Author's Preface
[Present Day]
[Annie]
It's been two days since I last saw Kai.
Someone mentioned he had gone to the north branch for administrative work after the recent employee rotation.
I should feel relieved since his absence means fewer interruptions and fewer moments where he manages to get on my nerves.
But instead, I keep thinking about him.
My mind wanders back to that corridor. To Lucy. And him.
Back in university, when Kai left in the middle of the session, rumors spread like wildfire.
People said Lucy had dumped him and that Kai had left the campus heartbroken.
Though Lucy never confirmed anything.
Not to her friends nor to anyone.
So it remained just that, a rumour, as always.
And since her social circle was completely different from mine, there was no way for me to know or verify what really happened.
And I never tried to find out either.
At the end of the day, it wasn't my relationship and certainly not my place to poke my nose in.
I had better things to focus on anyway- academics, internships, building my future.
Gossip doesn't pay bills.
My phone buzzes against the desk, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"When are you coming home? You don't forget to pay my bills but you sure do forget to visit us."
I smile at the message. Mom.
My hometown is quite far from my workplace, almost eight hours by road.
I can fly, even for a day but this job barely gives me time to breathe.
I did try it once, flew home for a weekend.
But I ended up working from home the whole time, then got stuck because of the terrible monsoon and couldn't make it back on time.
My seniors were relentless which was enough for me to drop this idea. Never again.
So now, I'd rather save my leaves and take a proper long break when it actually matters.
"I'll come when there's an official holiday. Your daughter needs to rise higher, Mom. I'll FaceTime you later." I text back, setting my phone aside.
There's a shift in the office noise that makes me look up.
I can hear greetings in polite voices.
My eyes drift upwards and I see Kai.
He is walking across the floor, acknowledging people as he goes.
Then his eyes land on mine.
I notice that he isn't wearing his glasses today and I can clearly see how tired he looks.
There's something in his expression that I can't quite put my finger on.
He doesn't say anything and just walks into his office.
[ *** ]
Amanda and two other colleagues join me for lunch.
We're halfway through when Chris appears at our table, grinning like he's about to break some major news.
"Guys… guess what," he says. "I've got piping hot tea."
Amanda doesn't even look up from her food. "Just get to the point, Mr. Satellite."
They've been like this since their college days together, constantly teasing each other and gossiping.
"Guess who came just now?" Chris drags out dramatically.
Amanda finally looks at him, unimpressed and bored.
"A woman," he continues, "not just any woman. A very pretty woman."
He pauses, waiting for a reaction from us.
But we all just stare at him.
"She walked straight into Mr. Sterling's chamber," he says at last.
We exchange looks.
"…And?" Amanda responds. "That's your news? We walk into his office all the time."
She gestures at us implying that we were women too.
Chris leans in slightly. "No. She wasn't staff. No ID, nothing. Just bolted in... And Mr. Manager even shut the blinds after she entered his office."
Amanda raises an eyebrow at Chris.
"They were inside for at least twenty minutes," he adds grinning. "Doing what exactly?... No idea."
I feel a knot forming in my chest, and a thought almost instantly comes to me, but I brush it off just as fast.
"What are you thinking?" Amanda nudges me.
"Nothing," I say.
And the entire lunch they keep going, building theories out of nothing while I stop paying them any mind.
[ *** ]
By the time the workday comes to an end, the office floor is almost empty.
A few people are still around while the janitors have started their rounds.
I check the time. It's 6:30 PM.
I finish up and shut down my system.
There's just one last thing I need to do before heading home.
I take out a folder from my drawer.
I need to hand it over to Kai.
[ *** ]
I knock on his door and hear his faint "Come in."
I step inside, gently closing the door behind me.
Kai stands near the glass window, looking out at the city.
He turns around, his hair looking a bit disheveled, a cigarette between his fingers.
I stall, a bit surprised.
I didn't know he smoked.
"...Yes?" he asks, putting it out in the ashtray.
"I came to hand this over," I say, placing the folder on his desk.
"Thank you." He says, taking it and flipping through it briefly. "I'll review it later."
I nod and take that as my cue to leave.
Just as I turn around, I hear him call out my name.
"Annie.."
I stop and look back at him.
He's watching me, like he wants to say something but hasn't decided how.
"Do you have anything to ask me?" he questions.
I knit my brows in confusion.
For a split second, my mind drifts back to the apartment.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little curious about him and Lucy. But I decide not to pry.
It isn't my concern. It never has been.
"..I am not sure what exactly you mean by that..." I reply. " But if I have any queries, sure...I'll reach out. Work's smooth right now though."
He holds my eyes for a moment.
Then I see a flicker of emotion cross his face, very subtle, but it's there.
"Of course," he says. "Please reach out to me directly if you have any queries."
It sounds normal and professional yet something about it doesn't fully sit right.
Like the words are meant for something else.
I nod in agreement and walk out.
But even as I leave, I feel weird.
And I can clearly feel him watching me until the door clicks shut, far longer than it ever should.