Paperwork and Hearthbeats

Harper Miller had always been a little too nerdy, despite her attractive appearance. She had always preferred order to chaos. Books over parties. And work over vacations. Her parents were constantly pushing her to go out and socialize more; her peers were always inviting her out to movie nights and parties; and boys... Boys were always inviting her everywhere. She did not care much. She preferred the solitude of her room and her books. The only thing that could be considered a hobby for Harper was her love of fashion. She enjoyed collecting fashion magazines and saving up her money for the perfect dress, which made her feel like the prettiest girl in the world. She researched fashion brands and fabric patterns. In her senior year of high school, she decided that she would turn this serious hobby of hers into a future career. That she would aim to work at a clothing company or a fashion magazine, somewhere where she could combine her passion for fashion with her talent for researching and organizing data. With that in mind, Harper went to Wharton college to get a Bachelor of Arts in the field of business management and a Master of Business Administration. During her time in college, she learned that the key to a successful business is to be social and well-liked, and so she honed her social skills, even if she had preferred studying. At the age of twenty-three, Harper got a job at a successful clothing company called ThreadForm as the secretary to the CEO, Oliver Williams. Oliver Williams was a mature man in his forties who had spent most of his life working tirelessly to build ThreadForm. As the CEO, his days were consumed by endless emails, decisions and meetings. His life had been a whirlwind of corporate responsibilities, leaving him little time for personal pursuits, let alone romance. Oliver is an introvert by nature and, besides business meetings, was awkward around people, especially those from the younger generation, since he was out of touch with their generation's trends. Due to his focus on work and the company, his appearance is often messy, and he is often sleep-deprived.

It was the first day of the new year, employees had returned from their Christmas holidays, excited to start the year a new. In the main office of the five-story skyscraper, the CEO — Oliver Williams — looked at the employees gathering in front of the elevator. His icy blue eyes, searched the group, looking for his new secretary. The photo that he had received from HR showed a young woman with long auburn hair that fell in loose, smooth waves over her shoulders. Her hair was parted slightly to one side, giving her face a balanced, natural frame. Her eyes were a striking blue-green colour, emphasized by subtle makeup — gentle eyeliner, defined lashes and war-toned eye shadow. Her eyebrows were neatly shaped, and her skin appeared smooth with a warm, even complexion and a light blush on her cheeks. Her lips were full and natural-looking, finished with a soft, neutral pink tone. She was what Oliver would consider a natural beauty, and he spent far more much time looking at her picture than he would like to admit. At his age, a mature man in his forties, it felt inappropriate to stare at a young lady for too long. But he could not help but wonder if the reality of this girl would match his fantasy. 

Harper nervously stepped into the elevator, her heart pounding against her rib cage, nervous for her first day of work. She had spent a lot of time researching ThreadForm and its CEO, Oliver Williams. There wasn’t a lot of information about Oliver online, just the basics, his parents' name, where he grew up and how he had started ThreadForm when he was in his early twenties. She had spent hours staring at one of the few pictures of him she could find. In the picture he had tousled black hair falling loosely over his forehead. He had a subtle stubble along his jaw and chin that added a rugged softness to his face. He wore glasses that seemed to highlight his icy blue eyes. There was something very attractive about him, despite his mature age. When the elevator dinged and the doors opened, it revealed a modern and open office space. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls divided the space into separate offices and meeting areas — creating a sense of openness and visibility. The colour palette of the walls, ceiling and carpets is neutral and cool — mostly consisting of whites, soft greys and light beige tones. This made the room feel spacious, uncluttered and clean. Harper instantly felt at ease, especially when she saw the neatly arranged workstations that included sleek desks, flat-screen monitors and ergonomic black office chairs. People were gathered in a small seating area, finished with modern tables and chairs, right next to the elevators. A large window behind the seating area and at the far end of the office space offered a view of surrounding buildings and brought in natural light.

Oliver’s eyes focused on Harper, who had just left the elevator and was being greeted by Tanja from human resources. Harper was wearing a tailored, sleek light-grey pantsuit that made her appear very professional and polished. Her grey blazer was structured and fitted, cinched slightly at the waist to create a feminine, clean silhouette. The design was minimalist with a subtle pocket detail on the chest. Underneath the blazer, she wore a black blouse, finished with a soft bow tie at the neckline, which added a touch of contrast against the grey suit. The trousers she wore matched her blazer and were slim-cut pants that fell smooth and straight, keeping the overall look sharp and refined. As Oliver’s eyes roamed her outfit and the warm, friendly smile on her face, all he could think was; ‘She is perfect.’ He took a deep breath, suddenly feeling nervous to meet her for the first time and knowing he would have to face the woman every single day in the office. He swallowed hard and walked over to introduce himself.

