Since the reveal of Ulyana's newest suitor, the department had become even more fascinated by her life outside of work.
It was subtle at first, then completely unavoidable.
During lunch breaks, team members would casually debate topics that absolutely had nothing to do with their actual responsibilities.
"So realistically… who's the breadwinner between Madam Vasily and Chairman Volkov?"
"That's impossible to calculate."
"Nivasa literally owns half the city."
"Yeah but the Volkov family owns the other half."
Another employee leaned forward seriously.
"More importantly… who wears the pants?"
"That man sent two hundred bouquets before lunch. He absolutely does not move like a submissive individual."
The table burst out laughing.
Oddly enough, however, the increased curiosity surrounding Ulyana's personal life never harmed the department's performance.
If anything, morale improved.
People worked harder.
Perhaps out of motivation.
Perhaps out of fascination.
Perhaps because the idea of disappointing Ulyana somehow felt worse now that they had witnessed how human she actually was outside of meetings.
A few days later, the department gathered once again for another important launch review meeting.
The teaser campaign for Nivasa Technology's upcoming release was finally nearing completion.
The lights dimmed slightly as the presentation began playing across the large conference screen.
Cinematic visuals.
Clean transitions.
Elegant music.
The room watched silently until the teaser ended.
There was a pause afterward.
No one spoke immediately.
But almost everyone wore the same expression.
Ulyana noticed instantly. "You all feel it too, right?" she asked calmly. "Something is missing."
Several heads nodded immediately.
"It feels…" one executive hesitated.
"Artificial," another admitted carefully.
Ulyana clicked her tablet once more. Another advertisement appeared on screen.
The room slowly stiffened, beecause it looked almost identical to theirs.
A long silence followed.
"This," Ulyana said coolly, "was scheduled to release publicly tonight."
Her gaze slowly swept across the room.
"But something caught my attention."
The atmosphere became tense immediately.
"This was made using AI."
Several employees visibly looked down.
Ulyana's tone sharpened. "Who made this?"
After several painful seconds, one employee slowly stood.
"I did, Madam."
The young man looked genuinely apologetic.
Ulyana stared at him silently for a moment before speaking.
"We are in the business of technology," she said firmly. "Which means quality and care matter more than quantity."
The room remained dead silent.
"Nivasa stands for integrity. Experience. Innovation."
Her voice never rose.
Which somehow made it worse.
"And yet you were comfortable replacing our digital creative team with generated content?"
The employee lowered his head immediately.
"This will not happen again."
"Correct," Ulyana replied sharply.
Then her expression hardened further.
"Understand this clearly. Your position will be at risk if this shortcoming repeats itself."
No one moved.
"Nivasa stands for nerves of steel," she continued. "We stand out because we are forward thinking, not because we cut corners."
She placed her tablet down carefully. "I hired you because you are capable. Not lazy."
Her eyes locked onto his. "So tell me honestly," she asked coldly, "what does this decision say about you?"
The employee visibly winced beneath her gaze.
"Answer me," Ulyana said firmly.
A painful silence followed before he finally lowered his head.
"…Lazy, Madam."
Ulyana held his gaze for a moment longer before her expression softened slightly.
"I do not expect perfection," she said calmly. "I expect your best effort."
Then she glanced down briefly at the presentation notes in front of her.
"Thomas."
The employee looked up immediately, visibly surprised she knew his name.
"Yes, Madam?"
"Is the wording yours?"
"…Yes, Madam."
Almost instantly, the anger in Ulyana's demeanor disappeared.
"It's written exactly how we need it," she said honestly. "Well done."
The room blinked collectively.
"Fortunately," she continued professionally, "our AI systems are enclosed within company infrastructure, so there's no risk of public leakage."
She turned slightly toward the digital creative division.
"Work with the creative team and have this remade properly within the next forty eight hours."
The Digital Creative Team Manager immediately began taking aggressive notes.
"Yes, Madam."
Ulyana returned her attention to Thomas.
"You may sit down."
Thomas sat carefully, still looking tense.
