Work Text:
It's hard to say how it started.
You woke up in a haze—yet again. Rays of light came starkly from between the curtains; your previously pitch-black room now taking on an ochre hue. It had been nearly a week since you got this job, and about an hour since you should have been in the office.
“Oh shit!”
You shot out of the bed, glancing at the clock. 9:59. You were already an outcast at the office, now, being late at such an important day… stirring wouldn’t get you anywhere. You quickly make some coffee and throw on whatever clothes you had lying around. The shirt had a stain, but it was hardly noticeable. You were sure most people would be staring at your dark eye bags instead anyways.
Between chugging your coffee and trying to put something resembling eyeliner on, your phone buzzes.
It's a text from your boss. You decide to wait to read his berating until you're already in your car; if anything, maybe swerving into a ditch mid-text would make him excuse you. You burst through the door with the concept of an outfit on and about two more stains on your shirt. The car door is iced shut. Just your luck.
As your frantically trying to open your own door--keying it like that will do anything--you hear a familiar voice from behind you.
“Hey!” She shouts over the sound of your pathetic struggles. Her floaty voice swirls around you. It's easy to recognize.
“Y/n! Shouldn't you be at the office?”
“What do you mean?” She plays with her hair a bit, finger curling it.
“Huh”
You glance down at your phone; the bright white numbers are clear against your background.
8:59
“What are you doing?”
“I just uh I—uhm”
You should really change that clock. Daylight savings was days ago..
“Here, let me help you” She glides towards your car and in one swift motion unlocks the door.
In all the years you've known y/n, you've never been able to figure out just how she so effortlessly does things. No matter what, it's like the world is just configured to go her way. Not like you're complaining, after all she did just help you with your car.
“You're ready really early! Must be because of the new CEO. I heard he’s making some meeting with everyone to introduce himself!”
Oh, right. Apparently, the old CEO got fired for being like a pedophile or something. You always got weird vibes from him. You completely forgot that the new CEO would be coming today; it's not like he'll be that different though. There have been some rumors that the two CEOs were brothers—you don’t really care enough to question them.
You and y/n decide to drive to work together. After all, y/n wants to make a good first impression and come in early too. She's always had that kind of determination about her; she tries so hard to make appearances, yet you're pretty sure you're her only friend.
You both make some idle chit-chat. Y/n is fixing her hair in your mirror and doesn’t seem to be able to multitask. The dark ringlets dance around her face, shiny with product. Her hands are shiny—also with product—and she mistakenly touches just about everything in your car. It probably won't stain you tell yourself, knowing that the grease from last time is still prominent.
When you both exit the car, the streets are covered in reporters and guys in suits. They're all surrounding a black limo
“Bodyguards?”
“Y/n, do you know what's going on?”
Why would there be this much chaos around the workplace? It's not like anyone famous was there.
She stares wide-eyed, “Wait, I think it's for the…CEO!”
Just then, someone exits the limousine.
He's wearing a tight white undershirt with one of the buttons undone. Real professional. Rock hard abs peak through his clothes; his arms are muscly, looks like he could easily lift either one of you up.
He turns around, locking eyes with both you and y/n.
His jawline could easily cut stone, no diamond. He has dark eyes and a stare that could send shivers down anyone’s spine.
“Damn he kinda ugly”
“Don't say that!” Y/n shouts at you. Her reaction is pretty warranted considering that you're both in the earshot of the CEO. He shoots you a glare before turning to enter the building—press following him close behind.
“Shit man I think he's gonna fire me”
“He wouldn't!”
Truth be told, the only reason you even joined this company is because of y/n. She tried to convince you, saying that nobody else there was “as nice to her” and that the pay was good. The pay didn't matter much to you—comforting y/n was the only real reason.
The first thing you both realize when you enter the building is that almost everyone else also came early. There are people that look like they never even went home last night. You assume that they were all just swamped with work.
“Every employee, please make your way to the 4a meeting room”
That must be the meeting y/n was talking about. You and her start to make your way to the room, but the halls are all immediately crowded with every other employee doing the same. It’s hard to even breathe as the stampede moves through you two. It would probably just be easier to wait until things die down.
You turn around to y/n, only to see her being gracefully guided towards the meeting room by the crowd. You almost forgot, God’s favorite. Oh well, it shouldn't take too long to get there, all you have to do is stay in the back and follow them.
