Villain of Fate: The Tyrant System-Chapter 25: The Iceberg Waits
The Iceberg Waits
Aurevale Group.
CEO’s Office.
Sitting straight, Selene Aurevale rested against the smooth edge of her dark wood desk, strands of jet-black hair spilling down past her collar, gaze sharp and pale like winter sky. Papers fanned out in front of her - clean edges, fresh ink - the outline of another land venture pressing into her fingertips. Cost? Close to a hundred billion Euros - not massive by House Aurevale standards, yet still enough to pull every ounce of focus she had.
Now and then, the woman’s eyes drifted toward Selene - her posture stiff, hands folded tight. Beside that calm certainty, even breathing felt like too much noise. Every flick of a gaze sharpened the gap between them: one carved from stillness, the other restless under skin. Distance grew without steps taken. Perfection didn’t shout - it simply filled the room, leaving little space for anyone else to stand.
What made certain women seem flawless? The thought crept through her mind, sharp and quiet. Her own name surfaced then - Selene - soft, familiar, carrying its weight.
Suddenly looking up, Selene spoke without urgency, only wonder in her words. Six now, she noted, then asked if staying was the plan
"Huh?" The secretary blinked, caught off guard. She gave a nervous smile. "I... didn’t hear the usual knock, so I thought it was still early."
Most days, just when the clock hit six, Julian D’Aurelius would show up at her doorway. The boy from that old family line had done this now for three full years. Quiet steps, same time, every evening. Dinner was his reason, though he never said so out loud. Selene always went with him, without delay. Not once did he fail to come, except on holidays. His presence became part of the air in those halls. A habit worn smooth by repetition. Even silence between them felt expected, somehow right. Then again, some things need no explanation after such long practice.
Sure, Selene wasn’t about to just say yes. Her freedom mattered more than most things, plus being grabbed like some kid rubbed her the wrong way. Still, that ceremony tugged at her mind, stirring something uneasy inside.
A hollow feeling crept in after her offhand comment. That silence wasn’t normal. The doorway stayed empty, though it rarely did. Usually, footsteps came right about now.
That constant push of his? She’d always hated it, felt trapped by it. Yet now - silence where knocking used to be - it tugged at something hollow inside. Missing him wasn’t the word, but the absence sat heavy anyway.
"Selene, I heard you and Young Master D’Aurelius got engaged? Congratulations on finally being together. I’ll be heading out now," her secretary said brightly, beginning to pack her belongings with an almost conspiratorial cheer.
A tune slipped from Selene, quiet and low. Her ribs tightened like a fist had closed beneath them. The light inside her dimmed, slow then sudden.
A ring? Hardly convincing. Her mouth tightened without meaning to. Three full years he’d watched her, steady as clockwork. Not once did she doubt his attention. Then - silence. All of it gone before it could even be named.
A quiet ache settled in her chest, sharp but small. Still, pointing fingers felt wrong somehow. Truth was, silence had been her choice - long stretches without word, building barriers so high they blocked even warmth.
Her voice barely rose above a whisper when she asked what was off about herself. Pressing fingers to her forehead, she acted like pressure could clear the weight inside. Over one shoulder went the expensive handbag, carried without care. Out the door she moved, feet pacing slowly but each step dragged. The air around her seemed thicker than before.
Footsteps echoing on the tile, she moved past reception where the last few workers spoke at once. Their voices blended into a single welcome that hung just above silence.
"Hello, Selene."
"Thank you for your hard work, Selene."
"Leaving for the day, Selene? Congratulations on being with Young Master D’Aurelius!"
Every cheerful hello made her breath catch a little more. Bright grins surrounded her, though something sharp hummed beneath them. Staff called her Iceberg when they thought she couldn’t hear.
Fatigue clung to her like a heavy coat. Masks never seemed to come off, she realized, eyes drifting beyond the room.
Something about Julian pulled her thoughts back. Not because he spoke often, but when he did, meaning came through clear. While others hid behind practiced smiles, he let everything show - no pause, no filter. His honesty felt sharp, like light in a dark room.
Out here where everyone hides behind layers... you’ll find him showing up bare. Almost like he forgot how to pretend.
A quiet lift touched Selene’s mouth, just a hint of something soft breaking through. Relief arrived - unusual, sudden - even while her body stayed tight, unsure how to let go.
