An Unexpected invitation
1200 Words
Chapter Five: An Unexpected Invitation
The following week passed quickly.
Maya's work at Beacon Media became busier after the successful presentation to Brooks Global Holdings. The proposal had received positive feedback, and her team was now preparing for the next stage of the campaign.
Yet, amidst the meetings and deadlines, something else had quietly become part of her routine.
Ethan.
They had started talking almost every evening.
Sometimes their conversations lasted only a few minutes.
Other times, neither seemed to notice how quickly an hour had passed.
They talked about work, exchanged jokes, discussed places they wanted to visit, and occasionally teased each other about their first meeting.
Neither had given their growing friendship a name.
They simply enjoyed talking.
One Thursday afternoon, Maya was sitting at her desk reviewing a document when her phone vibrated.
She glanced at the screen.
Ethan: Have you eaten?
Maya frowned slightly.
She looked at the time.
2:17 p.m.
She hadn't.
She had been so busy that she had completely forgotten about lunch.
Maya: Not yet.
The reply came almost immediately.
Ethan: Why?
She smiled.
Maya: Work.
Ethan: That's not an acceptable excuse.
Maya laughed quietly.
Maya: Since when are you responsible for my lunch?
There was a pause.
Ethan: Since you started forgetting to eat.
Maya shook her head.
Maya: I'm fine.
Ethan: Where are you?
She hesitated.
Maya: At the office.
A few seconds later, her phone rang.
She answered.
"Hello?"
"You haven't eaten?"
Maya smiled.
"Hello to you too."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
"What did you have for lunch?"
"Nothing yet."
Ethan sighed.
"Exactly."
She leaned back in her chair.
"I'll eat later."
"Later isn't a time."
She laughed.
"You sound like my mother."
"Your mother sounds sensible."
Maya shook her head.
"You're becoming very troublesome."
"I've been told."
There was a short silence.
Then Ethan said,
"I'm nearby."
Maya sat up.
"Nearby?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I had a meeting in this area."
"Oh."
"Do you have thirty minutes?"
Maya glanced at the stack of documents on her desk.
"I don't know."
"You've been working since morning."
"How do you know that?"
"Because you told me last night."
Maya smiled.
She had forgotten that.
"So?"
"So, take a break."
She looked toward the office door.
"Where?"
"There's a restaurant across from your building."
Maya hesitated.
"Ethan..."
"Just lunch."
His tone was casual.
"No business. No presentations. No contracts."
Maya smiled.
"You're making it sound like a formal meeting."
"Then consider it an unofficial lunch meeting."
She laughed.
"Fine."
"Good."
"When?"
"Five minutes."
"Five minutes?"
"I've already arrived."
Maya stared at the phone.
"You planned this."
"No."
"You absolutely planned this."
Ethan laughed.
"Five minutes, Maya."
The call ended.
Maya looked at herself in the small mirror beside her desk.
She quickly adjusted her hair and picked up her handbag.
Then she stopped.
"Why am I nervous?"
She shook her head.
"It's just lunch."
The restaurant Ethan had chosen was elegant without being overly formal.
Large windows overlooked the busy street, while soft music played in the background. The interior was decorated with warm wooden furniture, hanging lights, and small plants placed between the tables.
Ethan was already seated near the window.
When Maya entered, he noticed her immediately.
He stood.
"Hi."
"Hi."
She smiled.
"You really were waiting."
"I told you I would be."
She sat opposite him.
"I thought you were joking when you said five minutes."
"I don't joke about lunch."
She laughed.
A waiter approached and handed them menus.
Maya opened hers.
"What are you having?"
"I'm not sure."
"You've been here before?"
"A few times."
"Then choose for me."
Ethan looked at her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
He studied the menu.
"All right."
He ordered for both of them.
Maya raised an eyebrow.
"You seem very confident."
"I know what I'm doing."
"We'll see."
Their food arrived a short while later.
For once, they didn't discuss work.
Ethan told her about an embarrassing experience during his university years.
Maya laughed so hard that she had to cover her mouth.
"I don't believe you."
"It's true."
"You expect me to believe that the CEO of Brooks Global Holdings once missed an entire examination because he overslept?"
"That was one time."
"That's hilarious."
"You promised not to judge me."
"I never promised that."
He laughed.
Then Ethan asked,
"What about you?"
"About university?"
"Anything."
Maya thought for a moment.
She told him about her first job interview, when she had been so nervous that she accidentally called the interviewer by the wrong name.
Ethan laughed.
"You did not."
"I did."
"What did you do?"
"I apologized and kept going."
"And you got the job?"
"No."
He burst out laughing.
Maya pointed at him.
"Don't laugh."
"I'm sorry."
"No, you're not."
"Not even slightly."
She laughed too.
For the next hour, they simply enjoyed each other's company.
There was no pressure.
No presentation.
No business discussion.
Just conversation.
When they finally stepped outside, Maya looked at the time.
"I can't believe we've been here that long."
Ethan smiled.
"Neither can I."
She looked at him.
"Thank you for lunch."
"You're welcome."
"And for forcing me to take a break."
"I didn't force you."
"You practically did."
He smiled.
"You needed it."
Maya shook her head.
"Maybe I did."
They stood quietly for a moment.
Then Maya's phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
"I have to get back."
"Of course."
She took a step backward.
"I'll see you later."
"Definitely."
She turned and began walking toward her office.
After a few steps, she looked back.
Ethan was still standing there.
He smiled.
She smiled back.
Then she continued walking.
That evening, Maya arrived home feeling unusually cheerful.
She placed her handbag down and went to her room.
Her phone rang before she could change.
She looked at the screen.
Ethan.
She smiled before answering.
"Hello?"
"Did you survive the rest of your workday?"
"Barely."
"I warned you to take it easy."
"And I ignored you."
"I noticed."
Maya laughed.
They talked for a few minutes.
Then Ethan asked,
"Did you enjoy lunch?"
Maya smiled.
"I did."
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because I enjoyed it too."
Maya became quiet for a moment.
There was something sincere in the way he said it.
"Me too," she replied.
Neither said anything for a few seconds.
Then Maya smiled.
"I should let you go."
"All right."
"Goodnight, Ethan."
"Goodnight, Maya."
The call ended.
Maya placed her phone on the bedside table and sat quietly for a moment.
She thought about how unexpectedly comfortable she had become around him.
She hadn't planned for any of this.
Their first meeting had been an accident.
Their second had been a coincidence.
Their friendship had simply grown from a few conversations.
And yet, somewhere along the way, talking to Ethan had become one of the easiest parts of her day.
Across the city, Ethan sat by his bedroom window, looking out at the lights below.
His phone rested beside him.
He smiled faintly.
He couldn't explain why a simple lunch had made his day better.
But he knew one thing.
He was beginning to look forward to seeing Maya again.
And perhaps, without realizing it, Maya was doing the same.
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