Another week had passed under the inevitable flow of time. Sun mercilessly heated the shining silver that made up the Empire as spring came to a closure and summer peaked its head.

Streets were patrolled by government officials that used various methods to keep the temperature in check mostly composed of water mages. Mists of serenity was sprayed onto the air resulting in heated buildings to subdue even if just a little.

“I wanna say that it's an engineering error but..” his hand went to caress his chin, “It probably goes deeper than that.”

He turned his attention back to his office. His clothes today were certainly out of ordinary, a floral pattern button-up, above the knee shorts, a brown jacket that was made of thin fabric that also had a scarf connected to it that wrapped around his head and last but not least his sunglasses covering his eyes.

After checking his fit in front of the mirror, he exited his office, “Good morning, Lily”, he leaned his body weight onto her desk as his other hand placed his sunglass to his head.

Confusion was evident in Lily’s eyes, “Um.. Good morning, Sir”, she took in his entire outfit, “Is it a special occasion?”

Isaiah snapped his fingers while pointing at her, “Bingo, congrats, due to your recent performance you have won the best employee of the year reward”, his hand took off a ticket as he pressed it onto her desk and slid it towards her.

Lily took the ticket and examined it, a smile appeared on her face when she realized she was given a vacation, “Thank you so much sir”, she then hesitantly asked, “But what are you gonna do without me?”

Isaiah chuckled and without saying anything held the edge of his jacket and ruffled it, “Clearly, I’m also headed for a vacation.” Lily nodded happily now that her worries were answered, “I will make sure to enjoy these few days of vacation you have given me.”

Isaiah coughed awkwardly and spoke, “A month”, Confusion was written on Lily’s face, her smile dropped, “Excuse me, Sir. I think I misheard you.”

Isaiah shook his head, “Nope you heard me correct, I’m giving you a month of vacation.” Lily's smile dropped as worry took over her, the vile hand of anxiety gripped tightly around her heart.

Tears started falling from her cheeks as she remembered the woman her boss brought over the other day. She thought that she was being replaced for a better secretary.

Isaiah held her chin and made her look at him with his years of experience, he could sense her worries without even needing to be told “I’m a man of my. I said for a life, and for a life it is”, Lily’s gaze softened but Isaiah’s hardened instead, “Next time, remember to not treat my word as dirt.”

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As he let go of her chin, Lily’s heart was beating rapidly. She felt embarrassed for her actions, and felt a bit of fear from her boss’s prior gaze, it seemed to pass through her body to gaze into her very soul.

She lifted her head up, “I’m sorry, Sir.” Isaiah nodded, “That's nice to hear.” While she wasn’t where he wanted her to be yet, the molding process had already started. Isaiah would slowly turn her into a woman worthy of being his secretary.

Seeing her ruined mood, Isaiah couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. His index and middle finger wrapped her cheek to pinch it, “Don’t be so down.”, he then let go and look back into her gem-like purple eyes, “You will learn it with time.”

Lily nodded, her mood now back to her normal cheery self. After he initial confusion she had understood the reasoning behind such a long vacation. Since Isaiah wasn’t going to be around, his establishments were gonna be under danger of an attack in his absence. The vacation was so she was safe when he was gone.

While Isaiah didn’t mind Lily’s emotional response back then and even had been careful in his treatment of her to not erase that tender emotional undertone her personality possesed, it becamea problem when her emotions started to meddle with her rational.

The last thing he would wanna do was to mold her into an emotionless husk in his attempt to make her a better suited secretary for himself. If Isaiah didn’t like emotions he would simply turn his face back to lifeless husks, possibly falling back into the mistake that had caused him misery in his previous life, as metal slowly took over his form.

Isaiah shook his head as he walked down the stairs to his casino’s main entertainment area, “Emotions are essential as while an emotionless being might operate better, one with emotions learns better. Letting go of your sense of self is a trap for short term power.”

His thoughts were cleared by the sounds of gambling, shouts, screams that came from the gambling area causing Isaiah to chuckle and shake his head. His gaze found a woman with raven hair that made her already beautiful gem-like crimson eyes shine even more.

Seeing Isaiah, Ruby knelt her head slightly, “Sir”, Isaiah patted her shoulder with a chuckle, “Relax a little and tell me how your body is doing.”

Ruby nodded, as she thought of Isaiah coming to her rescue and mending her injuries she couldn’t help but still feel butterflies in her stomach which she quickly suppressed not wanting to break her professionalism at all costs.

“I’m doing much better, Sir, all thanks to you.” Ruby said with gratitude written all over her face. She hadn’t expected Isaiah’s next words as his bluntness surprised her, “I was the one that sent you there, so why feel gratitude?” Isaiah asked with a slight grin on his face, his eyes looking into hers for an answer.

However she didn't have the answer, she didn’t know why she felt gratitude despite technically receiving her injuries due to Isaiah’s initial order.

Isaiah chuckled seeing her confusion, “No need to answer right now, I will be gone for a month. I ‘m leaving this place to you, don't worry too much about the financial side of it. Your answer can wait till I come back”, his question wasn’t one that required an answer, he just wanted her to think about it in his absence.

He then turned around and walked out of his casino, leaving behind Ruby confused as she lost herself in her own thoughts, “Why do I feel gratitude..?”