+++

Two weeks flew since I last had the conversation with Luke about the position of being Noah's PA and frankly, it had been in my head since... apart from the time that I needed to work but even then, it lingered and drove me crazy to the core.

My hair fell in front of me for the 20th time causing a grunt to be heard from the back of my throat. Losing the little patience I had left, I pushed my hair clearing my view as I continued to make slight word changes on the paper copy I had of the 2018 annual report.

During the last two weeks, so much had happened. Mr King had given everyone a load of paperwork to do since a new business deal was being processed. It lead everyone feeling agitated and reckless. Some, including myself, resulting to stay back and get things done.

Once I finished making the small changes, I moaned in satisfaction, throwing my head back. My arms rise up, stretching above my head. I closed my eyes whilst doing so, finding a small amount of peace and happiness since I had completed another task given.

Leaning back on my chair, I look at the bottom right corner of my computer reading the time. It was currently ten-fifty-seven. I combed a hand through my hair before I saved the new work on a opened word document.

Feeling happy with the amount of work produced, I shut down the computer. I gather my belongings, ready to head home. Without a doubt my exhaustion kept up at first place, actions slowly becoming sloppy. It was a clear sign of how tired I was.

An unexpected yawn leaves my mouth just as I placed my bag on my shoulder. I headed towards the elevator, pressing the button to head down back to the ground floor. I looked around the empty floor, waiting patiently for the doors to eventually open.

As I stepped in, I felt an eerie feeling linger causing a shiver to run through my body. I rubbed my arms, creating warmth. I sucked in my lips and pressed the button, ready to head to the main floor. The doors eventually close, the four walls around me cold but refreshing at the same time.

I place my forehead against the wall, closing my eyes as I tried to rest a little before making ways home. It didn't take long for the doors to open, my eyes scanning around the empty place in front of me.

There was no signs of other employees, the lights all switched off. There was however a light source seen to eye. The entrance door. Still having a little fear in me, I stick my head out, checking to make sure that it was indeed me alone in the company.

With a biting lip I step outside, the only sound echoing around me was from the faint tap of my heels. I didn't get far from the elevator before I heard the sound of feet running from somewhere on my left. Upon hearing it, My heart hammered, body now frozen on the spot.

I waited in anticipation, hearing the sound of feet getting louder and louder as seconds ticked by. It didn't take long for the sound of feet come to scene, exhilarating my heartbeat even more. A man comes continues to rush across the floor before stopping by the main entrance doors.

He then opens the door letting in a gust of cold wind. The wind slaps me making my teeth chatter and body shake as the cold touches my skin. I take quiet steps backwards, hiding myself from being caught.

In the end, my back pressed against the closed elevator doors. I turn my head to the left, now seeing another man walk out. Unlike the first, he walks confidently into the middle of the room. I hold my breath, praying for dear life on not getting caught.

He walked with elegance and quickness, hands shoved into his pockets. He didn't take a step forward but looks around instead. Half a minute later he voiced out,

"Mark?"

"Yes sir?"

"Make a note to remind me to have a look at the annual report once we get to the apartment,"

"Sure thing sir,"

The conversation was short and stern. It was clear that the man held authority, confidence and power. It made me shake in fear a little. The man didn't give a second look around before he made ways to leave the building. His posture still standing tall despite being late at night.

It was clear that work didn't affect him. Even though I didn't know who he was or what role he played, all I knew was that work didn't waver him. He prioritised work to the fullest, no matter how much workload he carried.

I glanced down at my watch reading the time as little past half-eleven. I felt like a burglar, watching the scene unfold in the dark. Feeling scared of getting caught from something I didn't do, I continue to stay put, my feet stay frozen on the spot, eyes focused on the second man.

I checked him out from head to toe without shame since he had his back facing me, taking in his tall frame and black hair that looked flawless in the dim light from where I stood.He looked to the left, the somewhat clear and unclear outline of his side profile leaving me in awe a little.

He gives a curt nod before a car pulls up on the curb. Mark, who I'm guessing is the man's driver, rushes over and opens the door. The mysterious man takes a seat before Mark rushed over to the drivers seat.

