Claimed Without Touch
1029 Words
As I reached the elevator, my heartbeat started racing.
I still couldn’t believe it—I had landed a job.
Just yesterday, I received a call informing me that the position had been reopened. Since I had already cleared the interview process, there was no need to repeat it. They were hiring me directly. And because I was an immediate joiner, they asked if I could start from tomorrow. All the paperwork would be completed today.
When you least expect it, things work out.
Landing a job itself felt like a huge achievement, but with a good salary? It felt unreal. This company was one of the top MNCs—one people only dreamed of working for.
The elevator stopped at the 15th floor. I informed the reception about my arrival.
Something felt… different today.
When I came for the interview, they treated me casually. Now everyone seemed cautious. Careful. Almost alert.
Maybe it was because I was going to be an employee here now.
The HR arrived and took me to a room. She completed all the formalities and then introduced me to my team. There were eleven members in total, and I would be reporting to a woman named Ziya. Everyone greeted me warmly.
Then she took me to meet the Business Unit Head.
She knocked, asked for permission, and gestured for me to enter.
The moment I stepped inside, my breath hitched.
The man sitting across the desk had a strikingly handsome face—but not like the one I had met on the rooftop.
He asked me to take a seat and introduced himself politely. Then he asked a few casual questions—my birth city, whether I had ever studied at St. Highwood University.
I shook my head. Going there would have cost me an arm and a leg.
His eyebrows lifted slightly. Suspicious.
“I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before,” he said, studying me.
After the conversation, he told me that if I needed help of any kind, I could approach him.
A person at such a prestigious position—offering help to a fresher like me.
I smiled politely.
“I’ll try to resolve things myself. Even if I face an issue, I wouldn’t dare to bother you.”
“Interesting,” he said, his lips curving faintly.
I left the room and rejoined my team. They started aligning me with my work.
“I didn’t know analysts could be this beautiful,” one of the team members, Kris, joked.
Ziya stiffened immediately.
“Kris, don’t flirt in the office—or outside. We won’t tolerate this kind of behavior.”
“I was just complimenting her,” he said defensively.
“What’s wrong with you today, Ziya? Why so serious?” another girl asked.
“Nothing,” Ziya replied quickly. “Just saying no one will misbehave with Sarah. That’s it.”
What I didn’t know—
Yesterday, all managers had been summoned to a meeting with John. That never happened. John usually met only directors. From managers to directors—everyone was present.
And the warning was clear.
Do not get close to Sarah.
Do not cross boundaries.
Consequences will follow.
No one knew why. They didn’t ask.
They assumed she was protected.
At lunch, the team asked if I wanted to join them. Everyone agreed happily. Ziya announced that lunch was on her since it was my first day.
After lunch, I told them to go ahead—I needed to collect some paperwork from HR.
I turned a corner.
And collided with something solid.
A wall.
No—a man.
I stumbled back and looked up.
Him.
The man from the rooftop.
“It’s you,” I breathed. “What are you doing here?”
“I think the first sentence should be hi,” he said calmly, bending slightly toward me, hands in his pockets.
“H-huh?” I froze.
One eyebrow lifted.
“Oh—sorry. Hi. We meet again,” I said nervously.
“Yes,” he replied.
His eyes didn’t soften. They claimed.
“Do you work here?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said. “Kind of.”
“I think you finally got the job,” he added.
“Yes. Finally,” I smiled, genuinely happy.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you. And… thank you for helping me that day.”
“It was nothing,” he said, still watching me.
“No,” I insisted softly. “After meeting you, my luck worked.”
Always for you.
The words slipped out of his mouth.
“Huh?” I frowned.
“Nothing,” he said smoothly. “So… how will you repay me?”
“Maybe I can treat you to lunch,” I offered confidently.
“Lunch won’t work. I’ll be busy.”
“Then… dinner?” I asked hesitantly.
“Sure,” he said instantly. “I’ll pick you up from the building at 7:00 p.m.”
My heart skipped.
“Huh—”
“Relax,” he said calmly. “Nearby place. Won’t take long.”
And then he walked away.
⸻
Rafael
From the moment she stepped into the building, I felt it.
Not saw her.
Felt her.
Like a disturbance in air that didn’t belong—soft, unaware, and dangerously out of place in a world I ruled.
Mine.
I watched from a distance as she moved through the hallway, nervous energy clinging to her despite the quiet confidence she tried to wear. The way her fingers tightened around her file. The way her eyes lifted, searching, cautious.
She still didn’t know.
That this building answered to me.
That her job was no accident.
That nothing about today was coincidence.
She still didn’t realize it.
I knew her shift.
Her schedule.
Her exit time.
Because once I decide something—
I don’t leave it to chance.
⸻
I stood there, stunned.
How did he know my shift was 10 to 7?
I knew nothing about him.
Nothing at all.
“I hope I’m not doing something stupid,” I whispered to myself.
But deep down—
I knew.
Something dangerous had already begun.
- Writer
