"Huh?" Ulyana frowned slightly.
Lisa simply gestured toward the elevators.
"You should probably see it yourself, Madam."
Immediately suspicious, Ulyana followed Lisa out of the conference room and toward the front entrance lobby. The moment the elevator doors opened onto the main floor, several employees subtly straightened.
Some tried not to stare, while others failed completely.
Ulyana walked through the lobby calmly despite the growing curiosity surrounding her.
The countless floral arrangements still filled the space beautifully, though now many employees were carefully selecting bouquets to take home.
Then she saw it.
Parked directly outside the front entrance of Nivasa Tower was a sleek black luxury vehicle.
And beside it stood several staff members holding what appeared to be dozens of designer shopping bags.
Ulyana stopped walking. "…Lisa."
Her assistant looked equally overwhelmed.
"There's a note attached, Madam."
One of the staff members immediately stepped forward and handed her a black envelope embossed once again with the silver Volkov crest.
Ulyana already felt a headache forming.
She opened the card.
You mentioned returning to work after a difficult few days.
Consider this recovery assistance.
— Rowan x
Ulyana stared blankly at the line for several seconds before slowly looking toward the mountain of bags waiting outside.
"…What did he buy?"
Lisa cleared her throat awkwardly. "Madam… from what security gathered…"
A pause.
"…It appears to be an entire wardrobe."
Ulyana walked toward the bags in disbelief and carefully looked inside one of them.
Then another. Then another.
Her eyes widened slightly. "…Lisa."
"Yes, Madam?"
"He bought the entire Ralph Lauren collection."
The staff around them collectively tried very hard not to react.
Failed. Miserably.
Designer boxes and neatly wrapped clothing filled the entrance area almost absurdly.
Dresses, coats, knitwear, shoes, handbags...
It genuinely looked like a boutique had been emptied out directly into Nivasa Tower. Then her phone rang again.
ROWAN 💓
Several nearby employees instantly pretended not to listen.
Ulyana answered the call slowly. "…Rowan."
His voice sounded far too calm considering the chaos he was causing.
"Please sign for it."
Ulyana blinked. "Please sign for it?"
"Yes."
"Rowan, this is an entire fashion line."
"A seasonal collection," he corrected smoothly.
"That is not better."
A faint chuckle came through the speaker.
"You mentioned returning to work after a difficult week," he replied. "I thought you deserved something nice."
"Something nice?" Ulyana repeated in disbelief. "Normal people buy flowers."
"I bought flowers too."
"…Two hundred of them."
"And now clothes."
Ulyana pressed a hand to her forehead while Lisa silently turned away to hide her smile.
"Rowan," she sighed softly, "people are staring."
"Good."
"That's your answer to everything."
"It's a very effective answer."
Despite herself, Ulyana laughed quietly.
Then Rowan's tone softened slightly. "Please sign for it, Princess."
"Don't call me that," Ulyana muttered softly. "You're not being very knight in shining armour right now."
Rowan chuckled quietly on the other end of the line.
Then his tone lowered slightly. "Ulyana."
The way he said her name was so smooth and flirtatious that she completely lost her train of thought for a moment.
Several nearby employees subtly looked away to give the illusion of privacy while absolutely listening.
Ulyana said nothing.
A faint amusement lingered in Rowan's voice afterward. "Sign for it, please."
She closed her eyes briefly. "You weaponise your voice."
"That sounds like a compliment."
"It wasn't."
"It definitely was."
Ulyana sighed dramatically while trying not to smile. "You're impossible."
"And yet," Rowan replied smoothly, "you're still holding the pen."
"Can you see me?" Rowan suddenly asked.
Ulyana frowned slightly and instinctively glanced toward the street outside the building.
Across from Nivasa Tower, a man sitting casually on a black motorcycle lifted his hand and waved once.
Ulyana froze. "…You're ridiculous."
A low laugh came through the phone.
"Sign for the delivery, Ulyana."
"You're literally outside my building monitoring the situation?"
"I prefer the term observing."
"You are insane."
"And yet you're smiling."