Coincidentally, both you and y/n seem to make it to the room at the exact same time.
“You're both late.” A deep, husky voice remarks as you both enter the meeting room.
“IMSOSORRYIGOTCAUGHTBETWEEBTHECRACKINTHEELEVATORANDHADTOCLIMBBACKSOSORRY”
“…you're excused y/n”
How the hell did he know her name?
“As for you,”
“You're fired.”
“WHAT?” You scream.
“You can't just fire me! I'm not even late the meeting starts in five minutes?!”
“A good employee should arrive ten minutes before the actual start time.”
Y/n looks sorrowfully at you, tears welling in her blue orbs. You honestly didn't care much about being fired, but y/n’s reaction sparks something in you.
“PLEASE SIR”
He drifts his black orbs to y/n before turning back at you.
“I…suppose I can make an exception.”
“HELL YEAH!”
But you notice that as he says that he looks almost exclusively at y/n. It's probably nothing you tell yourself. After all, you know y/n would never dream of talking to that guy.
Y/n:
Omg guess what
You:
What
Y/n:
The CEO literally just invited me to have a private meeting with him tomorrow!
You:
Lmao what
Y/n:
Yeah idk what it's about but it sounds good!
You:
You do you ig
The next morning happens similarly to the last one. A general haze encompasses you as you get up from your bed. Bedhead doesn’t concern you as you hide whatever you can in a bun. The eyeliner from yesterday still remains on your face; you look a mess, plain and simple.
Moving to your car, you’re surprised to not see y/n. She's probably fine—as always—but you still feel some concern. The commute is quiet and empty; you almost fall asleep many times. Luckily, you make it to the office in one piece.
The workplace is strangely lively. Everyone murmured about some supposed gossip.
You approach a few coworkers only to be brushed off.
“Aren't you friends with y/n? Sorry, I can't tell you”
Weird
What does you being friends with y/n have to do with anything? You're certain that something very bad is going on behind your back. Nonetheless, you still have work to do.
There’s a stack of reports as thick as y/n’s cake on your desk. The CEO must have given you some extras. No biggie, you've never really struggled with anything work related.
Just as you're about to start working on the pile of papers before you, a shriek comes from the bathroom.
You rush towards the sound, following close behind you is…the CEO? Both of you reach the stalls at the exact same time to see y/n being forcibly restrained by the other female coworkers.
“Y/N!” You shout, you forcibly get some of the women off her as you yell.
“Y/N!” The CEO shouts mysteriously while standing at the doorway mysteriously with a mysterious expression on his mysterious face.
“CEO! HELP ME!”
Y/n, with your help, runs from the girls to the CEO.
“Y/n wait!”
You can't even get a third word in before she's out the door hand-in-hand with the CEO.
Watching them leave, a pain enters your heart. It stings more than any you've had before, and it bubbles up until all you can do is continue staring at the doorway.
“Shi man he just took your girl” one of the other coworkers remarks.
“Took my girl?”
What was this feeling? You had never thought about y/n leaving you before. Even if you were just friends, it leaves this emptiness in you.
Now that you think about it, every time y/n and you were alone together, your heart fluttered.
No no, that can't be possible, besides, you and y/n have been friends for as long as you can remember. Friends don't get jealous when they start talking to other people. Friends don't have their heart flutter for each other. Friends aren't bothered by this.
“If that's what makes you feel better man…” another girl adds.
“Shut up.”
You:
Soo what happened with you and the CEO?
Y/n:
OMG you're never gonna believe it! He took me into the office and like picked me up in his strong manly arms! Apparently he wanted to give me a promotion and help me outside of work! He's so nice and caring I think I might love him!
Seen 4hrs ago
Each morning is getting slightly worse than the last. Ever since Y/n and the CEO were “official”, you've found little motivation to get out of bed. It's not like you aren't happy for her—of course you are.
It's just that, every time you two are together, she always talks your ear off about the damn CEO.
She used to have personality, but now it's like everything she does has to relate back to the CEO. You kind of feel bad for her. First, he's ugly and now he's weirdly obsessive and controlling.
Like, last Friday, y/n was complaining that the break room ran out of water in the water cooler, and the CEO overheard. Next thing you know, he’s taken a water reserve from Africa and placed it in the break room. Total asshole.
