LOVE WITH OBSTACLES

CHAPTER 2

"There are some things you just can't resist, like the pull of a magnet or the spark of an electric current."

When I got to work everyone was talking about the "lawyer" AKA the CEO. It was kinda annoying me because I mean he's just a normal person why get excited when he's not one of the BTS or STRAY KIDS what's the joy all about even Mr.Dewey was being extra today just to be perfect when the so called CEO comes.

I was in my office(jail cell) when suddenly Mr.Dewey comes and starts bossing me.

"Zuri, I need you to run down to Ethan's office and get the files for the case we're working on. They're absolutely crucial for the meeting with the CEO, and I can't afford any mistakes. Do you understand?" Mr.Dewey said to me while standing at the door with a serious face.

"Yes, sir. But why-why can't you just email him for the files?" I said shaking looking at the table.

"Because I want them now, and I don't want to wait for him to get back to me. I need them as soon as possible, so please just go and get them." He said frustrated "Of course" I had no choice but to accept.

As I continued down the hallway, I passed by another man, who was tall and broad-shouldered with an easy smile. He seemed to radiate a sense of warmth and kindness, and I felt instantly drawn to him. We exchanged a brief glance and a smile, and I felt a spark of recognition. But I kept walking, determined to stay focused on my task.

As i entered Ethan's office, he greeted me with a warm smile. "Hi Zuri, what can I help you with?" he asked.

"Mr. Dewey needs the files for the Johnson case," i replied.

Ethan nodded. "I have them right here. I was just about to send them over to him." He handed me a thick folder of papers. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

I hesitated, still thinking about the man she had met in the hallway. "No, I think that's all," i said finally. "Thank you." and with that i left heading to Mr.Dewey but i still can't shake the thought of the guy I met earlier "who is he?" I kept on wondering.

The whole day was pretty boring Mr.Dewey asked me to stay in my office the whole day so that i don't have to make any errors and he kept an eye on everything I did, it was as if he did not trust me at all. As soon as the workday was over I practically ran out of the office and headed for the elevator. As I stepped into the elevator I heard the familiar ding of the doors closing and the feeling of claustrophobia started to set in. Just then I heard a deep voice say "Don't worry, it's just me." I turned around and there he was, the mysterious man from earlier.

"How did you know I was feeling claustrophobic?" I asked him.

"It was just a guess," he replied with a wink. "You looked like you were feeling tense and I figured it might be because of the elevator." I couldn't help but feel a bit flustered by his response. "What's your name?" I asked him, trying to break the ice.

"My name is Matthew , but my friends call me Mat," he said. "What's your name?"

"My name is Zuri," I replied, "it's nice to meet you, Mat." I bowed my head slightly to show respect but as soon as I did that i regretted it remembering this is not a kdrama i mentally slapped myself.

"The pleasure is mine" he said with a warm smile. I couldn't help but feel a little flutter in my stomach. I'd never felt this way before around a man, and I was surprised by my own reaction. After a few minutes the doors opened and i rushed out after saying goodbye to Matthew.

The cool night air hit my face as I stepped out of the office building. The streets were quiet, and the only sound was the faint hum of traffic in the distance. I began to walk home, my mind still reeling from my encounter with Matthew. I couldn't stop thinking about him - his warm smile, his kind eyes, the way he seemed to take up all the space in the room.

When I finally reached my apartment, I let myself in and flopped down on the couch. I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. I just wanted to sleep and forget about everything that had happened. But as I lay there the image of Matthew kept flashing through my mind. I could almost feel his hand on my shoulder, the warmth of his body next to mine. I knew it was ridiculous - we'd only just met, and I barely knew anything about him. But for some reason, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something special about him. I finally drifted off to sleep, still thinking about Matthew.

The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed but also a little confused. Had I just imagined the whole thing? Or had there really been something between us? As I got ready for work, I kept glancing at my phone checking the time. As i got to work Greta came to greet me as Tracy called in sick , Greta took me to the cafeteria and told me the latest gossip about the new lawyer I rolled my eyes as Greta started to dish on all the latest office rumors.And when Greta told me the name of the new lawyer i then realized that the guy i met last night was him my heart started racing as the pieces clicked into place. It was him! The mysterious man from the night before was the new lawyer everyone was talking about. I felt a rush of excitement, mixed with a little bit of fear. What did this mean?

As the day went on, I found myself unable to focus on anything but the thought of him. I kept replaying the encounter in my head, wondering what it all meant. Was it just a chance meeting, or was there something more?

I couldn't stop thinking about him, even as I went home that night.

When I got to home i called Tracy to ask her how she is

Tracy picked up on the third ring, sounding a bit groggy. "Hey, Zuri," she said, her voice still thick with sleep. "What's up?"

"I was just calling to see how you're feeling," I said. "Are you feeling any better?"

"A little," she said. "I'm still feeling a bit under the weather, but I think I'll be back to work tomorrow."

"That's great to hear!" I said, relieved. "I hope you get some rest and feel 100% soon."

"Thanks," she said. "I really appreciate it." She said there was a long pause, and I could tell she wanted to say something else.

"What is it?" I asked. "You can tell me anything."

She took a deep breath. "It's just... I'm not sure I can go back to work tomorrow. I know I should, but I'm just so exhausted. I feel like I'm running on empty."

I could hear the strain in her voice. "It's okay if you need more time to recover," I said. "You need to take care of yourself."

"Thanks," she said, sounding a bit teary. "It's just that I feel like I'm letting everyone down," she continued. "I know it's silly, but I feel like I'm not doing my job if I'm not there. And I just feel so overwhelmed."

"It's not silly at all," I said. "It's totally normal to feel that way. But you need to give yourself a break. You can't pour from an empty cup."

She let out a soft laugh. "I know you're right," she said. "I just feel so guilty."

I understood where she was coming from. "I know it's hard,but it's okay to take care of yourself," I continued. "You're not letting anyone down by taking the time you need to rest and recharge. In fact, you'll be a better employee and a better person if you take the time to take care of yourself."

"Thank you," she said. "I really needed to hear that. It's just so hard to turn off the work brain, you know?"

"I definitely understand," I said. "Goodnight" "Goodnight"