Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Clara waited for him to finish eating before she picked up the insulated lunch box, ready to head out. She was almost at the door when he spoke up.

"You..."

He was always quick and to the point with everyone else, just issuing orders. But with Clara, it was like he had to pause, gather his thoughts, and even then, he never seemed to know what to say.

She waited, counting out ten seconds in her head. Nothing. So she took a guess. "You have an event tonight, right? No need for me to bring dinner?"

He hesitated, something flickering in his eyes. "Yeah." Then, as if realizing how cold that sounded, he added, "Can't get out of it."

Clara gave him a small smile. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow morning, then-right on time."

And with that, she opened the office door and slipped out.

Dylan stared at the keyboard in front of him. Lately, he felt like his emotions had been dialed down to zero-nothing really grabbed his attention; everything around him felt washed-out and gray. Work was the only thing that mattered.

But every time Clara walked in, it was like someone turned the world's colors back on. The dullness faded, and life crept back in, just a little-like rain coaxing green from dry ground.

He didn't have to ask himself who she was. He'd just gotten used to waiting for her to appear.

He worked straight through until six, when Aiden knocked on his door. "Rai's here."

The last time, at Walter's birthday, Dylan hadn't seen Rai-he'd already left. But now Rai was back in the city, and they'd finally set a time to meet.

That night, the old house was as bustling as ever.

As soon as Dylan walked in, everyone's eyes were on him. Some people looked relieved Clara wasn't by his side. Others looked like they were grinding their teeth.

No one knew exactly what tricks the old man had pulled, but somehow, he'd managed to keep Dylan and Clara apart.

Rai, with his ever-kind face, saw Dylan and visibly relaxed. "Dylan, it's been a while."

Dylan nodded, walking over slowly. Now that he was out of the wheelchair, he seemed even more imposing than before.

Rai looked him over, satisfied, and clapped him on the shoulder. "Your leg's all better? You look completely fine now."

Dylan glanced at his leg. He wasn't really sure what had happened before, didn't remember much, but there was no pain. "Yeah," he said.

Walter beamed with relief. "So you've been fine for a while? Why'd you keep using the wheelchair and stressing everyone out?"

Rai just smiled and slipped a signet ring onto Dylan's thumb. "Dylan, take this. Now that you're back to normal, the position's still yours. We argued with the elders about waiting for your recovery, but now there's nothing in the way. When are you heading overseas?" noveldrama

Dylan turned the ring over in his hand-a simple amber band, old and solid. He kept glancing at his other hand, half-expecting something to be there, but it was empty.

When he'd first woken up, he'd asked his dad about it, but no one told him

anything. Everyone acted like it was all just a dream.

He didn't answer, so Walter cleared

his throat "Rai's asking you something, Dylan. You need to make plans. Ms. Louella's still waiting, you know. This is the perfect time for you two to get to know each other."

Rai laughed, all warmth. "That Chester girl's always liked Dylan. With looks like

his, no one ever forgets him."

Dylan just looked at the ring on his thumb and gave a quiet, “Alright."