Emily hurried through the glass doors of the tall building, her arms laden with a brown paper bag and a steaming coffee cup balanced precariously on top. Juggling the two, she spotted Bella, her coworker, heading towards the reception desk.
"Em!" Bella called out, a friendly smile spreading across her face.
Emily offered a quick wave in response before continuing her mad dash towards the president's private elevator. She pressed the button for the top floor with a practiced ease, her heart hammering against her ribs. A quick glance down revealed her reflection in the mirrored doors - a sea of dark green pencil skirt and a floral brown blouse that seemed perpetually wrinkled despite her efforts with the iron. Her black tights did little to combat the morning chill, and her black pumps clicked a staccato beat against the polished marble floor. She adjusted her
“So we decided to use a more efficient product……” The voice of the presenter echoed in the boardroom. Oliver, who sat at the head of the table, his gaze fixed on the report spread out before him. But the columns of figures and charts swam before his eyes, mere blurs in his vision. His mind was a million miles away, consumed by a looming problem that had nothing to do with the business report or project. His hand tapped out a restless rhythm against the folder. The click-clack of his Montblanc pen was the only sound breaking the tense silence. This was very unusual. But today, his inattentiveness was nowhere to be seen. Beside him is Emily who gave her boss a worried glance. "Sir?" she
Even Bella seemed stunned by his appearance. Her eyes widened, and she nudged Jayce, who looked equally bewildered. Even the nearby workers at their tables were craning their necks for a better look. "Oh my god, is she walking towards us?" Bella muttered excitedly. "Is he planning to eat here?" Jace echoed. As Oliver approached, Emily, Jayce, and Bella all stood up instinctively, mixed emotions swirling on their faces. "Good day, Sir," Bella and Jace chorused, clearly surprised by Oliver's unexpected presence in the employee cafeteria. "Hey," Oliver said, offering a polite smile. However, his smile didn't quite reach his eyes, and his gaze h
Oliver Sterling, the CEO with a winning personality and drop-dead looks—sharp jawline, mesmerizing green eyes, perfect nose, luscious lips, bushy eyebrows, and sleek black hair. Standing tall at 6 and a half feet with an athletic build, he strutted through his office holding onto a bunch of papers. Emily, his hyper-organized secretary, stood there all prepared with her clipboard. "Hey, Ms. Collins, what's my schedule for today?" Oliver flashed his usual charming smile, eyeing Emily's simple yet sharp look. Her ginger hair is styled in a neat bun, and a no-nonsense outfit consisting of a dull-colored long skirt, an old-school blouse, no makeup, thick glasses, and pink lips. Those lips were the only colorful thing on her. "Good morning, Mr. Sterling. Here's the deal for today's meetings." Emily handed over the clipboard. "Your 9 am got pushed to 10, and the Johnson account review is happening this afternoon." "Got it. Thanks, Ms. Collins. What about that Jenkins project report?" He q
In the confines of her cubicle, Emily sat focused at her messy desk. Papers, pens, and sticky notes covered her space. A cactus plant was set on the side, the only decoration on her table aside from hundreds of pens, notebooks, and sticky notes. "Mr. Sterling's 10 a.m. with the board got bumped to 11," Emily said calmly. As she sorted Oliver's schedule, a quick look at the pic on her desk of a financial goal scribbled on a note by her desk. Her goal of hitting a $1 million mark within a certain time frame was like her guiding star. But as the night dragged on, frustration started creeping into her expression. She double-checked her progress last night, studying the numbers with a wrinkled forehead as she faced a setback in her carefully planned-out goals. With a heavy sigh, Emily leaned back in her chair, her fingers massaging her temples as she stared at the screen. As the night wore on and the clock struck midnight, she found herself the only soul in the company. Exhaustion hun
Oliver sat at his desk, surrounded by a mountain of paperwork and illuminated by the soft glow of his computer screen. It was well past the office hours, yet he remained engrossed in finalizing the intricate details of a crucial project. The only other soul present in the office was Emily. Emily had meticulously organized files and neatly arranged stacks of documents. Her dedication to her job was admirable. Oliver glanced up from his screen, rubbing his temples in an attempt to ease the strain of looking at the screen for long. He noticed Emily typing away at her computer, engrossed in her tasks. "Hey, Ms. Collins," Emily looked up, her gaze meeting Oliver's tired eyes. "Yes, Mr. Sterling?" "How late is it now?" Oliver asked, stifling a yawn. "It's almost midnight, sir," Emily replied, glancing at the clock on her computer screen. "You've been at this for hours. Would you like some coffee?" "That would be fantastic, thank you. You're a lifesaver, Ms. Collins." As Emily headed
The sunlight filters through the large windows of the office, casting a warm glow on the desks. Oliver sits at his desk. He glances at the clock, realizing it's almost lunchtime, a perfect opportunity to discuss his proposal with his secretary. So, he strides over to Emily's desk. "Ms. Collins," he begins, leaning against the side of her desk, "Do you have a moment? I was thinking maybe we could grab lunch together?" Emily looks up from her computer screen, doubtful of Oliver's request. He never invited her to meals. "Uhm…sure, Mr. Sterling. Is everything alright?" "Yeah, of course. I just need to talk about something important" With a nod, Emily gathers her belongings and joins Oliver as they head out of the office. The streets are alive with the people going in and out, and they find themselves at a café nestled between the high-rise buildings. As they settle into a quiet corner table, Oliver orders a couple of sandwiches and a pot of coffee. The aroma of freshly brewed coffe
The moon shone brightly over the amusement park as the laughter of children echoed in the air. Emily stood near the entrance gate, patiently awaiting Oliver's arrival still in her heels and long-fitted skirt. Soon after, Oliver arrived and spotted Emily near the gate of the lively park atmosphere. "This is quite an unexpected choice for our meeting," Oliver remarked, as soon as he reached her side. "I thought we could use a change of scenery, and truthfully, I've always wanted to ride the Ferris wheel," Emily confessed with a sheepish smile, gesturing toward the towering structure that dominated the park's skyline. But due to the demanding job of being a secretary for Oliver Sterling, she never had the chance to fulfill that wishlist so she decided to use the agreement to do so. "A negotiation in amusement park rides — I can't say I've done that before." "Work has always kept me busy, but today, I wanted to experience the joy of the Ferris wheel, and well, also discuss our arran
Oliver's office exuded an air of prestige, furnished with sleek, mahogany accents that reflected his status as CEO. Emily, poised and composed, sat across the mahogany desk, clutching a pen ready to finalize the terms of their arrangement. The pen moves fluidly in Emily's hand as she scrutinizes the lines, finalizing the contract. Oliver couldn't help but notice a faint furrow between Emily's brows. "Is there anything you'd like to discuss further, Ms. Collins?" Emily's focus snapped back to the present, "No Sir. Everything seems to align with our prior discussions. I believe we've covered all essential aspects." “That’s good to hear” With a swift yet deliberate motion, they both affixed their signatures on the document, sealing their agreement in ink. Oliver leaned forward slightly, extending his hand across the polished desk. “I am looking forward to working with you, Ms. Collins” Emily looked at his extended hand. It was like she had gone back to their first meeting a