Chapter 15

“Hng! Ah, ah!”

Cal pressed his tongue against the underwear, already wet and sticky. Ellie grabbed Cal’s head, unsure whether to push him away or pull him closer. Cal licked and sucked over the fabric until even his nose was soaked. Slurp, chuup—those wet sounds excited her even more.

“More, mm! Do it more…!”

Finally, Ellie began to beg. Completely lost in pleasure, Ellie’s reaction made Cal happy, and he nudged her underwear aside with his nose. The underwear, soaked and clinging to her skin, was pushed away, and Cal burrowed into Ellie’s golden curls.

“Ha, Ellie. Ellie. So sweet. Hoo…”

The liquid dripping from her tasted sweet. Cal moved his tongue and lips as if to drink up everything that wet Ellie below. He didn’t forget to tease her cl*toris with the tip of his tongue. Pressing and licking the plump spot, Ellie bent forward, clutching Cal’s head.

“Ah, ahh!”

The direct, tingling stimulation on her sensitive spot was impossible to endure. As Cal listened to Ellie’s m*ans and tried to go deeper—

“Miss Elysia, are you inside?”

The sound of the door opening and someone’s voice from afar brought Ellie’s green eyes out of their haze. Her face, flushed with heat, instantly turned pale as if doused with cold water.

Coming to her senses, Ellie pushed Cal away. She was startled to see herself exposed below, but quickly pulled her skirt down to cover her messy legs.

“Yes, I-I’m here!”

“Ellie!”

Cal tried to hold Ellie as she answered loudly, but she pushed his hand away in surprise. Pale and flustered, Ellie hurried out of the meeting room while Cal could do nothing.

“Oh, Miss Elysia, you were in there.”

“Yes, is something wrong?”

“The court called asking for the 427 Law Case Collection. Where is it kept?”

“Oh, that’s in Archive Room 4. Here’s the key.”

“Thank you, I’ll go check. But Miss Elysia, are you sick? Your face is so pale, and your eyes are red. My goodness, is that cold sweat?”

“I-I think so. I suddenly don’t feel well…”

“Oh dear, if you’re really not well, go home. I’ll tell the manager for you.”

“Yes, thank you.”

As Cal listened to Ellie’s conversation with the other staff outside, he clenched his fist. When things were quiet again, Cal slowly opened the door. Ellie was standing with her back to him.

“Ellie.”

Ellie flinched and turned around. Her face carried a chill Cal had never seen before.

“Ellie. Are you… angry?”

Ellie said nothing. Cal, suddenly nervous, took a step forward.

“Ellie.”

“Cal—no, Mr. Calix.”

Her tone was cold, something he’d never heard from her. Cal felt his heart drop as Ellie called him Calix. It felt like she was drawing a line, and he became desperate.

“Ellie, why…”

“I must have lost my mind. I shouldn’t have done this. I failed to keep work and personal life separate. I’m sorry.”

Ellie apologized instead of getting angry at Cal. She couldn’t trust herself. Nyx’s business should stay at Nyx. That place was a dream, and what happened in the dream shouldn’t spill into reality.

How did things end up like this? Like clothes soaking in a drizzle, she hadn’t noticed how deeply Cal had seeped into her life.

“Ellie, Ellie! Please, don’t do this. Did I do something wrong?”

When Cal stepped closer, Ellie suddenly moved away.

“Hah.”

Even as Cal’s face twisted in frustration, Ellie had no energy to think further. She was shocked and embarrassed that she’d almost done something so bold at work, not anywhere else. She just wanted to escape. She couldn’t face Cal any longer.

Ellie left. Even as Cal called her name, she pretended not to hear and ran away. The only place she could go was home.

***

Cal was stunned after losing sight of Ellie. Just moments ago, being with her had felt like having the whole world, but now Ellie was gone, pale as if drenched in cold water. It felt like he’d fallen from the sky, and Cal was so discouraged he couldn’t do anything.

When people noticed Ellie had suddenly left work, they asked Cal what happened, but he had no answers. Cal spent the afternoon meaninglessly, and as soon as work ended, he headed straight to Ellie’s home.

He’d once walked her home, so he knew where she lived. If not, he would have been lost, not knowing where to go.

Cal looked up at Ellie’s building, trying to guess which apartment was hers. It was a small, five-story building, but he couldn’t see any sign of her.

“…Ellie.”

Cal thought about the dates he’d had with Ellie. Her feelings weren’t quite the same as his yet, but he believed they were getting closer. Step by step, he thought he was moving into her heart.

He’d shown her his feelings, and Ellie knew it. He could see it in the way she looked at him.

But what had he done wrong? He’d thought about it all afternoon but couldn’t figure it out.

Cal leaned against the wall. He waited, hoping to see Ellie, but the endless wait lasted late into the night.

Ellie didn’t come to work the next day.

***

“Yes, this is Elysia.”

Ellie called the library from the apartment’s lobby phone to request leave.

“Yes, I’m not feeling well, so I’d like to take a vacation day.”

It was a sudden request, but luckily it was a slow season, so there was no issue granting her leave.

“Thank you. I’ll be in touch.”

Back upstairs, Ellie closed the curtains tightly and shut herself in. There were so many thoughts in her head that she lost track of time.

She didn’t know if it was day or night, staying inside, and decided to clarify her attitude toward Cal. Even if it was running away, she couldn’t help it.

Nyx’s business should stay at Nyx—her iron rule—but she couldn’t help that ties had already formed outside. Since it had already happened, she had to draw the line again from now on.