Rafi led Bryce through the initial log‑in process, then took him through the metal and glass lobby to the bank of elevators. Modern and quiet, with the omnipresent smart‑glass panels instead of buttons.
“We’re going to the HR office next, so you can finalise the onboarding details. I’ll collect you after to continue our tour,” Rafi told him as they smoothly ascended.
The time spent in the HR office was refreshingly efficient and straightforward. By the time Rafi collected him, Bryce was ready for more.
“Where to next?”
“Oh, the HR meeting was like that?” Rafi smiled at him with a glint in his eye.
“No, not at all. I know I’m going to sound like I’m making it up, but I found it to be just right — as these things go. I’m just interested to see the rest and meet people.”
“Glad to hear it. You’re going to love the next part,” Rafi grinned as they headed back to the elevator.
“How long have you worked here, Rafi?”
“It’s going to be my seventh year this December. It sounds like such a long time to be with a company, but it has gone quickly. Plenty here to keep me busy. And here we are.” He made a little ushering gesture toward the open space facing them as the elevator doors opened.
The first thing Bryce noticed was the light. Clear, bright light filtering through the glass wall to the right, the high ceiling skylight panels, through the glass panel dividers positioned throughout the office, serving as partitions.
The next thing was the plants everywhere — a green wall on the left of the elevators, another separating the break room area from a corridor leading to the toilet cubicles, flanking the cubicles up to the few stairs leading to the higher level.
He admired how the reception desk to his right managed to look separate yet integrated into the wider office. All of the smart glass was doing wonders to make the space flexible — open and airy as standard, with options to program certain panels to provide separation and privacy.
The floor was blonde bamboo, adding to the open, warm feel of the space. Thoughtful, modern, luxurious in an advanced echo‑tech warrior kind of way. Bryce had to keep reminding himself this was first written, and judging by the level of detail, the writer focused on every detail.
Rafi introduced him to the people in the office, then excused himself, saying he would be back for Bryce once Cassian was available.
***
Cassian was reclined on the amber‑coloured leather sofa in his office, drinking his afternoon coffee and waiting for Rafi. He didn’t have to wait long.
“You chose well with that one, Case,” Rafi told him as he placed the relevant paperwork on the coffee table.
“I’m glad you agree. He was by far the best candidate for the role, but I wanted him because he can do more. I will need him to do more.”
Rafi was momentarily unbalanced by the admission — he wasn’t used to Case being so open. He noted it for later.
“He’s already saying the right things, asking the right questions — it’s not rehearsed. The man is very open and inquisitive.”
“That will serve him well here. You left him on the exec floor?”
“Yes, he knows I’ll collect him when you’re ready to see him. Gives him a chance to talk to people and make impressions without me hovering over him.”
***
Bryce spent time meeting people and learning about their roles. They all seemed pleasant and knowledgeable. He decided to reserve judgement until he knew his assignment better.
As he moved through the office and into the lounge area, he was struck by the clean fusion of form and function all around him. Sitting at one of the tables, he made some notes.
Holding a pen again — this feels good. He couldn’t help smiling as he organised his thoughts on a page.
A strange sensation moved against his ankle. If he didn’t know better, he’d think a cat was twining itself around his legs. He looked down and was greeted by a small tabby with big green eyes. It sat neatly between his shoes, looking at him solemnly.
“Meow.”
The little cat had a soft voice, almost a whisper. Bryce blinked.
“Hi there — what are you doing here?” he asked, half expecting an answer.
“I see you met Taba.” Rafi was back, grinning at the sight of Bryce talking to a cat between his feet.
“Taba? As in Taba the tabby cat?”
“I gave it the name once it adopted Ouro Tech. It’s a Filipino thing — taba means chubby,” Rafi explained, grin widening.
Bryce looked at the cat, then at Rafi, trying to tell if he was being teased.
“I take it you like irony then,” Bryce replied with a smile. Taba gave another soft meow and sauntered over to Rafi.
“Ha! You could say that. Cassian is available now — I came to take you to him.”
They walked over to the small staircase leading to the higher level, accompanied by Taba. Once they reached the stairs, Taba sat at the foot of them, looking solemn.
“He doesn’t go to the top floor. I’m sure you’ll find out why shortly.”
Bryce followed Rafi up the few steps to the sliding glass door incorporated into a glass wall frame. Once through, they were met with a large plant on the left — shiny, paddle‑like rubber‑looking leaves stretching almost to the ceiling.
Opposite it was a hydration station: purified drinking water, various tea and coffee options, boiling water on tap, clean energy drinks derived from plants and mineral water in glass bottles.
Bryce was once again hit by the uncanny perfection of it all.
As they moved further into the CEO’s domain, the amount of consideration that had gone into the whole setup was starting to make Bryce feel inadequate.
‘R2L, are you there?’
[Yes, Bryce. I’ve detected a moderate stress indicator uptake. Do you require assistance?]