Ulyana immediately tried to straighten her expression as several employees nearby began pretending very hard not to notice what was happening.
Unfortunately for her, Lisa definitely noticed.
Rowan sounded entirely too pleased with himself.
"I'll leave once you sign for it."
"You planned this whole thing just to embarrass me publicly, didn't you?"
"No," Rowan replied smoothly.
A pause. "I also wanted to see you."
A few moments later, Rowan finally stepped off the motorcycle and crossed the street toward Nivasa Tower.
The moment employees realised who he was, the entire lobby atmosphere shifted again.
Even security looked tense.
Rowan Volkov carried himself with the kind of calm confidence that naturally commanded attention. Dressed entirely in black beneath his dark trench coat, he looked less like a businessman and more like the main character in a scandal nobody could stop watching.
Ulyana almost lost composure seeing him walk directly toward her so casually. But then she remembered where they were.
Her staff was watching.
Which meant she had to play the part too.
By the time Rowan reached her, she had already straightened her posture and slipped perfectly back into her poised public persona.
Rowan held out the digital signing tablet toward her with the faintest trace of amusement in his eyes.
"Can I get your signature please, ma'am?"
Ulyana stared at him in disbelief for half a second before smiling sweetly through gritted teeth.
"I hate you."
Rowan looked entirely unbothered. "That's unfortunate."
Ulyana signed the tablet anyway while several nearby employees nearly vibrated from trying not to react.
Then Rowan smoothly took the tablet back from her.
"Perfect."
He looked at her properly afterward.
"I'm here to formally ask you on a date to the baseball game next week."
The surrounding staff immediately became statues.
Ulyana knew exactly what he was doing. And unfortunately for her, he was very good at it.
So she tilted her head slightly and answered playfully, "I'll think about it~"
A dangerous smile appeared on Rowan's face at her tone. "Oh?"
"Mhm."
"You're making me work for it now?"
"You started this war with flowers and designer clothing," Ulyana replied calmly. "Now you suffer the consequences."
Several employees physically looked away to hide their reactions.
Meanwhile Rowan simply stepped slightly closer.
"Then I suppose," he said smoothly, "I'll just have to impress you properly."
Rowan glanced toward the towering Nivasa building before speaking calmly.
"I'm actually glad I came by today," he admitted. "I have an afternoon meeting with Ivan and Vadim tomorrow anyway."
Almost perfectly on cue, the elevator doors nearby opened.
Ivan and Vadim stepped into the lobby together.
The twins immediately spotted Rowan standing beside Ulyana amongst the sea of flowers and designer bags.
Both looked momentarily stunned. Then professionalism settled over them instantly.
"President Volkov," they greeted smoothly as they approached.
Each brother shook Rowan's hand firmly.
"Always a pleasure seeing you both," Rowan replied politely. "CEO Vasily. Vice President Vasily."
Vadim glanced toward the absolute chaos surrounding the lobby.
"Our meeting is tomorrow," he noted suspiciously.
Rowan nodded calmly. "Correct. But today I'm here on personal business."
Ivan's eyes slowly drifted toward the mountains of flowers. Then toward the luxury shopping bags.
Then finally toward Ulyana. "…What exactly is all this?"
Vadim folded his arms.
"Actually yeah," he added. "What are the flowers and designer store invasion for?"
Ulyana remained perfectly composed beside Rowan.
Then answered calmly, "Rowan is formally asking me on a date."
Silence.
The twins blinked simultaneously.
Several nearby employees immediately pretended they were not listening with every ounce of their being.
Ivan looked toward Rowan slowly.
"You sent two hundred bouquets…"
"…and an entire Ralph Lauren collection…" Vadim finished blankly.
Rowan remained completely serious. "I felt subtlety would not properly convey my intentions."
That almost made Ivan choke laughing.
Vadim physically turned away for a second.
Meanwhile Ulyana stood beside Rowan looking deceptively calm despite internally wanting the marble floor to swallow her whole.
The employees watching the four of them standing together felt like they were witnessing some sort of social phenomenon.
