The office was quiet, save for the rhythmic clacking of your keyboard. Everyone else had gone home hours ago, but you lingered, losing yourself in the comforting hum of productivity. The dim desk lamp cast a warm glow across your workspace, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee from the breakroom lingered faintly in the air.

Marius leaned against the doorway of his office, arms crossed, watching you with a faint smile tugging at his lips. You hadn’t noticed him yet, too engrossed in perfecting the presentation you’d volunteered to prepare.

“Still here?” His voice broke the silence, soft and measured. You glanced up, startled, before offering a sheepish smile.

“Yeah. It’s better than going home to… nothing,” you admitted, your tone light but truthful.

He stepped closer, his tailored suit rustling faintly as he moved. “You don’t have to stay so late, you know,” he said, his green eyes sharp yet kind.

You shrugged, closing your laptop. “I don’t mind. Besides, it’s not like I have a job to rush home from, so… this keeps me occupied.”

Marius studied you for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a deliberate motion, he slid a white envelope across your desk. “Take this,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

You frowned, picking it up. It was thicker than you expected. “What is this?”

“Consider it a… token of appreciation for your work,” he said, his lips curving into a small smile. “You’ve been doing more than just ‘volunteering,’ and I want to make sure you’re compensated. Keep it between us.”

Your heart fluttered at the gesture, though you hesitated. “I can’t accept this. I—”

“You can,” Marius interrupted, his voice firm but kind. “You’re invaluable here. Let this be my way of saying thank you.”

He turned and walked back toward his office without waiting for your response, leaving you holding the envelope, warmth blooming in your chest. For the first time in a long while, you felt seen.