Elara walked into the manager’s office, her heart racing. How much had he heard? Was she going to get in trouble for her feelings toward Ben? She hated the fact that she couldn’t read Levi’s expression.

"Please, take a seat, Elara. I promise you're not in trouble," Levi said, gesturing to the cheap, stackable office chair, hard-backed and uncomfortably small. He closed the door behind her with a soft click, and the chair gave a faint squeak as she sat down.

Her stomach twisted as she glanced around the office, noting its spotless, almost sterile neatness—every item perfectly in place, not a speck of dust in sight. The orderliness of the room made her uneasy, mirroring the precision with which Levi seemed to carry himself.

To add to her discomfort, Levi usually kept his distance. Unlike Ben, she wasn’t used to being alone with Levi—or, rather, around him much at all.

Originally, this meeting was going to be a routine check-up. That was standard practice for certain employees, especially the ones that were carefully chosen for the family’s more... particular needs.

Levi’s usual protocol involved ensuring the employee was still introverted, still distant from the other staff, and ideally, isolated. Forming strong friendships could complicate the family’s plans, especially with the Cena Sacra approaching.

This check-in usually involved a casual drug test and a conversation about their well-being, making it seem like management cared.

Nothing too alarming, nothing that would raise suspicion.

But now, things were different. Ben’s sudden interest in Elara was a wrinkle Levi hadn't anticipated. He felt himself caught between two instincts: protect the ritual at all costs or indulge his brother-in-law’s desires.

Levi sat at his pristine, light-gray desk, the spotless surface offering him a faint sense of relief as he tried to appear at ease. Beneath his calm exterior, though, his mind raced with thoughts of how to ensure she was right for Ben—and for the family's ways.

She needed to be more than just malleable; she had to be completely trustworthy and willing to conform to their... unique practices. The last thing Levi wanted was to go through the trouble of replacing her, only for Ben to lose interest or for her to resist what was expected.

"So, I just wanted to ask you a few questions," Levi said as he sat back in his chair, his tone light, but his gaze intense.

Elara swallowed, doing her best to keep her hands still in her lap. "Of course."

Elara shifted uncomfortably in her seat, unsure of what to expect from this meeting. Despite Levi’s assurance, the tension in the room was palpable.

"Before we begin,"Levi started, leaning back in his chair, "I want to say you're doing well here at Living Bread. But I also wanted to see how you're settling in. It’s not easy being the new person in such a close-knit town."

Elara hesitated, feeling the weight of the question. Was this really about her performance, or was there something more? She thought about the recent days when she had noticed little things, like how Ben and Levi both seemed to watch her just a little too closely.

“I… I think I’m adjusting well," she said, though she wasn’t sure how true that was. She had been feeling increasingly isolated and uncertain of herself lately, but she wasn’t about to admit that.

Levi smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Good, good. We’re glad to have you here. Ben speaks highly of you.”

Elara felt a nervous flutter in her chest at the mention of Ben. Did Levi know about their feelings for each other? Was that why she was here?

“I’ve noticed you and Ben have gotten close,” Levi continued, his tone casual but with an undercurrent Elara couldn’t quite place. “It’s good to have people you can trust, isn’t it?”

There it was—the subtle insinuation. Elara nodded, unsure of what to say.

Levi leaned forward, clasping his hands on the desk. “I just want to make sure you know that we look out for our own here. We’re like family. And families… well, they take care of each other.”

Elara felt the weight of his words sink in, but something about the way he said “family” made her stomach turn. She forced a smile, trying to mask her growing unease.

“Um, are you sure I’m not in trouble? Is our closeness... a problem?” she asked, her voice small, as she fidgeted nervously with the cross necklace her mother had given her before her mental health declined.

The thought of getting written up terrified her. She was new to the town, new to the store, and had only recently started to build any sort of financial stability. Her mind raced. Had she been too forward with Ben? Maybe her mother had been right all along—she wasn’t worth anyone’s time. Maybe Ben didn’t like her after all, and this was all just a way to get rid of her.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Of course not. Like I said, we’re like family. We take care of each other. Never forget that.”Levi’s tone was calm, almost too calm. “Now, tell me, what do you think of Ben?”

Elara’s heart pounded in her chest. She felt the heat rise to her face. She knew it. She’d known all along that her feelings were inappropriate, that she’d crossed a line. Panic surged through her, and before she could stop herself, she blurted out the truth.

“T-truthfully, I’ve admired him since I started working here. He’s such a hard worker, really kind, and… well, handsome—oh, I didn’t mean to say that. I just—he made the first move, so I thought maybe it was okay. It’s just a local store, right? I really, really like him... please, don’t write me up,” she stammered, her voice shaky with desperation.

She felt a rush of shame. Why hadn’t she lied? Now she was going to lose everything. How would she pay rent? There were no other grocery stores in town, and she didn’t have any other job experience.