Silvercrown's most untouchable figures casually laughing together in the middle of the Nivasa lobby was surreal enough on its own.
But the chemistry between them made it even more shocking.
"They actually get along…"
"So Chairman Volkov is seriously pursuing Madam Vasily?"
"They really suit each other."
"President Volkov is ridiculously tall…"
Quiet whispers spread throughout the lobby while employees discreetly stared from a safe distance.
At that exact moment, Ulyana's PR executive department began filtering out from the elevators after their meeting and lunch.
The moment they stepped into the lobby and saw the scene before them, several immediately froze.
Their terrifying executive was standing comfortably beside Rowan Volkov while the Vasily twins casually joked with him amongst mountains of flowers and designer gifts.
It looked absurdly glamorous.
"Madam Vasily," one employee greeted politely, "thank you for lunch."
Another nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Madam."
Several staff members then awkwardly acknowledged the men standing nearby.
"President… Vice President… Chairman… or President Volkov?" one employee asked Rowan carefully.
Rowan looked mildly amused. "Chairman Volkov will suffice."
The employee nodded immediately like they had narrowly escaped death.
Soon afterward, the department collectively left together, many carrying bouquets in their arms while excited whispers immediately resumed the moment they reached the elevators.
Within minutes, the staff group chat exploded into activity.
Someone suggested after work karaoke.
Another suggested drinks.
Then suddenly the entire department agreed.
Lisa quietly showed the rapidly moving messages to Ulyana. She glanced over them briefly before handing the phone back.
"That's fine," she said calmly. "They deserve to enjoy themselves."
Lisa smiled softly.
Meanwhile beside her, Rowan observed the interaction carefully.
"You're very liked by your staff," he noted quietly.
Ulyana looked mildly confused by the observation. "I just treat them properly."
"That's rarer than you think," Rowan replied.
"And that's the problem with a lot of corporate offices," Ulyana explained calmly. "People think respect only works one way."
Rowan listened attentively beside her.
"My staff respect me because I respect them," she continued. "I make it very clear that our relationship is professional, but I'm not without feeling."
She adjusted one of the flower ribbons absentmindedly while speaking.
"I take their input seriously," she added. "And if I decide against something they suggest, I explain why."
Rowan looked genuinely impressed by her answer.
"You lead well," he said simply.
Before Ulyana could respond, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the message before immediately looking toward Ivan.
"Ivan…"
"Hm?"
"You need to go see your wife."
Ivan blinked once.
"Have you even visited sister in law properly since you've been back?" Ulyana continued accusingly.
"I slept beside her," Ivan defended calmly.
Ulyana held her forehead dramatically like she suddenly had a migraine.
"Ivan, please go home and spend actual time with her," she scolded. "You're ridiculous."
Ivan looked entirely unashamed.
"She doesn't even know you were in hospital, does she?"
"I was on an underground assignment."
"Don't act like she can't handle it," Ulyana shot back immediately. "Besides, while she's at home raising your triplets, the least you could do is take some proper time off."
Vadim immediately started laughing at his brother's suffering.
Unfortunately for him, Ulyana's attention snapped toward him next.
"And you shouldn't laugh either."
Vadim's grin slowly faded.
"When was the last time you even took your girlfriend out to dinner?"
Vadim looked thoughtful for a moment. "…Which one?"
There was a brief pause.
Then Ivan burst out laughing.
Rowan unexpectedly laughed too.
Even Ulyana failed to suppress her amusement before immediately glaring at Vadim again.
"Seriously," she sighed, "I'm surprised she's put up with you this long."
Vadim placed a hand dramatically over his chest.
"That's hurtful."
"It's truthful," Ivan corrected while still laughing.
"If I get another message from her," Ulyana warned Ivan, "I'm sending her the photos of you unconscious in the hospital."
Ivan's eyes widened slightly. "Please don't."
"Then go see your wife."
Without warning, Ulyana grabbed one of the enormous peony bouquets nearby and slammed it directly into Ivan's chest.
"Take these," she ordered. "Now go apologise and spend some damn time with your children."
Vadim burst out laughing immediately while Ivan barely managed to catch the flowers.