My phone rings unfreezing me as I search for my phone in my bag. I pull out my phone, looking down at the bright screen, squinting as my eyes adjusted to the light. The ID caller was mum. I smiled, picking up as another wave of tiredness attacked my body,

"Hey mum,"

+++

"Lily this needs to be sent to our branch at the end of the road asap,"

Luke's voice rings, I look up at him giving him a blank look at his statement,

"You can't honestly tell me to do that right now can you? I'm just about finished this report and I still have to go over the annual report off for Mr King. Can't you go? Or send someone else?"

He lets out a sigh, pointing at his Rolex; a lazy smile plastered on his face,

"You my sugarplum are a star for me. Now please be my shining star and get going. Time is precious and right now it's simply ticking away. I'd hurry if I were you,"

My eyes snap to him, speaking my mind,

"At this point I lost all respect for you as my manager Luke. All you're doing now is just trying to mess everything up ever since that day you pulled me aside two weeks ago; which by the way, I won't agree on,"

All he does was shrug his shoulders, acting like he didn't know what I was talking about. He tapped his watch in a mocking manner,

"Tick tock Lily, tick tock,"

With countless thoughts running through my mind, I sigh in defeat. Quickly pulling my hair into a messy bun, I snatch the files from him. I stand slinging my shoulder bag on my shoulder and walk past him. A mutter leaves my mouth, loud enough so that he was able to hear it,

"I hate you so much right now,"

I could feel him smile even wider at my words. I look back over my shoulder, stomping my way to the elevator. I pressed multiple times, restless for the doors to open. Once the doors opened and I stood inside, I gave him one last deadly look.

As the doors close, I place a hand on my waist sighing loudly. I looked through the pile of different papers, all containing different bar and pie charts about the company's stock exchange. Then my phone rang, without looking at the caller ID I answer,

"Hello?"

"Sugarplum I suggest you run, time is very short for you right now,"

"Do you seriously want me to run in heels right now?"

I ask in disbelief, looking down at my heels. There was a slight pause, the doors finally opening. I step outside, seeing multiple staff run around with stacks of paper, distraught plastered on their faces.

I was confused at the situation. The ground floor was never this busy. I glance around, no-one was looking at anyone; they clearly had fear imprinted in their minds. I glanced around, now coming to a pause.

Through the main doors, three business looking men walked in, one male taking lead. He held a few pieces of paper, most probably documents, that covered his face. I could just about see his eyebrows scrunched.

He comes to an abrupt stop, turning to the side in a swift, sharp manner. The man who stood on the left only looked down towards the floor, his eyes shaking as his body swayed ever so slightly.

The middle man moved so that he was stood in front of the person, covering his identity so that I could no longer see him. He spoke in a low tone of voice. I was pretty sure that his facial expressions were hard and prompt, eyes shooting lasers at the man.

Within a blink of an eye, the papers were then thrown in the air. Each piece of paper scattering around making everyone in the room freeze, watching what had just happened. The man on the right instantly ran, trying to catch the flying papers.

Poor man, I thought. I would've hated to be in his position. The man then turns around, facing the room. His face instantly turns red, anger clearly plastered. He bellows out loud,

"WHY THE FUCK IS EVERYONE SCATTERED?! DID I PAY YOU ALL TO STAND AND WATCH HUH?"

I froze on the spot, unable to take another step forward due to his loud voice was. Without a doubt, it was as if he captured me in a trance. His eyes still roaming around the room; like a hawk waiting for it's prey,

"IF I DON'T SEE THIS PLACE MOVING AND CLEAR. I HOPE THE FUCK THAT YOU ARE READY TO HAND IN YOUR RESIGNATION LETTER ON MY DESK,"

He shouted, his voice holding authority and status. My eyes blink a couple of times, mouth agar as my mind mentally screamed saying to get a move on. I don't focus for long as my haziness then changes into a growl, hearing Luke sing clearly finding my situation funny,

"You better have made a good move Luke, or God help me,"

He chuckles deeply as he speaks,

"Don't worry sugarplum, I'm watching from above getting a nice view... maybe I should grab a bag of popcorn, whatcha say?"