“You must be the boss' new secretary,” Tanja said with a practiced, almost professional smile. “Welcome aboard Harper,” she said smoothly, extending a hand for a quick shake. “I am Tanja Brooks from HR. We are thrilled to have you joining our team.” Just then, Oliver emerged from the corner office, the only office without transparent, glass walls. Oliver approached with measured steps, his expensive leather shoes making barely a sound on the soft carpets. He extended a hand towards Harper, his grip firm but not crushing. “Ms. Miller,” he began, his voice carrying that familiar professional edge despite the subtle tremor beneath it — though only someone intimately acquainted with him might notice such a thing. “I am Oliver Williams.” His icy blue eyes scanned her face briefly before settling back on her blue-green eyes. There was something intensely focused about their gaze now, something that was not present moments ago during his internal turmoil. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Williams. I look forward to working with you, sir,” Harper said. Her tone was professional but friendly.

Oliver’s expression softened almost imperceptibly as Harper spoke, a flicker of something akin to relief crossing his features. He maintained eye contact, his gaze unwavering as he processed her professional yet friendly tone. The subtle tension in his shoulders seemed to ease slightly. “It is a pleasure to meet you too, Harper,” he responded, using her first name with an easy familiarity that belied their brief introduction. A small smile touched the corners of his lips for the first time since she arrived. “I am confident we will have a productive working relationship. Please, make yourself comfortable at your new station. Tanja will show you where everything is.” His tone was authoritative but not unkind. Tanja stepped forward eagerly. After a brief introduction to all the employees, Tanja gave Harper a tour of the floor and explained the main department on the other floors. Then Tanja showed Harper to her desk, right outside Oliver’s Office. She also showed Harper all the access codes and explained how the filling system worked.

Tanja’s quick explanation of the office systems concluded with a brisk nod. “And that is everything for now,” she said, her voice carrying the practical efficiency of someone who had given this tour countless times before. “Mr. Williams will be in his office if you need anything further regarding your duties or access permissions.” She gave a final glance around the neat desk setup before turning to leave. Harper settled into her new chair, the leather cold beneath her. The view from her position just outside Oliver’s office door was impressive. She could see directly into his spacious corner suit through the open door, where he was already back at work at his massive mahogany desk. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, casting his silhouette against the city skyline. A few moments later, Oliver’s intercom buzzed softly on Harper’s desk. His voice came through clearly but without any discernible emotion: “Harper? Could you come in here please?” Harper stood up calmly and walked over to his open office door. “Yes sir?” Oliver looked up from his laptop, his icy blue eyes meeting hers as she stood in the doorway. The afternoon light caught the silver streaks at his temple, making him appear older. He gestured towards one of the chairs opposite his desk, a silent invitation to her to sit. Harper walked in and sat down.

“Thank you for coming in so quickly,” he said, his tone professional but carrying an undercurrent of something more personal. “I appreciate your promptness. It is a quality I value in a secretary.” He leaned back in his brown leather chair, studying her with an intensity that made the hairs on her arms stand up. “Tanja briefed you on the basics, I assume? Access codes, filing systems, standard procedure?” His gaze flickered towards the window for a moment before returning to her face. “I will need you to handle my schedule starting tomorrow morning.” Harper nodded and said, “Of course, sir. I have already found your previous assistant's date book. I will make some adjustments and handle your schedule.” Oliver’s expression shifted slightly, a hint of approval warming his features. He nodded slowly, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Excellent,” he said, his voice carrying a note of genuine satisfaction. “I appreciate your initiative. Most hires would still be trying to figure out where the coffee machine is at this hour.” He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the polished mahogany desk. “

The schedule is... Demanding,” he admitted candidly. “Early morning, late evening. I expect you to be organized and reliable.” His icy blue eyes held hers steadily as if gauging her reaction to this unspoken warning about the workload ahead. “Can I trust you with this responsibility?” he asked directly. “Yes, sir. Is there anything else?” Harper responded, the way she sat upright, revealed her eagerness to start. Oliver considered her for a moment longer than necessary, his gaze lingering on her face as if searching for something beyond simple professional competence. The afternoon light caught the faint lines around his eyes, betraying the stress he carried daily. “No,” he said finally, “That is all for now. You can go ahead and familiarize yourself with the date book. Make any necessary adjustments to my existing commitments.”