CHAPTER 1
Lena stepped out of the elevator,her heels tapping against the marble floor of the office lobby. The low hum of the early morning chatter faded into the background as Lena walked into her office. "What's my schedule like today?"
"Right", Mia responded, tapping on her screen. "You have a call with the suppliers at ten, a budget review meeting at noon, after that you're free for a couple hours, but there's a client presentation at 3."
Lena nodded, moving throught the details. "Send the final presentation to me, I'll review it during the supplier call. And make sure the meeting room is ready for 10:30."
"Got it" Mia replied, setting her tablet down
"You've been so busy with meetings lately, don't you think you need a break?"
"It's fine", Lena replied, "Just the usuals, I'll be fine seriously".
Later that Evening:
After a long day of meetings and calls, Lena finally stepped into her apartment.
The city noise faded away as the door closed behind her. Se tossed her bag onto the couch and headed straight to the bathroom to freshen up.
A while later,she came out from the bathroom,her hair damp and wet.
"Ah that felt good"
About to settle in jumping on to her bed when her phone buzzed. A message from Maya,her best friend,popped up.
"You're not getting away this staying in tonight. Let's go out, it's been a while and you CANNOT say no!"
Lena sighed " Right. Perfect timing..just when I thought I could sleep without doing anything." She typed back reluctantly.
" Fine. I'll be ready in an hour."
With Maya replying immediately." Yes! I'll meet you there!"
Lena tossed the phone on the bed, preparing to go to a place she rarely visited-the one where she let go,even if just for a night.
The club lights fickered between deel blue snd soft red as music plays. Lena leaned back in the booth,sipping her drink slowly while Maya talked on and on about everything and nothing.
" Tell me why that man had the nerves to-no,the audacity to text me after three weeks like nothing happened," Maya said,shaking her head dramatically.
Lena chuckled,while looking at the crowd" You attract chaos. That's your brand".
Maya grinned." And you attract stress. That's your brand."
Lena trolled her eyes,when her phone buzzed before she could reply back. She picked it up,unlocking it with a glance,and frowned.
Urgent: Problem with investor Funds
Her mood dropped instantly.
" Something wrong?" Maya asked, noticing the sudden shift.
" I have to go",Lena said already standing
" No way, not again" Mia complained
"Investor issue. Big one."
Maya blinked, slightly tipsy already
"Wait, seriously? Now?"
"Yes,now." Lena grabbed her bag and threw maya an apologetic look. "You'll be fine. Just dont do anything crazy."
"Hmph, When have I ever__"Maya began,but Lena was already gone.
An hour later, Maya stumbled out of the club, giggling to herself as the cold night air hit her skin. She pulled her jacket tighter and muttered, "Why does outside feel like inside a freezer?"
Across the parking lot, Gregory stood near a sleek black car, phone to his ear.
"Yes, I'll sort it out by morning," he said,voice calm. "No, he doesn't need to know yet...Yes, I'm still with him."
He ended the call and slipped the phone into his pocket just in time to see a girl wobbling towards his car.
"Taxi!" Maya called out, waving one hand lazily in the air. She tugged at the back door of the car.
Gregory raised a brow."This isn't a cab."
Maya blinked at him. "What?"
He stepped in front of thr door. "Not a taxi. My car. You're drunk."
"Pshhh,I'm fine she slurred, swaying slightly. "Just need to get home to- what was I saying again?"
Gregory sighed. He looked around, hoping someone else would come take her away. No luck.
She leaned against the car stubbornly, arms crossed like a child. " I'm not leaving till you drive me,"she insisted, slurring every other word
Gregory stared blankly. " Miss, I'm not a cab driver."
" Then why do you have a cab face?"she asked with a dramatic pout.
He blinked." What does that even mean?"
She didn't answer-just reached for the door handle again. Gregory stepped in the way, clearly losing patience. " Okay,no. This is clearly not my job."
He tried guiding her gently away from the car,but she kept stumbling back towards it,mumbling how the universe is mean to her.
" You're really not making this easy,"he muttered. Eventually,he stepped out to the road and flagged down an actual cab. The driver pulled up, and Gregory helped Maya inside.
" Drop her off somewhere safe,"he said to the driver while paying him. " And maybe kee the windows down."
Maya mumbled something about frozen pizza and passed out before the car even pulled away.
Gregory shook his head and walked back inside.
Caius glanced up from his drink as he returned. "What took you so long?"
Gregory sat down with a sigh."Nothing, just bumped into a drunk person."