street?" Abby whispered with a wide grin. Alia shook her head with a small smile. "I slept fine, Abby. And please, keep your voice down. He's going to be walking past our desks any second." Just on cue, the heavy glass door of the executive office opened. Aidan stepped out, wearing a sharp black suit. His silver-grey eyes swept across the room before landing right on Alia. He gave her a single, subtle nod of acknowledgment-a silent greeting that made her heart skip a beat-before walking toward the breakroom. Tyrone followed close behind him, winking at Abby as he passed by, while Daico walked straight to the IT corner without looking at anyone. Alia let out a breath she did not know she was holding. She opened her computer, ready to start her work, determined to keep her pace steady and leave right at 6:00 PM again. Inside the breakroom, Aidan poured a cup of black coffee while Tyrone leaned against the counter. "So, boss," Tyrone said, his voice low. "Day two of the human experiment. How are we feeling?" Aidan took a sip of his coffee, his gaze fixed on the doorway where Alia sat at her desk. "We are feeling focused," Aidan replied quietly. "Let's see what today brings." At 10:00 AM, a sharp chime echoed through the office. Ms. Cindy's voice rang out across the floor, demanding everyone's attention. "Marketing team, conference room now," Ms. Cindy announced, her face tight as she stepped out of her office. "We have a major company announcement." Alia exchanged a quick look with Abby, Georgina, and Frank as they all stood up and grabbed their notebooks. They filed into the large glass conference room and took their seats around the long table. At the head of the table sat Aidan, looking calm and composed in his dark suit. Tyrone stood quietly beside him, while Ms. Cindy took her spot nearby with a stiff posture. When everyone had settled, Aidan folded his hands on the table and spoke. "We are launching a major collaboration," Aidan said, his deep voice carrying clearly across the room. "Aura Cosmetics has officially signed an agreement with one of the biggest international celebrities today. They will be the global face of our upcoming product line." A murmur of excitement rippled through the marketing team. Abby gasped softly, kicking Alia's foot under the table, while Georgina and Frank exchanged wide-eyed looks. "This is the biggest campaign this company has seen in years," Ms. Cindy added, though she looked slightly annoyed that Aidan was leading the presentation. "It requires flawless execution, tight schedules, and round-the-clock coordination." Aidan raised a hand, cutting Cindy off smoothly. "However, it will be handled efficiently, not recklessly. For this project, I want our best minds on the ground." He turned his grey eyes directly toward Alia, then at Abby, Georgina, and Frank. "Alia, Abby, Georgina, and Frank," Aidan said clearly. "You four are assigned to lead this campaign. I expect daily updates, creative strategies, and-most importantly-strict adherence to standard working hours. No unnecessary overtime." Ms. Cindy's jaw tightened, but she didn't dare speak up against the Executive Director's orders. Alia stared at Aidan, her heart skipping a beat. A massive celebrity collaboration was the dream project of a lifetime, but doing it while keeping her new 6:00 PM off-work limit seemed impossible. Yet, looking into Aidan's steady gaze, she felt a strange surge of confidence. The glass elevator doors slid shut, sealing Aidan, Tyrone, and Daico inside as they headed down to the lobby for their afternoon field work. As the car descended smoothly through the building, Tyrone leaned against the rail with a light chuckle, breaking the silence. "So, boss, did you catch the tension in that room?" Tyrone asked, flashing a grin. "I did a little digging into Ms. Cindy's background while Daico was scanning the server. Turns out, there's a reason she's been working Alia to the bone." Aidan kept his gaze fixed on the glowing floor numbers. "Explain." "It's classic corporate rivalry," Tyrone said, ticking fingers off his hand. "Cindy and Alia were hired the exact same year. Alia was actually the one originally chosen for the higher-level promotion back then. But Cindy pulled some strings, forged some paperwork, and stole the position right out from under her." Daico didn't look up from his small tablet, his fingers tapping across the screen. "And instead of letting Alia advance, Cindy kept her trapped as a junior analyst, dumping all the heavy workload on her to keep her hidden." Aidan's grey eyes darkened, the temperature in the elevator dropping noticeably. The memory of the ledger glitch-and the sudden, stress-induced cardiac arrest that was supposed to kill Alia in 29 days-suddenly clicked into place. "She didn't just overwork her by accident," Aidan said, his voice flat and dangerous. "Cindy engineered it." Tyrone nodded, losing his playful smile for a fraction of a second. "Yep. If Alia died from exhaustion, Cindy's past theft of that promotion would stay buried forever. Looks like our human villain is a lot closer than we thought." The elevator dinged softly as it reached the ground floor, the polished doors sliding open to the bustling lobby. Before stepping out into the city, Aidan stopped, his expression hardening into cold resolve. "Monitor Cindy," Aidan instructed, his voice low and sharp. "She will do something again to sabotage Alia." Tyrone's playful grin faded into a serious nod. "Already on it, boss. She won't touch her." While her hands flew across the keyboard, Frank and Georgina walked over to her desk. Georgina was holding a thick stack of files, her expression full of worry. "Are you ready for Cindy's rage?" Georgina asked quietly, glancing over her shoulder toward the corner office. "There's no way she can handle losing control of this project. I'm sure she's going to take it out on you again." "She's definitely going to look for any excuse to throw a fit," Frank added, shaking his head. Alia stopped typing and looked up at them. Instead of looking stressed or scared like she usually did, a soft, bright smile spread across her face-the brightest, most genuine smile they had seen on her in three long years. Frank smiled too and nodded. "Let her enjoy the moment first," he said warmly. "Cindy isn't just a regular problem-she's a total menace." He tapped Georgina gently on the shoulder, guiding her back toward their desks. Nearby, Abby had seen and heard everything. A big, happy grin spread across her face. For three years, she had watched her best friend drown under Cindy's cruel demands. But this new project was changing everything for Alia, bringing back the light and energy in her eyes. Abby knew exactly who was responsible for this shift: Aidan. She wanted to thank him for giving Alia a real chance. And as her smile grew even wider, a mischievous idea popped into her head. When lunchtime came, Alia, Abby, Georgina, and Frank decided to eat out at a nearby restaurant. While the other three enjoyed their food, Abby couldn't take her eyes off her phone. She kept texting, giggling softly and smiling to herself. Frank noticed her odd behavior first. "Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked suddenly. His question made Georgina and Alia stop eating. They looked at Frank, then turned their eyes toward Abby. Feeling their heavy stares, Abby quickly put her phone down on the table. She looked at them with a big, playful smile. "Did I mention that Director Aidan moved into the big house right across from our apartment?" Abby asked. "Nope, you're only mentioning it now," Georgina answered, raising an eyebrow. "Isn't that a crazy coincidence?" Frank said, shaking his head. "Moving into the house right across from where you two live?" Alia stayed quiet, sipping her drink. She felt suspicious too. Everything was happening too fast and felt way too obvious to be a simple coincidence. But ever since Aidan showed up, all the things she had wished for-a fair chance at work, proper rest, and protection from Cindy-were being handed to her without her even having to ask. Whatever his reasons were, she decided to welcome the positive changes gladly. "So," Abby continued, her smile growing from ear to ear, "I texted Tyrone and asked if we could throw a welcome party and housewarming party for them. And he said yes! He thought it was a great idea, so we're all invited!" Alia almost choked on her drink, coughing loudly as she accidentally spat it back into her glass.