Tia
"With our new strategy, we'll finally…" My gaze wandered past the boardroom window, the words fading into background noise. I couldn't concentrate. My mind was still reeling.
The ridiculous man who had jokingly asked me to marry him earlier was actually Axel, the CEO of my company.
Was this some kind of twisted joke?
Was I about to be fired for the way I spoke to him?
My thoughts spiraled, and I couldn't think straight.
"Tia..Tia.."
A gentle nudge on my elbow pulled me back. Didi's voice cut through the fog, and I blinked, clearing my throat as I tried to refocus.
"That's everything for today," Axel said, his tone laced with finality. "Thanks for your hard work." He added and everyone nodded.
He stood up , gathered his papers, and exited the room.
And one after the other, the team left the boardroom, ready to get started on what they had discussed.
Didi and I rose together and walked to my office.
"Are you okay? You were completely zoned out during the meeting," Didi asked, her voice laced with concern.
I chuckled softly. "You care about me so much."
She giggled, nudging my shoulder. "Well, I think anyone would be foolish not to care about you."
Her words made me smile genuinely. I was grateful to have someone like her in my corner. If only what she said were true… maybe I wouldn't be tangled up in this mess with Jade.
I walked over to my desk, sat down, slipped on my glasses, and opened a file.
"What are you doing?" Didi asked, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
I glanced at her, confused. "Wait… are you leaving?"
"Yes," she replied, raising a brow. "And what exactly are you doing?"
I quickly checked my wristwatch. "It's not closing time yet, so I'm working."
She sighed dramatically, running her fingers through her hair like a weary actress. I smirked.
"I forgot you weren't paying attention during the meeting," I teased.
"And?" I paused mid-sentence, waiting for her to finish.
She gave me a knowing look, lips curled into a mischievous grin.
"Well, the CEO gave us early time off today," Didi said. "He wants us to go home and study the proposal for the upcoming project."
My eyes widened. "Wait…oh crap! A new proposal?"
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Yes, Tia. I already sent it to your email. I'm heading out now. Since we're going the same way, we could leave together."
I glanced at the stack of files on my desk and sighed, shaking my head. "I wish I could. You know I've been dealing with a lot lately, and I've barely touched work. With this new project coming up, I need to catch up."
Didi nodded, her expression softening with understanding. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow then."
She blew me a kiss and I smiled as I watched her walk out of the office with her usual bounce. The room felt quieter without her, but I turned back to my desk,
I was buried in work, flipping through files, replying to emails, trying to catch up on everything I'd missed. The office was quiet, to an extent I didn't notice the time slipping by until I glanced at the window and saw nothing but darkness staring back.
And was my cue.
I sighed, stretched my arms, and began stacking the files neatly. I slipped my laptop into my bag, grabbed my glasses, and stood up. Time to go.
But not before my little ritual.
Whenever I worked late, I always treated myself to a smoothie. It was my way of saying, "You made it through the day." Something small, something sweet, something just for me.
I walked down the hallway toward the break room, the sound of my footsteps echoing softly. The lights were dim, and every office door was shut. Everyone had already gone home.
I opened the fridge, reached for my usual mango blend, and smiled to myself, then I kept it inside my bag, I'd take it inside the cab.
I slung my bag over my shoulder, took one last glance at my desk, and stepped out of my office. The hallway was quiet.
I walked slowly, the sound of my heels echoing off the walls. That's when it hit me, I was the only one left in the building.
I sighed, tired as I made my way to the elevator. The doors slid open with a soft chime, and I stepped in, pressing the button for the ground floor. The doors began to close.
But just before they shut completely, a foot slid in, stopping the elevator from closing.
My eyes widened in shock as the door reopened with a soft whoosh, as I stared, with my heart skipping. Who else was still here?
The figure stepped into the elevator, and as the doors slid open fully, the dim light revealed his face.
It was CEO Axel.
I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Of all people, I hadn't expected him. Not here, and certainly not now.
He gave me a warm smile, the kind that felt too casual for someone who ran the entire company. "Sorry," he said quickly, noticing the shock written all over my face. "Didn't mean to startle you."
I blinked, trying to find words, but my mind was still stuck on the fact that the man who had once asked me to marry him was now standing inches away from me… in an empty building… late at night.
He stepped in beside me and the elevator closed behind him. The silence between us was thick, and I was uncomfortable.
"I didn't think anyone else was still here," he added, glancing at me with curiosity.
"Neither did I," I finally managed, voice barely above a whisper.
I stood there for a moment, puzzled, watching the elevator doors remain closed without moving. I sighed and pressed the close button once, but there was a soft chime, but nothing happened. I pressed it again, a little firmer this time. Still nothing. The doors didn't budge.
A flicker of unease crept in. I turned to him with furrowed brow. Without a word, he stepped forward and examined the control panel, his fingers moving quickly over the buttons. After a few seconds, he stepped back and looked at me, his face laced with worry.
"What is it?" I asked, my voice low.
He hesitated, then said quietly, "The elevator's stuck."
The word hung in the air, My face fell and my breathing paused. As in stuck with my CEO?