‘How would you be able to assist me in this situation?’ Bryce thought before he could stop himself, then quickly followed up: ‘Don’t answer that. It’s rhetorical. Stay in active monitoring mode, and if I’m stuck, supply the most logical answer based on your knowledge of me, the Thorne Echo and Cassian Thorne. But only if I’m stuck for words.’
[Acknowledged, Bryce.]
The whole exchange took a couple of seconds. Bryce hoped Rafi hadn’t noticed anything.
[Rafi cannot see my output, Bryce.] R2L supplied helpfully.
Bryce had a brief, powerful déjà vu of a similar helpful exchange with Cognition. He almost smiled, then stopped himself, realising Rafi was talking about the smart glass as he led him to the board room. Bryce expected to be parked at the impressive glass table. Rafi kept going.
“I’m taking you to meet Cassian. The first door leads directly into his office — one way, from his office into the board room. The second leads into the corridor between his and your office.”
Rafi noticed Bryce’s confusion at the mention of his office.
“Oh — sorry, I thought that was covered in your HR meeting.”
“It must have been. I just assumed I’d be working from the open office.”
“Well, you assumed wrong on that occasion,” Rafi said with a smile. “Before you go in — Cassian can be intense. It’s just how he is. He is very observant, cares about people, and cares about things being done — correctly.”
***
Rafi opened the door.
Bryce stepped inside.
The atmosphere shifted immediately. The air felt denser, warmer, like the room had its own pulse. Cassian Thorne was already rising from behind his desk — a single, fluid motion that made the space seem smaller.
He eclipsed the overhead LEDs as he approached, the light dimming around his frame. Bryce’s instincts reacted before his mind did, his body switching to a side-on stance, offering the least body mass to what felt like an unavoidable collision.
Redwood — Cognition wasn’t joking.
Cassian extended a hand.
One big hand.
Warm.
Rough — unexpectedly rough for a tech billionaire.
Bryce’s hand disappeared inside it. Cassian’s fingers closed around his like a verdict.
I’ve spent my life in the water, pulling my own weight through resistance; I know my own strength, and I know I’m not a small man. But this — this is…
Bryce looked up.
Cassian’s outstanding aqua eyes locked onto his — direct, unblinking, assessing. The kind of eye contact that felt like a scan, a reading, a claim.
Inside Cassian, something hit hard.
A jolt. A recognition. A misfire.
His alpha imperative surged — a primal, ancient thing that wanted to step closer, crowd Bryce against the nearest wall, bury his face in Bryce’s throat and confirm whatever his instincts were screaming about.
I hold the line. I will not move. I will not touch him again. I will not let this thing in me take over.
His posture tightened — shoulders squaring, spine lengthening, chin lowering a fraction. Dominance leaked through anyway. His body betrayed him.
He clocked Bryce’s stance. He clocked Bryce’s pulse. He clocked Bryce’s reaction to proximity
.
He’s reacting to me. Why is he reacting to me? Why him? Why now?
A soft sound broke the tension — a low, rumbling chuff.
A massive silver‑grey Maine Coon strolled into the office as if he owned the building. He paused, tail flicking once, assessing the three men frozen in a triangle of instinct and confusion.
Then he walked straight to Bryce.
No hesitation. No detour. No acknowledgement of Cassian.
The cat sniffed Bryce’s shins where Taba had been. Pressed his cheek against Bryce’s leg. Wrapped his tail around Bryce’s calves. Then sat heavily on Bryce’s foot and chuffed again — a soft, breathy demand.
Bryce snapped out of it.
He dropped to a knee without thinking.
“And who are you?” he asked softly.
The cat leaned into his palm, eyes half‑closing in approval.
Rafi saw all of it.
His brain looped in horrified confusion:
But, but why — Bryce isn’t — he can’t be — what is Cassian doing — what is Bryce doing — oh no — oh no — oh no — I think I just adopted him — Snap out of it, Rafi. Focus.
Cassian stared — absolutely stunned. His alpha imperative stuttered, then broke entirely. He looked like someone had hit him across the face with a wet fish.
“He… his name is Slate,” Cassian managed, voice deep, resonant, still not fully under control.
Bryce stood, brushing wood dust from his knee.
“Sorry — he caught me off guard. He’s magnificent.”
Cassian blinked once. Slowly. Like his system was rebooting.
Bryce offered a small, disarming smile — the kind that worked without trying.
“I’m genuinely grateful for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to learning more about the company and how I can help with your goals.”
Cassian took the hit like a man already off balance. Sincerity — real sincerity — destabilised him more than the instinct collision.
He stared at Bryce like he was a problem he intended to solve, once he understood the rules.
Rafi swallowed, stepped forward, and found his voice.
“I’ll… give you two a moment.”
The second the words left his mouth, he realised what he’d implied.
Oh god. Why did I say it like that. Why. Why. Why.
He backed out of the room, berating himself.