"Your testing my patience now,"

I speak though gritted teeth. My heart beating a little faster as an ungrowing fear developed in seconds,

"Would you like a countdown sugarplum hmm? You know, to help build the adrenaline?"

"Stop calling me sugarplum,"

I look around seeing a few staff now present, the herd scattered; hidden. I tilt my head back, indeed finding Luke on the first floor, by the elevator peering down. We locked eyes and he smiled. He smiled so wide that it looked like he was scheming something.

He then had the audacity to raise his hand up in my direction and give me a wave like a six-year-old meeting their friend. He places his index finger on his chin and speaks out innocently,

"Oh you might want to put me on speaker,"

My once irritated face becomes confused as if I was a lost child. I hold his eyes and question him,

"Why on earth would I want you on speaker?"

"Because... where's the fun if it isn't on?"

"That's it! I've had enough of you, how long do I have left?"

I shout almost, my eyes attentively watching him look down at his watch following heed to what I questioned,

"Hmm... sugarplum your way past your time. I think... I think your job is on the line now from the looks of it,"

He pouts looking back at me, my eyes widen at his statement. Without hesitation, I move the phone away from my ear and run like my life depended on it. From the sidelines, a few staff looked my way as if I had grown two heads but that didn't concern me one bit whatsoever.

I was too busy running forward to hear someone call my name or see the yellow triangle sign which read. Balancing one hand with the stack of papers and the other with my phone. I did my best but it simply went downhill as I felt one of my heel twist.

I gasped, my heart leaping out of it's rib-cage. For a split second I had somehow miraculously gained my balance back,

"Lily!"

Voices called from all directions. Knowing that wearing heels and running on potentially wet floor with little sense of balance, I knew I had to pray for the worst that was yet to come... and it did...

It happened all so fast, I reached closer towards the main doors where the men still stood, now talking amongst themselves, not swayed by the shouts from everyone. My heart hammered even more, my mind gushing with adrenaline.

I was a few steps away from pushing the men aside and leave the building when Luke's voice chimed in, taking me off guard than I already was. I hadclearly forgotten that I was still on the call with him and ended up twisting my heel again somehow.

I gasp as my eyes widen. There wasn't enough space between me and the men to balance myself so I reacted as fast as I could. On instinct, I let go of the phone, making it drop to the floor. The papers now flying in the air. The staff who remained all froze again once more.

My eyes frantically look around, trying to find something to grab onto. Another gasp escapes my mouth and my hands move to grab the first person it could come in reach with. I close my eyes, a squeal leaving my mouth. Luckily my hand grabs onto someone who was close to me.

The person that I grabbed onto clearly had quick reflexes because their movements were fast. Their arm snaked securely around my waist, pulling me into their embrace; chest against chest. My free hand whips forward, grabbing onto the back of their neck.

The smell of sandalwood invades my senses and it soothes my rapid beating heart a little. I close my eyes even tighter than I ever had in my life, just waiting for the impact to finally hit me... but it never came.

My breaths were uneven as it escaped my parted lips. My chest fell and rose in a quick manner too. I slowly open my eyes coming to see the person who I grabbed onto. My scared face soon becomes blank as my hazel eyes meets vibrant emerald ones.

My lips part a little more in a small 'o' shape. Upon meeting his eyes, instead of my heart beating rapidly, it somewhat slows down to the rhythm of his breathing. Small puffs of air escapes through my lips making me even more breathless than I already was.

Everyone who was still present in the room now gasp. Slow and quiet mutters slowly make it's way around as we continue to look at each other. His eyes held a small hint of emotion that I couldn't acknowledge on time as they become dark, his face hardening.

I wince from his hard glare. My mind blank like a canvas but then, magically it was like something was being written in thick black paint. It was like my mind was screaming to back away but my body simply couldn't.

It's a shame that you'll be the first to hand in your resignation letter...

The voice in my head chimed. To make matters even worse than it already was, Luke's voice breaks through the heavily tense silence,

"I think my job here is done,"