"I want to personally review the revised version before release," she added. "You will bring it directly to my office yourself, understood?"
"Yes, Madam."
Around the room, the department looked genuinely impressed.
Especially the newer staff members.
Because somehow Ulyana had managed to completely dismantle the mistake while still preserving the employee's dignity and confidence afterward.
A few younger female employees were already aggressively messaging each other beneath the table.
"Madam Vasily is terrifyingly cool."
"No because the way she corrected him AND complimented him???"
"I'd actually cry if she praised my work."
Meanwhile, Ulyana addressed the room one final time.
"This goes for all of you."
The quiet chatter immediately stopped.
"Do not cut corners."
Her tone remained calm but unwavering.
"Do not slack off."
Several employees straightened instinctively.
"And do not struggle alone."
That line caught more than a few people off guard.
"If you are overwhelmed, communicate with your team," Ulyana continued. "And if necessary, speak with my assistant Lisa. If I am available, I will personally assist where needed."
Even Lisa looked slightly surprised by that.
"This launch is extremely important for the next stage of Nivasa's future," Ulyana said firmly. "So do not hesitate to involve me."
That same morning, Rowan had arrived at Nivasa Tower for a business meeting with Ivan and Vadim.
The meeting had only just concluded, entirely unbeknownst to Ulyana.
Meanwhile, several floors below, Ulyana sat in her office focused on data analysis reports spread across both her desktop monitor and tablet.
A soft knock interrupted her concentration.
"Come in."
The door opened casually.
Rowan stepped inside holding two coffees and a small pastry box.
Ulyana immediately recognised the logo printed on it.
Her favourite bakery.
Her expression softened slightly despite herself.
"You free?" Rowan asked calmly.
Ulyana glanced between her screens. "I can be in ten minutes."
"Okay," he replied easily. "I'll wait."
He moved toward the couch near the coffee table and sat down comfortably while Ulyana returned to work.
Rowan quietly took in her office while waiting.
Unlike the sleek minimalism of most executive spaces, Ulyana's office felt strangely alive.
Modern.
Stylish.
Warm.
Greenery and plants filled nearly every corner, softening the otherwise luxurious architecture of the room.
And much to Rowan's satisfaction, the bouquet he had personally handed her earlier sat carefully arranged in a vase on her desk.
Not hidden away but displayed proudly.
He smiled faintly to himself.
Meanwhile, Ulyana remained focused, typing across her keyboard while scrolling through figures on her tablet with practiced efficiency.
Every now and then Rowan caught himself simply watching her.
The concentration in her expression.
The way she absentmindedly tucked her hair behind her ear while thinking.
Eventually, Ulyana's eyebrow twitched slightly without her even looking up.
"I'm almost done."
Rowan leaned back against the couch comfortably. "Take your time."
A few minutes later, however, she suddenly paused. "…Wait."
Rowan looked up.
Ulyana frowned at the screen before motioning him over.
"Can you look at this for a second?"
Rowan stood and walked behind her chair.
Leaning slightly over her shoulder, he studied the spreadsheet briefly before immediately spotting the issue.
"Here," he said quietly, pointing toward one of the values. "Whoever entered this missed a discrepancy."
Ulyana followed where he pointed.
"Since the values don't match," Rowan explained calmly, "the processing system keeps rejecting the data."
Realisation crossed her face immediately.
"Oh."
She quickly corrected it before the system instantly processed the report successfully.
Ulyana leaned back slightly in relief.
"Thank you."
Rowan's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary.
She could feel it.
Then once she finally finished everything and shut down the report windows, Rowan smiled.
"You ready?"
"Sure."
Ulyana stood and grabbed her phone before leading him out of the office toward the executive lounge a few floors above.
By the time Ulyana and Rowan entered the executive lounge, word had already spread frighteningly fast throughout the building.
Employees were buzzing with excitement.
Not only had Chairman Volkov personally visited Nivasa Tower twice in one week; He was now apparently having lunch with Madam Vasily in broad daylight.