"Okay, okay," Ivan surrendered with a grin. "I'll go."
"Good."
Ulyana folded her arms. "Work will still be here tomorrow, so both of you need to leave."
The twins exchanged amused looks but obeyed without much resistance.
Meanwhile, Rowan quietly observed the interaction beside her.
And from the way she subtly stepped back toward the building afterward, he could already tell she intended to return to work.
Before she could fully turn away, Rowan gently caught hold of her hand.
At the same time, he accepted another bouquet from one of his assistants.
"Have a good day, Princess," he said softly.
Then his gaze held hers for a moment longer.
"I'll see you Friday for the baseball game. I'll pick you up personally."
Before she could answer, Rowan lifted her hand and gently pressed a kiss against her knuckles.
Several nearby employees visibly stopped functioning.
Then Rowan handed her the bouquet.
This one was different.
The elegant wrapping paper didn't say Ulyana. Instead, embossed neatly in silver lettering, was one word:
Rowan.
Ulyana hesitated briefly before accepting it, and then she smiled.
"See you then."
Rowan looked at her intently for a moment longer before speaking.
"I'll have the Ralph Lauren collection delivered directly to your residence."
Ulyana shook her head softly in disbelief.
"Thanks."
The corner of Rowan's mouth lifted faintly. "You head inside first."
Ulyana smiled before giving him a small wave.
Then, bouquet still in her arms, she turned and headed back toward the elevators of Nivasa Tower.
Countless eyes followed her.
But just before the elevator doors closed, she glanced back one last time through the glass entrance.
Rowan had already crossed the street again.
The black motorcycle waited beneath the afternoon sunlight while the city moved around him endlessly.
He pulled his gloves back on smoothly before starting the engine.
Then without another word, Rowan Volkov rode away down the streets of Silvercrown.
-
At the Karaoke Bar
Meanwhile, Ulyana's PR department had fully committed to their spontaneous after work plans.
By a little past one in the afternoon, nearly the entire team had gathered at one of Silvercrown's popular upscale karaoke bars.
The moment they entered, they drew attention naturally.
Partly because many of them still wore their Nivasa Technology employee lanyards around their necks. And partly because they carried themselves differently from the average corporate crowd.
Confident.
Polished.
Sharp.
Everyone in Silvercrown knew Nivasa employees were notoriously high achieving individuals. Landing a position within the company alone was considered prestigious, but surviving under the executive division was another level entirely.
Especially under Ulyana Vasily.
Several patrons quietly glanced over as the group settled into their private room laughing loudly amongst themselves.
"Wait," one man whispered from another booth, "aren't they from Nivasa?"
"Yeah."
"At one in the afternoon?"
"Must be nice."
Inside the karaoke room itself, however, the atmosphere was completely different from the composed professionalism they maintained in the office.
Ties were loosened.
Blazers came off.
Drinks were poured almost immediately.
And the department's more serious employees suddenly became frighteningly competitive over karaoke song choices.
Lisa sat beside Sarah while scrolling through song options.
"I'm telling you right now," one executive warned dramatically, "if any of you upload videos from today, I'll resign."
"That's not legally binding," another replied.
"It should be."
Laughter filled the room.
Meanwhile Sarah sat quietly at first, still not entirely used to the social side of the department.
But unlike her expectations of intimidating executives and cold office culture, everyone here felt surprisingly normal.
Chaotic, but normal.
One of the senior staff members leaned back against the couch holding their drink.
"You know," they said thoughtfully, "Madam Vasily was actually in a good mood today."
That immediately reignited the gossip.
"Obviously."
"Chairman Volkov sent her an entire flower shop."
"And a designer store."
Lisa took a sip of her drink calmly. "He also stood outside the building waiting for her signature personally."
The room exploded. "No he did not."
"He rode a motorcycle there too."
"That's disgustingly attractive."
"Right!?" Lisa agreed immediately.
Even Sarah quietly smiled listening to them.
Because honestly - the image of the terrifyingly elegant Ulyana Vasily secretly being romanced that intensely was strangely adorable.