crossing paths again
1524 Words
Monday morning arrived quickly.
Soraya adjusted the strap of her handbag as she stepped through the revolving doors of Hale Group.
She still couldn't believe how much her life had changed in just a few days.
She had gotten a job.
She had accepted an arranged marriage.
And the man she was going to marry...
Turned out to be the president of the company she now worked for.
Sometimes, life really had a strange sense of humor.
She shook her head.
"One thing at a time."
The moment she stepped out of the elevator, a familiar cheerful voice greeted her.
"Good morning, Soraya!"
Soraya smiled.
"Morning, Mia."
Mia walked over carrying two paper cups.
"I bought your favorite."
Soraya blinked.
"My favorite?"
"You ordered vanilla coffee three days in a row."
"I figured you liked it."
Soraya laughed.
"I didn't even notice."
"Well, now you know."
She accepted the cup with a grateful smile.
"Thank you."
The two friends walked into the office together.
As usual, Mia filled the quiet morning with endless stories.
"...And then Mr. Collins accidentally sent the finance report to the cafeteria manager instead of the finance department."
Soraya couldn't stop laughing.
"What happened next?"
"The cafeteria manager replied with, 'I'm sorry, but I don't think I can approve your budget.'"
Both girls burst into laughter.
Several coworkers looked over before smiling.
Everyone had already noticed that the two new friends were almost always together.
If one was carrying documents, the other was helping.
If one was going to lunch, the other followed.
It had only been a few days, but they already looked like friends who had known each other for years.
The morning passed peacefully.
Just before noon, Mia stood up.
"Lunch?"
"Lunch."
They walked toward the company cafeteria together.
Halfway down the hallway, the sound of footsteps echoed from the opposite direction.
Employees immediately stepped aside.
"Good afternoon, President Hale."
"Good afternoon, President."
Soraya instinctively looked up.
Adrian was walking toward them with his assistant by his side.
He was listening as his assistant explained the schedule for the afternoon.
When he drew closer, his eyes lifted from the tablet.
They met Soraya's.
For a brief moment...
Neither of them looked away.
The memory of the dinner two nights ago flashed through Soraya's mind.
She quickly lowered her eyes before looking back up again.
Adrian gave a small, polite nod.
"Good afternoon."
His voice was calm, neither warm nor cold.
Soraya returned the greeting.
"Good afternoon... President Hale."
That was all.
Neither of them stopped walking.
Within seconds, Adrian and his assistant disappeared around the corner.
Soraya quietly let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
Beside her, Mia slowed her steps.
She looked at Soraya.
Then toward the hallway Adrian had just disappeared into.
Then back at Soraya again.
"Hmm..."
Soraya glanced at her.
"What?"
Mia folded her arms dramatically.
"Don't 'what' me."
"What?"
"You know the president."
Soraya blinked.
"I..."
"We've met before."
Mia immediately leaned closer.
"I knew it!"
Soraya laughed awkwardly.
"It's not what you're thinking."
"Oh?"
Mia raised an eyebrow.
"Then what am I thinking?"
Soraya opened her mouth...
Then closed it again.
She couldn't exactly tell Mia that President Adrian Hale was the man she'd been promised to marry.
Not yet.
"It's..."
She scratched the back of her neck.
"A long story."
Mia smiled knowingly.
"I figured."
She gently bumped Soraya's shoulder with hers.
"I won't force you."
"But one day..."
"You're telling me everything."
Soraya smiled.
"I promise."
Satisfied with the answer, Mia hooked her arm through Soraya's.
"Now come on."
"If we don't hurry, someone will take the last chocolate pudding."
Soraya laughed.
"That's your priority?"
"Absolutely."
"The pudding here is legendary."
The two girls walked into the cafeteria, laughing together.
From the second floor above, Adrian happened to glance down toward the cafeteria while discussing a project with his assistant.
His eyes landed on Soraya for just a second.
She was laughing freely with Mia.
It was the first genuine smile he had seen on her face.
Without realizing it...
The corners of his own lips lifted ever so slightly.
"So she smiles like that..."
Before his assistant could notice, Adrian's expression returned to its usual calm look.
He turned away and continued walking toward the meeting room.
Neither of them knew...
That this would not be their last unexpected encounter that day.
The rest of the afternoon was much busier than the morning.
Stacks of documents arrived one after another, and everyone in the Executive Operations Department worked quietly.
