five
1605 Words
Julie woke up to the sharp vibration of her phone against the bedside table.
For a few seconds, she remained still beneath the covers, staring blankly at the ceiling of her apartment while exhaustion clung heavily to her body. She had barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Matt Lockwood’s cold blue gaze staring directly at her.
The memory alone was enough to make her chest tighten.
Her phone buzzed again.
Julie finally reached for it, already knowing who the message was from before she even unlocked the screen.
Unknown Number.
Her stomach sank immediately.
She opened the message.
[Project Helix.
Find the documents in Matt Lockwood’s office today.
We need the full details of the project before next week.
No excuses this time, Julie.
You know what happens if you fail.]
Julie stared at the message for several long seconds.
Her throat tightened painfully.
Even through a phone screen, the words felt suffocating.
Slowly, she sat upright in bed and rubbed a trembling hand over her face. Anxiety immediately settled deep inside her chest, thick and unbearable.
She had known this would happen eventually.
They hadn’t forced her into Matt Lockwood’s life just so she could organize schedules and answer calls.
They wanted information.
And now they were finally demanding it.
Julie dropped her phone onto the bed beside her and stood up slowly, her legs suddenly weak beneath her.
How exactly was she supposed to search Matt Lockwood’s office without getting caught?
The man barely left his office and even when he did, it never lasted long.
Julie still remembered the way his eyes lingered on people, like he could see straight through them.
The thought alone made her nervous.
She forced herself to take a deep breath.
One year.
That was all she had to survive.
Then everything would end, hopefully.
By the time Julie arrived at Lockwood Group that morning, her nerves were already completely wrecked.
The large building looked just as intimidating as it had the day before.
Employees moved quickly through the lobby while voices echoed around her, but Julie barely noticed any of it as she stepped into the elevator.
Her mind was too busy spiraling.
Project Helix.
What even was it?
And why did those people want it so badly?
The elevator doors opened onto the executive floor, and Julie immediately straightened herself before walking toward her office.
To her surprise, Matt was already there.
She knocked on his office door to greet him good morning and he barely glanced at her.
as shs walked away she couldn't help but glancw at him, even from a distance, he looked intimidating.
His dark suit fit him perfectly, his sleeves rolled slightly upward while one hand rested against his jaw thoughtfully. The morning sunlight streaming through the windows illuminated the sharp angles of his face, making him look almost unreal.
Julie quickly looked away before he noticed her staring.
Her pulse was already racing.
This was going to be a disaster.
She barely settled into her chair before Vera appeared beside her desk.
“Good morning.”
Julie nearly jumped.
“G-Good morning.”
Vera gave her a strange look before placing several files onto her desk.
“Mr. Lockwood wants these reviewed before eleven.”
Julie nodded quickly. “Okay.”
Vera’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you alright?”
Julie forced a smile. “I’m fine.”
The older woman continued staring at her for another second before finally walking away.
Julie released a shaky breath the moment she was alone again.
Clearly, she needed to get herself together.
She spent the next hour organizing schedules and reviewing documents while secretly watching Matt’s office every few minutes.
He never stopped working.
The man moved through work with terrifying precision.
At one point, he walked out of his office to speak with one of the directors, and Julie’s entire body tensed instinctively.
He looked impossibly calm compared to the chaos happening inside her mind.
When his eyes briefly landed on her desk, Julie immediately looked down at the papers in front of her.
Her hands nearly betrayed her by shaking.
God, she needed to calm down.
“Miss Grey.”
Julie’s heart almost stopped.
She looked up instantly.
Matt stood directly in front of her desk.
How had he walked over without her noticing?
“Yes, sir?”
His sharp blue eyes studied her quietly for a moment.
“You’re distracted today.”
Julie’s stomach dropped.
“I’m sorry?”
“The Thompson files.” His gaze flickered toward the papers on her desk. “You’ve been staring at the same page for ten minutes.”
Heat rushed into Julie’s face instantly.
“I was reviewing the numbers again to make sure there weren’t any mistakes.”
Matt remained silent.
The quiet stretched uncomfortably.
Julie could physically feel him observing her.