The executive lounge itself overlooked the Silvercrown harbour through enormous glass walls stretching from floor to ceiling.
Luxury seating areas and quiet dining tables filled the space, usually reserved for executives, investors, and important guests.
Without hesitation, Rowan chose one of the most visible tables in the lounge.
Though notably, it also had the best view of the harbour.
Ulyana immediately noticed what he was doing.
"You enjoy making headlines, don't you?" she asked as she sat across from him.
Rowan looked entirely unashamed.
"I enjoy clarity."
"You enjoy chaos."
"That too."
Ulyana laughed softly while opening the pastry box.
Almost immediately, nearby executives and staff members began pretending not to stare while absolutely staring.
The sight before them genuinely felt surreal.
Silvercrown's two most powerful young social figures sat together overlooking the harbour like they had done this for years already.
Meanwhile, Rowan casually poured her coffee first before preparing his own.
Ulyana noticed the gesture instantly.
"You're very old fashioned sometimes."
"You say that like it's a flaw."
"It's not," she admitted quietly.
For a moment, the two simply sat together comfortably while the city moved outside the windows below them.
Ships crossed the harbour waters.
Traffic flowed through Silvercrown's streets.
And somewhere across the lounge, several employees were definitely updating group chats in real time.
The pastries Rowan had brought were all classic French selections.
Buttery croissants.
Mille feuilles.
Fruit tarts.
Perfectly layered pain au chocolat.
Even the coffee itself was rich, dark, and deliciously strong.
Ulyana took one sip before narrowing her eyes slightly at him.
"You're trying to win me over with caffeine and pastries."
"Is it working?"
"…Unfortunately."
Rowan looked far too satisfied with that answer.
The two settled naturally into light conversation over coffee and pastries while sunlight poured through the massive harbour windows behind them.
Surprisingly, talking with Rowan felt easy.
There was no awkwardness.
No pressure.
Just comfortable teasing and occasional moments where they quietly admired the harbour view together.
At one point, Rowan casually reached across the table and brushed a small flake of pastry from beside Ulyana's hand without even thinking.
The nearby staff nearly collapsed emotionally.
Because somehow the pair looked absurdly good together.
Elegant.
Balanced.
Natural.
Even employees who normally avoided workplace gossip found themselves secretly invested.
Across the lounge, several younger executives were aggressively messaging one another.
"No because they genuinely look married already."
"Chairman Volkov looks at her like she hung the moon."
"Madam Vasily smiling this much should honestly be illegal."
"I fear I support billionaires now."
Meanwhile, entirely unaware of the psychological damage they were causing, Rowan and Ulyana continued talking quietly over coffee.
And,suprisingly, Ulyana found herself genuinely relaxing during a workday.
"So Amos and Xeno are your best friends?" Rowan asked as he took a sip of coffee.
Ulyana brightened immediately, "Yes. Since forever."
She rested her chin lightly against her hand as she explained the history between their families.
"Our mothers all met at boarding school," she said warmly. "They became inseparable almost immediately, then somehow all ended up raising children at the same time."
Rowan listened quietly while she spoke.
"So technically," Ulyana continued with a smile, "we were all arranged friendships before birth."
"That sounds very Silvercrown."
"It really does."
She laughed softly before continuing to ramble slightly about Xenovia's personality, Amos' cooking, their years at boarding school together, and how naturally the three of them had remained close into adulthood.
Rowan found himself smiling just watching her talk.
Then she tilted her head slightly. "Is Graham your best friend?"
"Yeah," Rowan admitted easily. "Though I also have two other close friends."
Ulyana looked curious immediately.
"They won't be at the baseball game though."
"Why not?"
Rowan chuckled quietly. "Their wives said no."
That made Ulyana laugh properly. "Smart women."
"They said I'm already a bad influence alone."
"You are."
"I'm beginning to notice that."
Ulyana smiled into her coffee cup.
Then Rowan added more quietly, "But I do want to get to know your friends."
Something about the sincerity in his voice softened her expression immediately.
"You will," she assured him. "Xeno is easy to get along with."
"And Amos?"