Now, you're stuck in this company with your only friend completely controlled by the CEO. Sometimes, you wish that the first CEO—the pedophile—came back. At least he didn't date his workers…
Today is no different, you wear the exact same clothes as you have the previous few days and do the exact same schedule. You can see y/n getting ready for work but decide not to approach her. She'll just talk your ear off about the CEO and then leave you to get in his car. It's a pattern you only noticed the third day she did that...yet you still think about if today could be different. "Hey y/n!" You call out to y/n. Her perfect face tilts in your direction.
"Hey."
You walk towards her, expecting the same conversation as usual--but something feels off.
"What's up? It feels like we haven't talked in forever"
"Oh y'know, the usual..."
She's holding her frail arm and staring at the ground Infront of her. There's this solemn look in her eyes that you've never seen before. A single curl falls onto her nose, and you swear you can see tears swelling in her eyes.
"Y/n...what happened?"
"The CEO...he...he..."
"Y/N" A husky, deep, brooding, enigmatic voice booms from behind her.
"Sir!" You glance behind yourself to find the towering CEO. His dark brooding stature and dark brooding aura hover around you.
"ceo..."
"Move out of my way!" His brooding arms shove you out of the way as he runs towards y/n.
"CEO, I, uhm, I made you something" She unveils a small bucket of fried chicken from her purse.
"Where the hell did you--" Before you can ask, the CEO snatches the chicken from her and proceeds to take a bite.
"..."
"BITCH THIS CHICKEN IS COLD"
He slaps her—hard. y/n's perfect skin is now ruined with an awful mark across her cheek.
"s-sorry!"
"Y/N!" You dash towards her, trying to tend to her bruise. Youve always had a bad feeling about the CEO, but this looked like straight-up abuse.
"Y/n, girl, deadass break up with that guy'
"..."
"Yeah, you right"
"WHAT" His brooding frame falls to the ground at what y/n says.
"Y/n..." You look her in her eyes. Her face is covered in emotion, yet she seems to be the prettiest you've ever seen her. She looks longingly in yours. Perhaps she's felt the same as you have had so many times before? It's been too long to chalk all of that up to mere "friendship," you love y/n. You had always loved her. And now she was in your arms, and you were protecting her.
"I think it's time you leave, CEO"
"Hmph." He enigmatically broods.
"Just so you know, I've got twelve inches"
"...word?"
Y/n genuinely leaps out from your arms and rushes towards the CEO, leaving you on your knees on the ground.
"Y/N!"
"I THOUGHT YOU WERE GAY Y/N"
She turns around to look at you, she's alreday being carried away by the CEO.
"Well, like, I'm bi. And the CEO has a LOT more money"
"WHAT" The CEO booms.
"YOU'RE BI-SEXUAL??????"
He instantly drops her on the ground, tossing her frail figure.
"I THOUGHT YOU WAS STRAIGHT"
The CEO turns on his heels and starts walking (broodily) away. Out of everything, you weren't expecting him to be homophobic. I mean, his brother's already a pedo though, so it kinda makes sense.
You are the first one to speak after the CEO disappears, "Awkward..."
Y/n rushes into your arms, "Oh, I've always loved you! I just really wanted that guy's money!"
Yeah likely excuse.
Still, the tension in the air is palpable. You're holding y/n up in your arms again, but this time it feels like you won't be interrupted.
"Y/n..."
"shhhh, I know"
She tilts your chin down and for a moment, you both just gaze in the other's eyes. Her blue orbs twirl around, and her pupils dilate the second she looks at you. You've always loved just how much emotion she showed in her eyes—and how her freckles seemed to dance around her skin whenever she got excited.
The sun is rising, the perfect backdrop for such a perfect moment. It's a new day, and now, you won't dread mornings so much, because y/n will be in them.
You close your eyes, move into y/n, and await the moment you've been longing for since the day you met her.
She does the same.
Her lips explode on yours. It's like a firework, except this one can last however long you want it to. She's wearing no makeup, but your own lipstick mixes onto her lips. She cusps the nape of your neck and leans into your touch.
Damn, the CEO is missing out.
After what feels like years, you both open your eyes and relish in this moment together.
"Y/n,"
"Yeah"
"Do you think I'm still a side character?"