Oliver practically collapsed onto the plush couch in his living room, tossing a brown paper bag onto the kitchen island. The doorman had just delivered his dinner – the result of a quick call to his chef friend. Cooking wasn't exactly in Oliver's repertoire, and on busy days like this, Emily would take the initiative to arrange meals.
The soft glow of the penthouse lights bathed his exhausted form in a warm sheen. A glance at the clock made him wince – 9:00 PM already. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, fatigue etched on his face. Then, his eyes fell on the crumpled note still clutched in his hand.
It was from the brown paper bag. A handwritten message from his chef friend:
Made you a Grilled Filet Mignon and Truffle Pasta today, bro. You might be surprised since I heard Ms. Collins wasn't in today. But she called me to prepare dinne
A grin spread across Oliver's face. "But this new movie is actually pretty interesting! I can't seem to tear myself away..." "Don't play coy with me, Mr. Sterling," Emily countered, "That's Interstellar on the screen you've seen for umpteenth time, and let's be honest, you probably haven't understood a word of it all night. Plus, I know there's that expensive whiskey keeping you company." Oliver burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the penthouse. "Alright, alright, you win" He reached for the remote and flicked off the TV with a sigh. He rose from the couch, leaving the untouched glass of whiskey behind, and headed for his bedroom. The phone remained pressed to his ear, his other hand shoved in his sweatpants pocket. "Hear that?" he said, a playful note in h
Emily hurried through the glass doors of the tall building, her arms laden with a brown paper bag and a steaming coffee cup balanced precariously on top. Juggling the two, she spotted Bella, her coworker, heading towards the reception desk. "Em!" Bella called out, a friendly smile spreading across her face. Emily offered a quick wave in response before continuing her mad dash towards the president's private elevator. She pressed the button for the top floor with a practiced ease, her heart hammering against her ribs. A quick glance down revealed her reflection in the mirrored doors - a sea of dark green pencil skirt and a floral brown blouse that seemed perpetually wrinkled despite her efforts with the iron. Her black tights did little to combat the morning chill, and her black pumps clicked a staccato beat against the polished marble floor. She adjusted her
“So we decided to use a more efficient product……” The voice of the presenter echoed in the boardroom. Oliver, who sat at the head of the table, his gaze fixed on the report spread out before him. But the columns of figures and charts swam before his eyes, mere blurs in his vision. His mind was a million miles away, consumed by a looming problem that had nothing to do with the business report or project. His hand tapped out a restless rhythm against the folder. The click-clack of his Montblanc pen was the only sound breaking the tense silence. This was very unusual. But today, his inattentiveness was nowhere to be seen. Beside him is Emily who gave her boss a worried glance. "Sir?" she
Even Bella seemed stunned by his appearance. Her eyes widened, and she nudged Jayce, who looked equally bewildered. Even the nearby workers at their tables were craning their necks for a better look."Oh my god, is she walking towards us?" Bella muttered excitedly. "Is he planning to eat here?" Jace echoed.As Oliver approached, Emily, Jayce, and Bella all stood up instinctively, mixed emotions swirling on their faces."Good day, Sir," Bella and Jace chorused, clearly surprised by Oliver's unexpected presence in the employee cafeteria."Hey," Oliver said, offering a polite smile. However, his smile didn't quite reach his eyes, and his gaze held something. "I-it's okay, Sir," Bella stammered, still staring at Oliver with wide eyes.Unable to hold back any longer, Emily blurted out the question that was burning in her mind. "I'm sorry, Sir, but what are you doing here?"Oliver glanced at her briefly before turning his attention back to Bella and Jace. He spoke in a polite but firm man
The black car purred softly to a stop in front of Emily's apartment building. Oliver glanced at his watch, then out the window. Moments later, the door of the building swung shut and Emily emerged. She wore a simple sundress that accentuated her fair and pale skin, her hair pulled back in a loose bun. Large tortoiseshell glasses perched on her nose. However, the two large bags slung over her shoulders – one a backpack, the other a hefty duffel – detracted from the effortless grace she usually carried.Oliver stepped out, his gaze landing on the bags. "Good morning, Ms. Collins," Emily returned with her professional smile, "Hi, Sir. Good morning," she replied, hoisting the bags a little higher on her shoulder. The effort caused her to wobble slightly."Emily, did you pack all of this yourself?" he asked, gesturing to the bags with a raised eyebrow."Yes, I did. I wanted to make sure we had everything we might need for the trip. Oliver was touched by her thoughtfulness. He could tell
As the car rolled down the long driveway, Emily's grip on her bag tightened. Her gaze darted out the window, taking in every detail of the place that felt both familiar and utterly foreign. She couldn't help but admire the grand estate, especially the mansion. The house stood tall with large windows, its exterior constructed from light-colored stone, giving it a stately and classic appearance. The front yard was expansive, stretching out into a well-manicured lawn dotted with flower beds bursting with color. At the far end of the property, a glimpse of the family’s large land came into view, hinting at the vastness of the estate.The car finally came to a halt in front of the grand entrance. Oliver announced, "We're here. Are you ready?" His voice startled Emily from her nervous reverie.She took a deep breath. It's not like she can run back to the city and forget everything that happened. So she forced out, “Um…yeah.”She followed Oliver out of the car. He slipped his phone into his
Deciding it was time for some socialization, Emily descended the stairs, only to be met with a surprise. The living room was a sea of unfamiliar faces mingling with a few she recognized from previous gatherings. Her gaze instinctively darted around the room, searching for Oliver, but he was nowhere to be found.The sudden silence as she reached the bottom step made Emily acutely aware of all eyes turning towards her. Oliver's mother, Odessa materialized beside her in an instant."You finally come down!" Emily managed a shaky nod, forcing a smile. "I'm sorry, I fell asleep before I knew it""No worries, dear. Jet lag is the worst," Odessa added, before gently ushering her towards the assembled relatives. "Everyone, this is Emily! I want you to meet some of our family who couldn't make it last year. And this is our big family!"Emily scanned the faces, searching for those around her age and Oliver's. A group of children played near a window, their laughter echoing through the room."Hi
Soon after, Emily found herself staring at the horses, their powerful forms and glossy coats gleaming in the sunlight. The Sterling family had planned a horseback riding excursion and that includes her. The air was filled with cheerful chatter and laughter."This is going to be amazing!" chirped a young girl, barely taller than Emily's knees, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "I know, right?" A group of teenagers nearby chimed in. "Finally, something fun to do besides listening to Uncle George's snoring!" they joke, erupting in a fit of giggles.An older woman with silver streaks in her hair chuckled good-naturedly. "Don't be so mean to your uncle, dear. He just enjoys his afternoon naps."The cheerful chatter and excitement were contagious. Even Emily, who initially felt apprehensive about horseback riding, couldn't help but smile hearing the conversations of the people around her.As the sun began its descent towards the horizon, it was time to depart. Relatives began to take off