She took a step back.
"If you think I'm not the right fit, I can—"
"No," Kalix said, stepping forward.
"You are perfect."
Just two words.
Not shouted. Not dramatic.
But something in his voice… was certain.
Like he meant it with every inch of himself.
And in her chest—something shifted.
Perfect.
No one had used that word for her since… since that day.
Maybe she was perfect five years ago.
When her laughter echoed through rooms.
When her eyes had stars instead of shadows.
But now?
Now, if he only knew.
If he knew what was left of that girl…
He'd know she's anything but perfect.
She was a puzzle with pieces that didn't fit anymore.
A beautiful mess dressed in calmness.
A girl who knew how to look okay…
But never really was.
She didn't say anything. She couldn't.
What would she say anyway?
The manager, sensing the pause, said, "You can start work from tomorrow."
So fast?
She blinked, surprised.
Everything was happening so quickly… too quickly.
She turned slightly, eyes landing on Kalix again.
He said nothing.
But he looked at her with such stillness—
Like he was studying her face for something…
Something he couldn't name… and she was afraid to show.
So, she didn't.
She masked it.
Like she always had.
The heartbreak, the fear, the overwhelming weight—buried under a calm expression.
She had trained herself for this moment…
To never let anyone see the storm she carried inside.
Except… that one time.
In the cabin.
When she thought she lost him…
That was the only time she couldn't hide.
The pain bled through her like a scream in silence.
Suddenly, the manager said, "Thank you," and began walking past her.
She watched them go for a moment…
But something inside stopped her.
She turned around and said, "Excuse me… shouldn't there be an interview?"
The manager paused, looked at her, then at the man beside him, and back at her.
"No," he said, almost casually.
"They needed a secretary urgently. So there's no interview process."
That's it?
She blinked again.
It all felt strange… and yet, oddly… right.
The manager turned to the man who'd first greeted her at the door and said, "Show her the studio."
The man beside her nodded.
And just like that—
The manager and Kalix walked away…
And she stood there, between a home that wasn't hers,
A man who once almost died in her arms,
And a job she never expected…
Not knowing whether this was the beginning of something new…
Or a cruel twist of fate pulling her back into the storm she just barely survived.