The underground parking level of Meyer Tower smelled of cool, sterile air conditioning and the faint expensive aroma of high end car wax. Sasha brought her car to a final definitive halt.She gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white. She closed her eyes for a two count and forced a long, slow breath out.
'It's just another day. It's just work. He is just your boss.' The absurdity of the mantra almost made her laugh. A hysterical panicked sound she quickly swallowed.
She reached for her work bag, the leather strap feeling like a professional leash and she marched toward the elevators. The stainless steel cube was cold and impersonal and as it rocketed her toward the executive floor. She used the mirrored panels to check her facade. She wasn't Sasha the mortified blind date. She was Sasha the Senior Interior Designer.. sharp, capable, and perfectly composed.
The doors slid open and she stepped into the familiar hushed elegance of the Meyer Corporation offices. She immediately activated her professional operating system. A bright, unforced smile and a quick friendly greeting for the few colleagues already at their desks.
"Morning Alex.. Morning Hana.."
She reached her workstation, a small island of order amidst a sea of minimalist design. She sat down, her movements efficient and she arranged her laptop bag and the files with unnecessary precision. She actually felt a tiny spike of triumph.
"See..? That was easy. Just behave like this. No big deal at all.." she told herself instinctively patting her sternum, trying to convince the tiny, thumping anxiety beneath her blazer that the crisis was averted.
Then.. the silence fell.
It wasn't that the office went quiet. The soft click of keyboards and the distant hum of the ventilation system were still audible. It was a felt silence.. a collective, magnetic stillness that pulled everyone's attention without a single word being spoken. The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
Luca Meyer had arrived.
Sasha's eyes were fixed on her monitor, but she could see the reflection in the polished glass. A tall and utterly unignorable presence entering the space. Today, he was encased in a flawless dark navy suit. His posture ramrod straight, radiating a cold focused authority that made the heat from the night before seem like a hallucination..
Sasha's heart instantly accelerated, running a full marathon in her chest even though she knew with corporate certainty that he wasn't looking at her.
The perfect gentleman from last night was now the perfect intimidating CEO.
His steps were powerful, measured and commanding. He didn't rush but every movement was definitive. His secretary, Sara, a woman who mirrored his efficiency with her own razors sharp professionalism, trailed two paces behind him. He walked straight past the rows of desks. His neutral expression locked down, never breaking stride until he disappeared into his private office. The heavy door closed with a soft final thud.
The oppressive pressure lifted instantly, but Sasha's heart was still trying to catch up.
Before she could fully spiral, Sameer materialized beside her desk, a set of rolled up blueprints in his hands.
"Sasha, the Marina project is officially a messss.." Sameer whispered, his brow furrowed.
Sasha latched onto the professional problem like a life raft. Finishes, budgets and logistics were her element. She took the plans, her anxiety about Luca temporarily filed away beneath the demands of the important contract.
Hours passed. Sasha slowly started to relax. She realized her fears had been unfounded. Luca was compartmentalising to a terrifying degree. He hadn't sent an message, hadn't glanced her way, hadn't even acknowledged their personal connection. She was just Sasha Perret now, The Senior Interior Designer.
The clock hit 12:30 PM and the kitchen pantry started to fill up. Sasha was chatting with Hina near the sleek coffee bar, discussing the ridiculousness of client expectations when the door opened and Sara walked in. Sara, the CEO's right hand, was always a study in cool perfection. Her power expressed not in loudness but in immaculate stillness.
"Hey Sara" Sasha greeted her, offering a genuine smile.
Sara returned a polite almost practiced small smile and walked directly to the espresso machine.
"Oh come on, Sara" Hina piped up, leaning closer. "You're the official keeper of all things executive. Having any gossip? Can we join in or are you too busy running the world?"
Sara carefully measured her coffee grounds.
"Just running Mr,Meyer's calendar, Hina. Which is quite enough work for one day."
Hina persisted playfully.
"But you must have something... Spill the tea about our CEO. Does he even have a personal life?"
Sara took a moment to let the machine do its work, then picked up her cup. Her eyes held a dry knowing glint.
"Interesting news about our CEO? Darling, I'd have to appoint a private detective just to know if he remembers his own birthday. He's a professional machine. He leaves nothing to chance and certainly nothing to office gossip." She took a slow sip, enjoying the momentary attention.
Just as Hina was about to launch into a disappointed sigh, the conversation was interrupted by a new, decidedly less professional voice.
"Hey, girlsss... can I join?"
They all turned. Ayaan leaned against the doorframe. A picture of effortless charm in a perfectly tailored but slightly flamboyant jacket. He was the splash of color in Luca's monochrome world.
Sasha watched the interaction, a knowing amused smirk playing on her lips. She raised one eyebrow at the sight of him. She knew as did most people that Ayaan's frequent, unscheduled office visits were almost entirely devoted to chasing Luca's impervious secretary.
Hina, oblivious to the subtext simply beamed.
"Sure, sure.. Come on in, Mr, Ayaan.." Hina encouraged.
Sara's jaw tightened subtly. "I am going, guys" she announced. Her voice clipped and she walked swiftly out of the pantry, espresso in hand and without a backward glance.
Ayaan's smile didn't falter for the others, but his eyes immediately locked onto Sara's retreating figure.
"I will join you guys later" he said, already pushing off the doorframe and walking quickly in the same direction Sara had taken.
Hina pouted, disappointed that he'd vanished. Sasha simply shook her head, a genuine private smile blooming. She found it quietly hilarious that Luca's best friend was so transparently devoted to Luca's least-amused employee.
"Hey, wai-..."
Ayaan had barely rounded the corner outside the elevators when the word died in his throat. He saw the figure leaning casually against the marble wall, arms crossed, radiating a silent, formidable presence.
It was Luca. He wasn't looking at Sara. He was looking straight at Ayaan, his face a perfectly blank canvas of analytical impatience. He'd been caught red handed. Again.
Ayaan switched immediately from flirtatious chaser to dedicated mentor. He walked toward Luca with an exaggerated urgency.
"Hey bro.. Of course, I was just coming to you" he declared, his voice suddenly loud and sincere.
"My mission awaits. Come, come. Don't waste time. Time is precious, very bery precious"
With a theatrical flair that only he could pull off, Ayaan maneuvered past Luca and strode into the vast, silent and intimidating office before Luca could speak. He dropped onto the large black colored leather sofa, making himself entirely at home.
Luca followed, his expression unchanging. And he closed the heavy door. The gesture was final, sealing them into the soundproof box. He remained standing, observing his friend with the objective assessment usually reserved for assessing quarterly reports.
"We have exactly twenty minutes before my conference call with the Singapore team" Luca stated, cutting through Ayaan's drama. He wasn't asking, he was setting the parameters of the 'teaching' session.
Ayaan clapped his hands together, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of having a truly challenging student. He leaned forward, adopting the air of a sage, if slightly irreverent relationship guru.
"Excellent, time for a crash course in human irrationality. I've done some preliminary research since iam the bestest bestfriend a person could ever ask for" Ayaan said, dramatically flexing himself.
"So... can we start the lesson, buddy?"
[To be continued]