"But sometimes the people who seem the most unreachable are actually the loneliest," Gloria said while looking straight ahead, lost in the distance as if remembering someone dear to her. "They build walls so high that they forget what it feels like to let someone in. And sometimes... They need someone patient enough to find the door.

Neville didn’t say anything and looked at her, letting her words sink in.

"For what it’s worth," Gloria said, noticing that they were already close to the door at the end of the hallway, "I hope things work out for you. You’re someone who deserves happiness."

"Thank you." He said, smiling sincerely as he felt lighter than before.

"Sometimes it helps to tell a stranger." Gloria smiled warmly and winked back.

They stopped before the imposing door to Grayson’s office.

"We’re here." Neville said after chuckling, "Should I announce your arrival?"

Neville reached out to press the intercom, but Gloria’s hand caught his wrist gently.

"No need," she said with a mischievous expression. She released his wrist and patted his cheek affectionately, like it was just a natural gesture from her, "I know my way from here. I wanted to surprise him anyway."

"I..." Neville wasn’t sure if that was really okay.

"Thank you for the escort, Neville." Her lips curved into a mysterious smile. "I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other more often."

Neville nodded slowly and watched as Gloria entered. He didn’t feel like it was right to leave Gloria alone, so he waited a little more until she entered before going.

As soon as the door slid open, he heard the rustling inside.

It seemed the surprise was a success.

But then he heard Grayson say, "Mother?"

Neville’s brain short-circuited.

Mother?

Who?

Neville lifted his head and stared blankly at the back of Gloria, who was not too far in front of him.

Gloria?

Gloria Maxwell?

Grayson’s mother?

Neville saw Gloria smile at Grayson, who hurriedly came close to her.

"Surprise, darling," she said as she hugged Grayson. "I thought I’d drop by to check on my son. I do hope you don’t mind?"

"You didn’t tell me you were coming," Grayson said with a troubled look on his face. "I would have arranged security and cleared my schedule."

"If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it? And besides—" Gloria looked back at Neville, who was frozen in the doorway keeping it from closing, and said, "—Your new secretary was kind enough to escort me. Such a lovely young man."

Grayson barely glanced and nodded at Neville’s direction before reproaching his mother again, "Still—"

"I said, it’s fine." She quickly said as if she already knew that Grayson would nag at her. She instead looked at Neville with a mysterious sparkle in her eyes, gleaming brightly. "We had a good chat on the way here."

"Is that so?" Grayson commented as he led her further inside.

Neville felt the blood drain from his face.

She’s really Grayson’s Mother?!

He had just spent the last fifteen minutes pouring his heart out to Grayson’s mother.

But how?!

[Oh,] Shelly said with an amused and horrified fascination over this sudden turn of events. [Oh, Host. This is... this is really something. (ꏿ﹏ꏿ;)]

Gloria glanced back at Neville, who remained frozen by the door and called out, "Come inside and have a seat."

Neville just blinked, unmoved.

Grayson turned his gaze and looked at Neville, too. He asked, "Secretary Hope? Is there something wrong?"

Wrong?

WRONG?!

’Everything is wrong!’

’My life is over!’

’I should start packing now and move to a different planet. Maybe the Vankila Planet would take me. I could become a prison consultant or something—’

[Host, breathe, calm down! Σ(っﾟДﾟ;)っ] Shelly urgently reminded him. [Remember, she doesn’t know it was Grayson you were talking about. You never mentioned his name!]

Right. Right.

I could still salvage this situation.

She will never EVER know about it.

Neville forced himself to smile and inclined his head respectfully.

"There’s nothing wrong, Mr. Maxwell." He said, trying to keep his voice from cracking.

"I was just... a little surprised to learn that Ms. Glo—" He stumbled slightly over her name, reality still catching up with him as he walked inside as instructed. "Mrs. Maxwell was the one I was escorting. I apologize for not recognizing you earlier."

"Oh, you don’t need to apologize, Neville dear." Gloria waved a hand dismissively from where she had settled into the couch. "I didn’t introduce myself properly—how could you have known? Besides, our conversation became far more interesting precisely because you didn’t know who I was."

Neville felt a chill run down his spine at the knowing tone in her voice.

Did she know about it? I didn’t even say anything; there’s no way she could’ve known about that!

Grayson’s eyes narrowed slightly, turning back and forth between Neville and his mother. His gaze made Neville want to flee the scene quickly.

"What conversation?" Grayson asked. This situation clearly piqued his interest.

"Just office gossip, darling." Gloria flashed an innocent smile. "I heard that your Chief Secretary and one of the department heads are together now. The entire company couldn’t get enough of this. Each corner of the hall always mentioned a thing or two about it. Your new secretary here had to fill me in on all the details in case I misunderstood something."

Technically, it wasn’t a lie. They did discuss Bryan and Iris, among other things.

Neville peered his eyes on the side and saw Bryan with a light blush on his cheeks. He had the sudden urge to tease Bryan, too, watching him get all embarrassed.

"I see," Grayson said as he glanced at Bryan, who then turned his face away.

It seemed that Bryan was in for trouble now.

"Now then." Gloria patted the seat beside her. "Come sit over. I’ve traveled all the way from the Federation. I want to hear everything from you. Bryan’s reports are all well and good, but you can’t just make him say things that I want to hear, right?"

"Mother—"

"Sit, Grayson."

Neville felt the strength in her voice even though she didn’t raise her voice. Grayson seemed to realize that it was futile to resist. So, Grayson moved to the seat beside his mother but paused for a second to look at Neville.

He said, "Cancel my three o’clock and push back the project review to tomorrow."

"Yes, Mr. Maxwell." Neville practically bowed in his haste to escape.

He turned to go, and relief flooded his senses.