Ulyana visibly tried not to laugh. "…Amos will need warming up."
Rowan raised an eyebrow.
"He doesn't like me already?"
"No," she corrected honestly. "He's protective."
Rowan seemed mildly amused by that.
"Should I be concerned?"
"Probably."
That only made Rowan grin wider.
"Well," he replied calmly, "I look forward to earning his approval then."
Ulyana studied him for a second afterward before smiling softly to herself.
Because somehow, every answer Rowan gave sounded like something meant to last.
"No," Ulyana corrected softly. "Maybe it's more accurate to say Amos is reserved."
Rowan listened attentively.
"It's not personal," she continued. "He's just an introvert."
"Okay," Rowan nodded lightly. "Noted."
A small pause followed before Rowan tilted his head slightly.
"What's your middle name?"
Ulyana blinked at the sudden question.
"My full name?"
"Mhm."
She stirred her coffee absentmindedly before answering.
"Ulyana Athena Giovanna Acosta Vasily."
Rowan quietly repeated it in his head.
"It's beautiful."
Ulyana smiled faintly.
"I took my late grandmother's name," she explained softly. "And after my parents were murdered, my father's surname became one of my middle names."
The atmosphere between them shifted slightly.
Softer now.
More personal.
Rowan's expression gentled immediately.
"My condolences," he said sincerely. "And… I respect that choice."
Ulyana nodded quietly.
"I didn't want him erased," she admitted. "But I wanted my Deda's surname."
For a brief moment, Rowan simply looked at her.
Then, perhaps intentionally, he lightened the mood again.
"So," he said casually, "that means I technically have several nickname options now."
Ulyana narrowed her eyes immediately, "Don't."
"Giovanna?"
"No."
"Acosta?"
"Absolutely not."
Rowan looked entirely too amused by her reaction.
"Anna?"
"That sounds like you're addressing a Victorian woman writing letters by candlelight."
Rowan laughed quietly. "Fair point."
Ulyana pointed at him accusingly. "And before you ask, no one is allowed to call me Gigi either."
"…Interesting."
"Rowan."
"That one has potential."
She sighed dramatically, "You're so frustrating."
"And yet," Rowan replied smoothly, "you continue talking to me voluntarily."
Rowan leaned back slightly in his chair, clearly entertained by her reactions.
"How about Angel?"
Ulyana blinked. "…Huh?"
Rowan smiled faintly at her confusion.
"Yanie?"
"Mmm," she considered thoughtfully. "Better."
"And Ulya?"
Ulyana pointed out, "My brothers call me that."
"Could I?"
She shrugged softly. "I don't know. You decide."
Rowan studied her quietly for a second. Then, without hesitation, "Okay, Angel."
The way he said it so naturally made Ulyana pause completely.
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
"…You sound very confident using that already."
"I am, it has a nice ring to it."
"That's dangerous."
Rowan smiled into his coffee cup. "I think you secretly like it."
Ulyana tried to look unimpressed.
Unfortunately, Rowan had already noticed the tiny smile she was fighting. "There it is..."
"What?"
"That face."
"What face?"
"The one you make whenever I say something you enjoy."
Ulyana immediately looked away toward the harbour windows.
"You're annoyingly observant."
"I have to be," Rowan replied smoothly. "You always hide your feelings behind professionalism."
"And you don't?"
"No," Rowan admitted calmly. "I'm considerably worse."
That answer made her laugh softly again.
And somehow, hearing her laugh was already becoming one of Rowan's favourite sounds.
Rowan finished the last sip of his coffee before looking at her calmly.
"When you're done," he said softly, "I'll walk you back to your office."
Ulyana looked up at him briefly before nodding.
"Okay."
Something about how naturally he said it made her chest feel strangely warm.
Not possessive and not controlling. Just considerate.
The two remained seated for a little while longer, casually talking while the harbour shimmered beneath the afternoon sunlight outside the windows.
And all throughout the executive lounge, employees continued pretending not to watch Silvercrown's newest power couple quietly falling into place beside one another.