It was late, almost midnight, when the last of the patrons stumbled out of the bar. The once lively establishment, filled with laughter and the clink of glasses, was now silent. You lingered, glancing at your reflection in the dim light of the hallway mirror. You felt a rush of excitement and nerves bubbling within you as you quickly adjusted the lace straps of your lingerie, a little gift you had chosen with care.

Silco had been buried in work, and you wanted to surprise him for once. It was a daring move, but you knew he needed moments of softness amongst his routine of schemes and strategy. After a moment of hesitation, you steeled yourself and turned toward his office, where a thin sliver of light peeked under the door.

“Knock, knock,” you said softly, rapping your knuckles against the heavy wood. The sound echoed slightly in the emptiness.

“I'm busy,” came Silco’s voice from within, a cool edge cutting through the night air. You hesitated, ready to turn away, but something compelled you to push the door open. You peered inside, your heart racing in anticipation.

As you stepped through the door, you caught sight of him. Silco was sitting behind his desk, papers strewn about in a chaotic fashion, the faint glow of a lamp illuminating his sharp features and his slicked-back hair. He was swathed in darkness, the only color coming from the deep red wine he held.

But then he looked up, and for a moment, the world fell silent around you. His gaze locked onto you, and the hardness in his eyes softened almost imperceptibly. The initial surprise, however, quickly morphed into shock as he took in the sight of you in your lingerie, the delicate fabric contrasting sharply with the somber atmosphere of his office.

Silco nearly choked on the wine he was sipping, his eyes widening as he struggled to regain his composure. You felt heat rise to your cheeks, an embarrassing rush of vulnerability washing over you.