The door to Commander Monbilt's office creaked open, and her eyes flicked up from the stack of reports on her desk. Christoff stepped in, a woman by his side. The woman was unfamiliar, a newcomer, and Monbilt's sharp gaze immediately locked onto her.
"Commander Claire Monbilt, may I introduce Fiona," Christoff began, his voice steady but tinged with the usual formality. "She's new here and will be assisting you. Fiona, this is Commander Claire Monbilt, you can also call her Commander Monbilt, in short, the one overseeing our unit and division."
Monbilt gave a curt nod, her eyes never leaving Fiona's face. He was known for her no-nonsense approach, There was something about this newcomer that piqued her interest, though she couldn't quite place it yet. But she showed a welcoming smile to her.
"Hi Fiona, you're welcome here. I expect that you can do this work properly and seriously," Claire said with a warm smile, her eyes holding a hint of doubts.
Fiona, bowed in acknowledgement as she smile mysteriouly but looking so innocent. It was a gesture of respect and promise. However, the solemn moment was interrupted by a soft chuckle. Christoff, unable to contain his amusement, had let out a laugh. Claire turned to him, one eyebrow arched in curiosity and mild irritation.
"Sorry," Christoff said, clearing his throat awkwardly. "I just didn't expect that." He shrugged, a sheepish grin playing on his lips, as if that explained everything.
Before the tension could settle, the door to the rest area beside Claire's office swung open.
Eric stepped out, looking slightly disoriented as if he had just woken up from a nap. His sudden appearance startled Claire, her eyes widening in surprise. But it was Christoff who seemed most affected, his jaw dropping slightly as he took in Eric's unexpected presence.
"Eric," Christoff managed to say, his voice tinged with both surprise and curiosity. "What are you doing here?"
Eric blinked, trying to shake off the drowsiness. "I... I just needed a break," he explained, running a hand through his hair. "Didn't mean to interrupt anything."
Claire continued to stare, her mind racing. The conversation had taken an unexpected turn, leaving everyone in the room slightly off balance. As they all tried to regain their composure, the air was thick with unspoken questions.
"Sir Eric, I didn't expect you'd be here to pass the time," Christoff said, his presence immediately lightening the atmosphere. "How are you feeling?"
Eric looked up and smiled warmly. "I'm feeling better, thanks to Claire," he replied, his eyes briefly meeting Claire's before she quickly looked away.
Claire's heart raced. She didn't know what to do with herself, so she grabbed the nearest stack of documents on her table and began flipping through them, pretending to be deeply engrossed. She hoped no one would notice her flushed cheeks.
But Christoff wasn't fooled. He glanced at Claire, noting the slight blush on her face and the way she was flipping through the documents without actually reading them. A small, knowing smile played on his lips as he observed her.
Claire's hands stilled on the papers, her mind racing for a response. She finally managed a nervous smile, avoiding eye contact. By the way, why don't you introduce the newcomer, Christoff?," she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Christoff suddenly turned his gaze to Eric, his eyes lingering for a moment before shifting back to Fiona.
"Fiona," he began, his voice carrying a note of formality, "this is Sir Eric Thunless, the Handler." He then directed his attention back to Eric. "Sir Eric, meet Fiona, the newcomer."
Fiona, her expression a blend of determination and curiosity, extended her hand towards Eric. "Hello, Sir Eric. I will do my best," she said, her voice steady as she looked at him with an intrigued gaze.
As this exchange unfolded, Christoff's eyes wandered across the room and landed on Claire. He immediately noticed the icy stare she was directing at him, her expression cold and unyielding, a stark contrast to the warm introductions just exchanged.
"Alright then," Monbilt finally said, breaking the silence. "Let's get to work. Fiona, you'll start by familiarizing yourself with the current reports. Christoff will help you get settled."
With that, Fiona nodded and followed Christoff to her new station. Claire lingered for a moment, exchanging a glance with Eric. There was an unspoken understanding between them, they both sensed that Fiona's arrival was the beginning of something new, and possibly. Is she a alliance or enemy?
As the door closed behind Fiona and Christoff, Monbilt leaned back in her chair, her mind already churning with thoughts about the newcomer. Only time would reveal what impact she would have on their unit, but for now, they would proceed with cautious optimism
"By the way, thank you, Claire," Eric began, his voice breaking the comfortable silence between them.
It was a voice that Claire had always found irresistible, each word resonating like a melody in her ears. Her heart quickened its pace at the mere sound of it.
Claire smiled softly, but before she could respond, Eric continued, "And please, don't be too hard on Fiona. She's new here. I know how meticulous you are, Claire, but let's keep Blaze out of the conversation for now. We need to be sure we can trust her first."
Claire's brow furrowed slightly. "Yes, but there's something... different about her. I can't quite put my finger on it, but she feels unusual, somehow."
Eric chuckled, a sound that sent warmth through her. "It's not a bad thing to give her a chance. But after all, we all know that Mr. Jaxon has many connections."
Claire nodded, She knew Eric was right, but the feeling of unease about Fiona lingered. She couldn't shake it off.
"Eric?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Eric turned to her, his eyes locking onto hers, a silent invitation for her to continue. His gaze was steady, patient, making her feel as though she could tell him anything.
She swallowed, trying to muster the courage to voice her thoughts.
Eric stood still for a moment, his eyes never leaving Claire. The tension between them was palpable as he took a deliberate step towards her, closing the distance.
"Do you have something to say, Claire?" Eric's voice was soft yet firm
Claire's eyes darted away, avoiding his piercing gaze. But Eric wasn't having it. With a gentle yet decisive motion, he cupped her cheeks, tilting her face up until their eyes met once more.
"Claire," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "I don't know what's on your mind right now, so please, tell me."
For a moment, Claire remained silent, her thoughts swirling like a storm. Then, she sighed, a soft, resigned sound, and managed a small, tentative smile.
"You have nothing to worry about," Eric continued, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. "Nothing will happen to you. You're not alone, and you won't be alone."
A warmth spread through Claire at his words, a reassurance she didn't know she needed until that very moment.
"Thank you, Eric," she murmured, her voice laden with emotion.
Without another word, he stepped into her embrace, wrapping his arms around her. Claire hugged him back, holding his close as if to shield her from the world's troubles.
For that moment, in each other's arms, the silence returned but it was no longer heavy or tense. It was the comforting silence of shared understanding, of unspoken promises.