Then finally, he held out another folder.
“I need this signed and sent to legal.”
Julie quickly took it from him. “Right away.”
Matt gave a small nod before walking away.
Julie waited until he disappeared back into his office before finally exhaling.
This was bad.
Very bad.
If he was already noticing things this early, how was she supposed to sneak through his office later?
The rest of the morning passed painfully slowly.
Julie found herself constantly watching him whenever she got the chance.
Every time he stood up and came out of his office, her heart jumped hopefully.
Maybe he was leaving.
Maybe this was her chance.
But no.
He would simply move toward the bookshelf, speak to someone, or grab another file before sitting back down again.
It was driving her insane.
Around noon, Vera stopped by Julie’s desk again.
“You should eat something.”
Julie blinked. “What?”
“You’ve barely moved all morning.”
Julie forced another smile. “I’m fine.”
Vera sighed softly. “You’ll learn quickly that working around Mr. Lockwood is exhausting.”
Julie almost laughed at how true that statement was.
Vera lowered her voice slightly. “And don’t expect him to leave the office anytime soon. He’s been buried in work all week.”
Julie nearly choked.
“Thanks,” she muttered weakly.
The moment Vera walked away, Julie glanced toward Matt’s office again. She picked up a file and walked to his door. she knocked once before pushing the door open.
He was on a phone call now, his expression cold and unreadable as he spoke.
She hated how intimidating he was.
Even sitting down, he somehow dominated every room around him. She dropped the file on his desk and left quickly.
Hours passed.
Still no opportunity.
By late afternoon, Julie was beginning to panic internally.
they had specifically ordered her to get the documents today.
If she failed, she didn’t even want to think about it.
Her leg bounced anxiously beneath her desk as she pretended to organize schedules on her computer.
Then suddenly Matt’s office door opened.
Julie immediately straightened.
Matt walked out while buttoning his suit jacket.
“Miss Grey.”
Julie stood up instantly. “Yes, sir?”
“I’ll be out for the next few hours.”
Her heartbeat spiked violently.
“I won’t be returning tonight,” he continued calmly. “You can leave once you finish organizing tomorrow’s schedule.”
Julie forced herself to nod normally.
“Understood.”
His gaze lingered on her for one brief second before he walked toward the elevators.
Julie watched him carefully.
Please leave.
Please actually leave.
The elevator doors opened and Matt stepped inside, then the doors slid shut.
Julie remained frozen at her desk.
Then she started to count, one second, two, then three.
Then finally...ding.
The elevator descended. He was finally gone.
Julie’s pulse exploded.
She looked around the now quiet executive floor.
Most employees had already left for the evening.
This was her chance.
If she didn’t do it now, she might never get another opportunity.
Slowly, Julie stood from her desk.
Her palms were already sweating.
Every instinct inside her screamed at her to stop.
But she forced herself forward anyway.
Until she finally stood outside Matt Lockwood’s office.
The room felt even more intimidating without him inside.
Julie swallowed hard before quietly stepping in and shutting the door behind her.
The silence was suffocating.
She immediately moved toward his desk.
What exactly was she even looking for?
Project Helix.
That was all she knew.
Julie opened the first drawer carefully, there was nothing other than neatly organized files.
The second drawer contained business reports and contracts.
Her breathing became faster.
She moved toward the shelves next, quickly scanning through folders.
Why was there so much paperwork in this office?
Minutes passed and Julie searched everywhere she could think of without disturbing the room too much.
Every second increased her panic further.
Then finally she saw a black folder hidden beneath several other documents caught her attention.
Her heart jumped.
Quickly, she pulled it out.
There was no title on the folder.
Suspicion immediately rose inside her.
This had to be it, Julie opened it hurriedly and froze when she heard footsteps outside the office.
Her entire body went cold, someone was coming.
Panic surged through her instantly.
Without thinking, Julie shoved the folder back into place before quickly crouching beneath the large desk just as the office door handle began to turn.
Her pulse slammed violently against her chest.
The sound of the office door slowly opening echoed through the room.
Julie pressed herself against the cold floor beneath the desk, frozen completely.
Barely daring to breathe.
- Writer
