Chapter Text
Running late during your second week wasn’t a good look at all but was it still happening?
Yes, of course it was.
It wasn’t your fault! Your coworkers, more specifically the ginger one, enjoyed that their boss had hired you. After all, a new employee meant a new minion. On your second day, he’d asked you oh-so-kindly to get eleven coffees from a café near the office. Being the pushover you are, you agreed, thinking it would be a one time thing.
Yet, here you were, running late while balancing eleven cups of coffee for the sixth and definitely not the last time. Thank Celestia, you made it to work in one piece. You cursed under your breath, watching the elevator doors close. The universe was against you since you moved cities for this damned job.
Right before they could meet, a dark hand held one of the shiny doors. It felt like someone had dropped an ice cube down your shirt just at the sight of that hand. The dark red polished claws scraped against the metal but not enough to damage. Silver rings adorned the slender fingers, stunning you for a few seconds. You couldn’t see the figure the hand belonged to but you knew it would be just as intimidating.
Snapping out of your stupor, you rushed to the now open doors, almost- just almost spilling coffee all over the elevator’s floor. You exhaled through your nose, struggling to juggle the four cup holders.
“Thank you for…” You said, your words faltering as you looked up at the person who held the door for you. “...Holding the door.”
Snow white hair clashed with black ends, dark irises with crimson crosses for pupils observing you quietly. Her red painted lips contrasted with her pale skin, her grey suit complimenting her figure perfectly. Everything about her screamed authority in the most elegant way possible. After what felt like an eternity of being scrutinised under her gaze, she spoke.
“No problem.”
Only two words were enough to send a shiver down your spine. Her voice was as smooth as velvet. Low, hypnotising, confident yet somehow, not arrogant. You would do anything if that voice asked you.
Lowering your gaze, the elevator closed with a soft click. The space felt even more confined now, even though it was just the two of you. Her eyes were burning holes into the top of your head. You shouldn’t be surprised if you have two bald spots when you leave this shaft.
Should you sneak another look? No…but you did, anyway. Her gaze was still on you, cold, judging. It wasn’t only judgement in her eyes. She was observing everything about you- every twitch of your eyebrows, the way your eyes immediately darted away when met with hers, your constant fidgeting with the cup holders. You weren’t sure if it was the weight of the eleven coffees or her sharp gaze causing your anxiety.
“Is this your first week here?” She broke the silence, her gaze unmoving. Forcing yourself to maintain the same level of confidence (and failing miserably), you responded.
“Second week, actually…” You said with an awkward laugh which unfortunately, wasn’t returned. If you didn’t know any better, which you didn’t, you’d think that you were on some secret hitlist she kept in her pocket at all times. She hummed in response, finally breaking eye contact to glance at the changing numbers above the doors. Both of you were on the fifth floor but it felt like the fiftieth.
The elevator dinged, the doors opening. You stepped out, feeling like a circus performer as you attempted to carry the coffees to the nearest table.The firm clicks of heels followed behind you and past you. “ So she works on this floor…Makes sense, ” You thought to yourself. The fifth floor was occupied by the second highest rank, only eleven persons holding that position.
“Hey girlie,” A familiar voice sounded right next to your ear. You jumped, still shaken up from your short conversation with the elevator woman. The cup holders were effortlessly scooped out of your arms as you turned to face Ajax, your superior and one of the eleven occupants of this floor. He reached in his pocket for his wallet, putting it in your hand. You knew the drill: take the money for the coffee and put the wallet back in his pocket. It still amazed you how blindly he trusted you to take the exact amount of money you needed and not excess.
The idea of asking about the mysterious lady crossed your mind but before you could speak, Ajax was already running off to share the coffees with his coworkers. Without much of a choice, you walked back to the elevator and down to Floor 4. You swore you could still feel the burning sensation of her eyes on you, even when you were on a whole different floor.
Today was the first time you’d seen her but that one encounter had burnt her face into your brain. As you sat at your desk on the fourth floor, your mind was still on the woman from the elevator. You mentally chided yourself. That lady had probably forgotten you the second she entered her office space and yet, you could still remember the exact number of rings she wore on each hand. You were hopeless.
At the end of the day, your elevator ride was accompanied by random coworkers from your floor. You still hadn’t befriended anyone. Unfortunately, the closest thing you had to a friend was Ajax and you only saw him in the mornings.
The woman from that morning wasn’t anywhere to be seen. You weren’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. On one hand, you wanted to at least find out her name but on the other hand, you weren’t sure if you could handle her stare again. Maybe you’d see her again. You worked in the same building. Maybe you’d get the courage to ask her name.
Maybe another day.