By the time I settled into my little desk in the corner of the product development department, my back already ached like I'd been here for hours. The office was bright with fluorescent lights and smelled faintly of rosewater and lab chemicals. The usual—papers stacked high, samples on every surface, and that dull hum of people pretending to be busy.
I'd barely opened my laptop when I heard that annoying voice that always made my mood drop three notches.
"Ms. Smith," Mr. Thompson barked from behind me. "I need these done before the end of the day."
I turned and saw him waddling over, arms full of folders. He dropped them on my desk like they weighed nothing. The pile nearly toppled my coffee. I blinked at him.
"Half of these aren't even mine," I said, trying to keep my voice polite.
He sniffed and adjusted his belt that dug into his oversized belly. "Well, you're the assistant here. So your job here is to assist me and that includes in my work doesn't it? Consider it a team effort."
Team effort my ass.
Mr. Thompson had made it his personal mission to make my life difficult for the past three years. Every time I thought I'd get a breather, he'd dump extra work on me like I was some unpaid intern.
I gave him a tight smile. "Of course, Mr. Thompson."
As soon as he waddled away, muttering to himself, I sighed and rubbed my temples. This was going to be a long day.
By the time lunch rolled around, my stomach was growling louder than my thoughts. I made my way to the cafeteria, carrying the mental weight of reports and product descriptions that still needed writing. The lunchroom was buzzing today—everyone was talking louder than usual, phones out, giggling like kids on a playground.
I grabbed a tray of rice, gravy and grilled chicken and found an empty table in the corner. I'd barely sat down when I heard a loud voice calling me.
"Baby!"
I turned and smiled as Abbie bounced over, her curly hair wrapped up in a colorful scarf. She was glowing in her orange blouse, confidence oozing with every step. Right behind her was Teresa, calm and gentle as always, tucking a strand of her brown hair behind her ear.
Abbie plopped down beside me, already mid-sentence. "Girl, have you heard about the new CEO?"
Teresa sat across from us and gave a small laugh. "Everyone's talking about him. He came in today for some big meeting."
I raised a brow, chewing slowly. "And…?"
Abbie's eyes went wide like she was about to tell me the biggest secret in the world. "Apparently he's young. Like, not even thirty. Plus he is fine. Like fine fine. Tall, hot, and smart as hell."
Teresa nodded. "Someone said one of the directors tried to trip him up with a hard question. And guess what? He answered so fast and shut it down."
Abbie snapped her fingers. "Embarrassed the man in front of the board. Like, boom! Mic drop."
I chuckled. "Sounds like a movie."
"Baby," Abbie said, leaning in, "if I find out that man is single, I'm printing my résumé on pink paper."
I laughed and shook my head. "Y'all are too much. I just want to get Mr. Thompson's crap off my desk. That's the only man giving me stress right now."
Abbie rolled her eyes. "Ugh. That fat troll. He still breathing?"
"Unfortunately," I muttered, making them both laugh.
We chatted a bit more, but my mind kept drifting back to the reports waiting for me. As much as I loved spending time with my girls, work wasn't going to finish itself. I dumped my tray and made my way back upstairs.
The rest of the afternoon was a blur of typing, testing product samples, and updating spreadsheets. The only perk of my job was that I never had to buy makeup or skincare. I got to try all the new stuff for free. Lip glosses, toners, serums—even perfumes. Sometimes I smelled like a beauty store exploded on me.
I was so deep in my work that I didn't notice people leaving. One by one, my coworkers packed up their bags and waved goodbye, but I kept going, fueled by determination and caffeine.
When I finally looked up, the office was silent. Empty. Even Mr. Thompson had vanished without a word. I sighed and gathered my papers, walking over to his desk to drop off the finished reports. His chair was spinning slightly. Typical.
I took the elevator down, tugging my jacket around me as the doors opened to the quiet night air. The city outside was buzzing like it always did—cars honking, lights flashing, people still moving like they didn't know how to slow down.
I made my way to the bus stop just around the corner and sat on the wooden bench. My body was tired, my feet were sore, and I was more than ready to go home and collapse.
And then I saw him.
Jason.
Driving by in his sleek black car like he was part of some fashion ad. Blonde hair, sharp jawline, eyes focused on the road. I almost didn't recognize him at first. But it was him. No doubt.
He didn't even glance at me.
He looked straight ahead like I didn't exist. Just drove right past like I was invisible. But what really got me was where he drove out from—the underground garage of my company.
What the hell?
Jason worked at some big fancy place, I knew that. But Glow & Grace? That didn't make any sense. We'd never crossed paths in the office. Not once. If we were in the same building, wouldn't I have seen him before now?
I shook my head. I didn't want to think about him. I had enough stress already. Jason was the last thing I needed on my mind.
Just then, my bus pulled up, and I got on, letting out a deep breath as I found a seat.
Tomorrow was another day. Hopefully, one without annoying bosses or weird Jason sightings.