Soraya carefully arranged several files before placing them into a blue folder.
She read the labels one last time to make sure nothing was missing.
Just then, her supervisor walked over.
"Soraya."
"Yes, sir?"
"I need you to deliver these documents to the president's office."
Soraya looked at the folder in his hands.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Mr. James is busy with another assignment, and Mia is helping the Finance Department."
He handed the folder to her.
"The president's assistant will receive it."
"Alright."
Soraya took a deep breath before leaving the department.
She had no reason to be nervous.
She wasn't going to meet Adrian.
She was only delivering documents.
Still...
Her heartbeat quickened as the elevator climbed to the top executive floor.
When the doors opened, the atmosphere was completely different from the rest of the company.
The hallway was quiet.
Every employee walked calmly without making unnecessary noise.
Soraya walked toward the reception desk.
A young woman looked up and smiled politely.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm from the Executive Operations Department."
"I was asked to deliver these documents."
"Please wait a moment."
The receptionist picked up the phone.
A few seconds later, she smiled.
"You may go in."
Soraya blinked.
"Go... in?"
"The president is expecting the documents personally."
She had no choice now.
Taking another deep breath, she walked toward the large office door.
She knocked twice.
"Come in."
His calm voice came from inside.
Soraya slowly opened the door.
The office was much larger than she had imagined.
One entire wall was made of glass, overlooking the city.
Bookshelves lined another wall, while a long meeting table occupied one side of the room.
Adrian sat behind his desk, reading a report.
He looked up when she entered.
For a brief second...
Neither of them spoke.
Soraya walked forward and placed the folder on his desk.
"The documents from Executive Operations."
"Thank you."
He reached for the folder.
As Soraya turned to leave, Adrian spoke again.
"Miss Carter."
She stopped.
"Yes, President Hale?"
"I wanted to thank you."
She looked back, confused.
"For accepting my grandfather's request."
Soraya was silent for a moment.
"It wasn't only because of Grandpa Harrison."
"I trusted my grandfather's decision too."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"I understand."
There was another brief silence.
Neither of them seemed to know what else to say.
Finally, Adrian closed the folder.
"I won't let our personal arrangement affect your work."
"You'll be treated like every other employee."
Soraya smiled faintly.
"I wouldn't want special treatment anyway."
A tiny hint of approval appeared in Adrian's eyes.
"Good."
She nodded politely.
"If there's nothing else..."
"You may go."
"Thank you, President Hale."
Soraya quietly left the office.
The moment the door closed behind her, she let out a long breath.
"Why do I get nervous every time I talk to him?"
---
Back downstairs...
Mia immediately noticed Soraya returning.
"There you are!"
"What took you so long?"
"I had to deliver documents upstairs."
Mia's eyes widened dramatically.
"To the executive floor?"
Soraya nodded.
"And?"
"And what?"
"Did you see President Hale?"
Soraya hesitated for a second before answering.
"Yes."
Mia quickly rolled her chair closer.
"Tell me everything."
"There isn't much to tell."
"I delivered the documents."
"He thanked me."
"And then I came back."
Mia stared at her for a few seconds.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Mia sighed dramatically.
"You're terrible at telling stories."
Soraya laughed.
"I know."
The two girls returned to work.
By the time the office closed, both of them were completely exhausted.
As they walked toward the elevator, Mia suddenly smiled.
"My parents are travelling this weekend."
"So?"
"So..."
She looked at Soraya hopefully.
"Would you like to come over on Saturday?"
"We can watch movies, order food, and complain about work."
Soraya laughed.
"I'd love to..."
Then she remembered.
Saturday.
That was the day she and Adrian's families had planned to meet again to discuss the wedding preparations.
Her smile slowly faded.
"I'm sorry."
"I already have plans."
Mia pouted playfully.
"Important plans?"
Soraya smiled awkwardly.
"Very important."
Mia sighed.
"Fine."
"But you still owe me a movie night."
"I promise."
The elevator doors opened.
The two friends stepped inside together, chatting happily as they headed down to the lobby.
Neither of them noticed...
From another elevator across the hall...
Adrian quietly watched them leave.
He looked at Soraya's smiling face for a brief moment before the doors of his own elevator slowly closed.
For reasons he couldn't explain...
The once unfamiliar woman his grandfather had chosen for him...
Was slowly becoming someone he found himself noticing more often.
- Writer
