CLOSE PROXIMITY
525 Words
The business trip began exactly the way Ethan expected it to. Structured. Professional. Predictable.Meetings filled his schedule from morning to evening, each one demanding his full attention. This project mattered. The figures were high, the expectations higher, and the success of it could place him firmly on the path everyone around him believed he belonged on. He told himself that focus was all he needed.
The hotel was calm and refined, the kind of place built for people who lived out of suitcases. As the company checked in together, Ethan barely noticed anything beyond the confirmation emails on his phone and the itinerary in his hand.
Not until he stepped out of the elevator on his assigned floor.
“Ethan?”
He turned, surprised.
Chloe stood a few steps away, her carry on by her side, her face bright with recognition.
“You’re here too?” she asked.
He nodded. “Looks like it.”
They exchanged brief smiles, the kind that felt polite but warm. When they mentioned their room numbers, they both paused.
“You’re kidding,” Chloe said softly.
Her room was right next to his.
“Well,” she added with a light laugh, “that’s unexpected.”
“Yeah,” Ethan replied. “Very.”
It felt like nothing at the time. Just coincidence.
The first day went smoothly. Ethan led presentations, answered questions confidently, and navigated negotiations with ease. Chloe was present at every meeting, attentive and sharp. During breaks, she often sat beside him, leaning in when she spoke, listening closely in a way that made him feel seen.
That evening, the team gathered for dinner at the hotel restaurant. The mood was relaxed, no formalities, just colleagues unwinding after a long day. Chloe took the seat beside Ethan without hesitation.
“You did great today,” she said, glancing at him.
“So did you,” he replied. “You handled the budget concerns perfectly.”
She smiled. “That means a lot coming from you.”
The conversation flowed easily. They talked about work at first, then drifted into lighter subjects. Travel stories. Favorite foods. Small things that slowly created a sense of familiarity. Ethan realized he was laughing more than he had in weeks.
At some point, he noticed his phone had been untouched on the table for hours.
When dinner ended, people slowly excused themselves. Ethan and Chloe walked back toward the elevators together.
“Do you ever feel like everyone expects too much from you?” Chloe asked quietly.
He hesitated, then nodded. “All the time.”
“I thought so,” she said gently.
The elevator ride was quiet, but not uncomfortable. When they reached their floor, they walked down the hallway side by side.
“Well,” Chloe said as she stopped at her door, “goodnight, neighbor.”
“Goodnight,” Ethan replied.
He watched her enter her room before unlocking his own.
That night, sleep came slowly.
The next morning, they ran into each other again at breakfast. Another coincidence. Another smile. They sat together, sharing coffee and conversation before the day began. It felt natural. Too natural.
- Writer