Levi watched her closely, taking in her anxious fidgeting, her clear desperation to follow the rules. Honesty. Fear. Rule follower. He nodded to himself. Maybe she was worth it after all. But he wasn’t ready to commit to that conclusion just yet. There were still a few more questions he needed to ask. And then, of course, there was the drug test. She would never be accepted into their family if she had a history of heavy drinking or drug use. Purity was everything.

“Don’t worry, Elara. We’re just having a conversation. Let’s talk more about how you’re adjusting to our... way of life here.”Levi smiled again, this time with a hint of something darker.

Elara’s breathing slowed as she tried her best to calm herself. Despite his assurances, something about Levi’s tone kept her on edge.

She had completed her interview over the phone, and rarely ever saw Levi in person, so perhaps her unease stemmed from that—the strangeness of finally facing him directly. Even during the interview, he had an air of authority, his voice as sharp as though he were interrogating her for a crime she hadn’t committed. Now, sitting in his office, that feeling intensified.

He’d reassured her several times that she wasn’t in trouble, which helped to steady her nerves. But she couldn’t fully shake her anxiety, especially with the way his questions seemed to linger on the air, unspoken implications tugging at her thoughts.

At least, she figured, if her relationship with Ben was a problem, Levi would have said something sooner, right? The relief at that thought washed over her—her imagination had run wild again. Her job wasn’t in jeopardy, Ben did like her, and she wasn’t about to be written up. She needed to stop assuming the worst.

She recalled hearing from Thomas that Levi and Ben were related, though they didn’t look much alike. Maybe this was Levi’s way of looking out for Ben? Maybe he was just trying to get to know her because he knew Ben liked her?

“Have you made any close friends here in Redwood Haven? How do you find the people in town so far?” Levi interrupted her thoughts, his voice cutting through her mental spiral.

“I guess so,” Elara replied, trying to keep her tone light. “My landlord’s nice, and there’s Thomas and Ben, and Paula, one of the other checkers.” She tried to push aside her unease. It was a simple enough question—why should it bother her? Surely he just wanted to know if she was adjusting to the town. Nothing sinister about that.

“Good to hear.” Levi smiled, though his eyes remained sharp. “We don’t get many newcomers from the city. It’s always interesting when someone from outside joins our little community.” He paused. “I noticed you wear a cross necklace. Are you religious? Do you attend church regularly?”

Elara shifted uncomfortably. “No, not really. I used to as a kid, but… there were some family issues. The necklace was my mom’s.”

Levi’s eyes flicked to the cross, and something in his expression changed, though Elara couldn’t quite place it. “How do you feel about forgiveness and redemption? Do you believe people can truly cleanse themselves of past mistakes?”

Elara blinked at the sudden shift in the conversation. The question caught her off guard, though she wasn’t entirely sure why. Maybe it was the way he asked, his voice low and deliberate, like the question was about something much deeper than it seemed.

“I’m not sure,” she answered slowly, trying to gauge what kind of response he was looking for. “I suppose it depends on the person, and if they’re willing to change.”

Levi nodded thoughtfully, as if weighing her words. “Interesting,” he said, his voice almost a murmur. “You’re right—some people seek redemption, but not everyone has the strength to achieve it.”

The air in the room seemed to grow heavier with his words, and Elara couldn’t help but feel that there was something more to his line of questioning than he was letting on.

"Why don’t you come over for a family dinner, Friday night?" Levi asked suddenly, his voice breaking the tension.

Elara blinked, surprised by the invitation. "Oh, I work Friday..." she began, uncertain about how to respond. The idea of meeting his family already felt overwhelming.

"We can arrange for you to get off earlier," Levi interrupted smoothly. "Ben can take you to our place and bring you home afterward."

Elara hesitated. "I’d love to, but are you sure?" she said, trying to gauge if this was a normal invitation for employees or due to her recent closeness with Ben.

"It’s no bother to us," Levi assured her. "We’re looking forward to it. My wife, especially, is eager to meet you, given how highly Benedict speaks of you."

Elara smiled weakly, still feeling the lingering unease. "I guess... if you're sure it’s not a problem. Thank you."

Levi nodded. "Of course. We’ll see you Friday."

Elara stood, feeling the stiffness in her legs, which ached to be stretched. A weight had largely lifted from her chest, yet an unsettled tension lingered, and she couldn’t quite pinpoint why.

As she walked out of the office, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was more than just a family dinner. She hoped Ben’s family wasn’t as intimidating as Levi. Ben had been nothing but kind, disciplined, and reliable—surely his family couldn’t be that different... right?

Just as she reached the door, Levi’s voice followed her. “Don’t forget, Elara. We’re like family—we take care of each other. As long as you’re here, you don’t have anything to worry about.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and unsettling. Elara quickened her pace as she left the office, trying to shake the creeping unease that had settled in her chest.