Principal's Office

Helios Academy looked beautiful at night.

Which was unfortunate.

Beautiful things were always more dangerous.

The hallways glowed softly beneath expensive chandeliers while rain pressed against the massive windows overlooking the city below. Silence wrapped around the academy carefully, interrupted only by distant thunder and the occasional security patrol.

Lucien moved quietly through the dark corridor.

Calm.

Precise.

He already knew three things.

First:

Minjae’s disappearance was being covered up.

Second:

Ms. Evelyn had discovered something before vanishing.

Third:

Kieran Vale was somehow connected to both.

Unfortunately, Lucien still lacked the most important thing.

Proof.

The principal’s office sat at the end of the hallway like a guarded secret.

Locked.

Predictable.

Lucien crouched slightly near the digital keypad beside the door, connecting a thin device from his pocket.

Most people trusted technology too much.

That was always their first mistake.

The keypad blinked twice.

Unlocked.

Easy.

Lucien stepped inside quietly.

The office smelled faintly of coffee, old paper, and money.

A strangely recognizable combination.

Moonlight spilled across expensive furniture while computer monitors glowed softly near the desk.

Lucien approached carefully.

Then stopped.

A figure already sat in the chair.

Relaxed.

Unbothered.

Downloading files directly from the principal’s computer.

Kieran glanced over lazily.

“You’re late.”

Lucien stared at him.

“You broke into the principal’s office.”

Kieran looked mildly confused.

“And you prayed your way in?”

Fair point.

Lucien closed the door behind him quietly.

“What are you doing?”

“Improving my education.”

Folders flashed rapidly across the monitor screen.

Financial reports.

Student disciplinary files.

Deleted security footage.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Lucien stepped closer.

“You hacked the system.”

Kieran looked offended.

“That’s your department, apparently. I prefer persuasion.”

“Then how did you access the files?”

Kieran smiled faintly.

“The vice principal cries when people raise their voices at him.”

A pause.

“…You threatened him?”

“I emotionally encouraged cooperation.”

Lucien almost respected that.

Almost.

Thunder echoed outside softly.

The office lights flickered once.

Kieran continued scanning files before suddenly pausing.

Interesting.

“What?”

Kieran’s smile weakened slightly.

“There is payment records connected to missing students.”

Lucien’s expression sharpened immediately.

The screen displayed transaction logs hidden beneath academic records.

Large amounts.

Repeated transfers.

Restricted access.

And one name appearing constantly.

Vale Pharmaceuticals.

The room fell silent.

Kieran stared at the screen calmly.

Too calmly.

Lucien watched him carefully.

“You didn’t know?”

Kieran leaned back slowly.

“If I say no, you’ll think I’m lying.”

“Probably.”

“Fair.”

Lucien crossed his arms quietly.

“Your family is involved.”

“So is yours.”

That made Lucien pause.

Kieran clicked another hidden file open.

A list of encrypted payments appeared beside a corporate logo Lucien recognized instantly.

Arden Technologies.

Neither spoke for several seconds.

Rain hammered harder against the windows now.

“How unfortunate,” Kieran murmured softly.

Lucien’s gaze remained fixed on the screen.

“Someone is using the academy.”

“For money laundering?” Kieran guessed.

“No.”

Lucien narrowed his eyes slightly.

“For recruitment.”

That changed the atmosphere instantly.

Even Kieran stopped smiling.

Before either could speak again—

Footsteps echoed outside the office.

Both froze.

Voices.

Security.

“Check the principal’s office.”

Lucien immediately shut the monitor off while Kieran grabbed the flash drive quickly.

The office door handle moved.

Locked.

For now.

Lucien grabbed Kieran's wrist suddenly and pulled him toward the narrow space behind a tall bookshelf near the back wall.

Too close.

The space barely fit both of them comfortably, forcing their bodies into intimate proximity. Kieran ended up trapped between the shelf and Lucien's hard chest while footsteps approached outside. He could feel Lucien's heartbeat against his back, steady despite their precarious situation. The scent of Lucien's cologne—something warm and spicy—filled the small space, overwhelming Kieran's senses. Lucien's breath ghosted across Kieran's neck as he leaned forward slightly, his free hand coming to rest on the wall beside Kieran's head, effectively caging him in.

The footsteps grew louder.

Lucien didn't move away. If anything, he pressed closer, his fingers still wrapped firmly around Kieran's wrist, thumb stroking gently over the pulse point. Kieran's own heart raced, and he was grateful Lucien couldn't see the flush spreading across his face. He tilted his head back slightly, their eyes meeting in the dim light filtering through the books. Something unspoken passed between them—a charged awareness that had nothing to do with their illegal activities and everything to do with the electricity crackling in the inches separating their bodies.

The office door rattled again.

Neither spoke.

Lucien could hear Kieran breathing steadily despite the situation.

Annoyingly calm.

Kieran teased with a smirk.

“You smell expensive.”

Lucien stared at him blankly in the darkness.

“You smell like bad decisions.”

“I have been around them lately.”

“I wouldn’t doubt.”

Kieran lowered his voice slightly.

“Can I ask you something?”

Lucien kept his attention on the moving flashlight beyond the bookshelf.

“You just did.”

A faint smile appeared on Kieran’s face.

“Why did you interfere earlier?”

Lucien frowned slightly.

“With Minjae.”

Silence settled briefly between them while footsteps echoed across the office floor.

Kieran’s voice softened just enough to sound genuine.

“You didn’t need to help me.”

Lucien answered immediately.

“He was pleading for it.”

“I never heard that prayer.”

The flashlight beam passed dangerously close.

Neither moved.

Then Lucien spoke quietly.

“Am the only one allowed to find you irritating.”

A pause.

Even the rain outside seemed quieter for a second.

Kieran stared at him in genuine surprise.

Lucien realized what he said exactly two seconds too late.

Unfortunately, Kieran smiled slowly afterward.

Not mocking.

Worse.

Interested.

“Well,” Kieran whispered softly, “that sounded disturbingly possessive.”

Lucien genuinely considered murder.

Fortunately, the guard moved away before he could act on it.

Kieran:

“If we disappear, I hope they at least make us look attractive on the news.”

Lucien:

“That would require editing.”

Minutes later, the office finally fell silent again.

The guards left.

Neither moved immediately.

Kieran exhaled softly.

“That was intimate.”

“That was unfortunate.”

Kieran laughed quietly under his breath before stepping away carefully.

Then his attention shifted toward a file partially hanging from the desk drawer.

He pulled it open slowly.

Inside sat financial records connected to local charities, private religious organizations, and anonymous donations.

At the center of every transaction sat one familiar name.

Saint Gabriel Foundation.

Lucien’s eyes darkened slightly.

“My uncle runs that foundation.”

Kieran glanced toward him.

“The priest?”

“Yes.”

A pause.

Kieran smiled faintly.

“Well.”

Lucien already hated that tone.

“You know the phrase ‘forgive me father, for I have sinned’?”

Lucien sighed quietly.

“I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?”

“Almost definitely.”

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