You Were Always Mine

The Unspoken Rule

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.

Bibi Faye peeked out cautiously before stepping into the executive floor.

Unlike the lower departments that were always busy for one reason or another, this floor was... quiet.

She adjusted the lanyard hanging around her neck before smoothing invisible wrinkles from her blouse.

Good.

Now all she needed was to make sure Vivian Pearl wasn't about to walk out of her office.

She tiptoed toward the boardroom.

The frosted glass doors stood slightly ajar, allowing muffled voices to drift into the hallway.

Bibi leaned over slightly, her eyes settling on Vivian almost immediately.

Vivian sat at the head of the long conference table, tablet open before her as she calmly addressed the executives seated around her.

Across from her sat Oscar Onyx and the atmosphere looked painfully serious.

Perfect.

That meant nobody would be leaving anytime soon.

Bibi smiled to herself. "Excellent."

She spun on her heels and practically floated toward the CEO's office.

The large glass doors were shut. Before she pushed it open, she looked left and then right.

There was nobody in sight.

Her fingers wrapped around the handle and gave it a small push, it wasn't locked.

She smiled brightly as she slipped inside before quietly shutting the door behind her.

Her mouth fell open as she scanned the room.

"My..."

She slowly turned in a circle; the office was breathtaking.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked almost the entire city, fresh flowers rested on a side table, bookshelves lined one wall.

Everything screamed Vivian Pearl without actually trying to.

Bibi walked deeper into the office, careful not to touch anything.

Well...Almost.

She stopped behind the enormous walnut desk.

"...This is where she sits."

She gently lowered herself into Vivian's chair, the leather seemed to hug her perfectly.

"Oh goodness..." She spun once, dreamily, "This is nice."

She had to get those pictures and prove to her doubting Thomas co-workers that she'd been in Vivian's office multiple times.

Today just happened to be perfect.

She folded her hands on the desk.

"No."

She immediately shook her head.

"Too serious."

She crossed one leg over the other.

Better.

She pulled out her phone and took more than a dozen pictures. She would just pick the best ones once she's out of here.

She frowned after scrolling through the ones she got.

"No."

She stood, walked around the desk and positioned herself beside one of Vivian's framed awards.

She took a couple pictures. Well, these ones were way better and she took more than a dozen.

Soon she wandered toward the windows; the skyline behind her looked incredible.

She lifted the phone again and took a couple there too.

She examined the picture proudly.

"It almost looks like I own the place."

Her grin widened.

Maybe…she could record one short video. In case anyone thinks it's photoshopped.

She switched to video mode.

"Another busy morning…"

She cooed, turning around to show the office fully with that perfect smile on her face.

“My cousin had all this to herself. And here I was thinking it was way bigger..”

The office door opened.

"...Excuse me?"

Bibi nearly dropped her phone. She turned so quickly she almost tripped over the chair.

Charles stood at the entrance, tablet tucked beneath one arm and one eyebrow slowly lifted.

The room became painfully silent.

Charles looked from Bibi to the phone in her hand and then to the chair she had very obviously just vacated.

"I'm sorry..." he began carefully. "...who are you?"

Bibi blinked once and then forced a smile.

"Oh!"

She laughed nervously. "You scared me."

Charles didn't smile back. "I asked who you are."

"Oh." She placed one hand over her chest. "I'm Bibi."

"...Bibi?"

"Bibi Faye."

Charles searched his memory for a name that seemed similar but he got nothing.

"And why exactly are you inside Ms. Pearl's office?"

Bibi gasped. "I knew this would happen."

Charles frowned. "...What would happen?"

She sighed dramatically before walking toward him. "I'm new."

Charles gave her a once over. "I figure."

"And everyone told me how beautiful this office was."

Charles folded his arms. "So you decided to..."

He gestured around. "...conduct a guided tour by yourself?"

Her cheeks puffed slightly. "When you say it like that..”

“It sounds ridiculous?" He added.

She nodded immediately. "Exactly."

Charles stared at her as she smiled sweetly.

"I only wanted to see how it looks."

Charles wasn't convinced.

"You understand this is the CEO's office."

"I do."

"You also understand employees aren't allowed in here without permission."

"I absolutely do."

Charles sighed.

Goodness.

She looked so genuinely apologetic that it became difficult to stay annoyed.

"I'm really sorry.” She offered.

Charles rubbed his forehead. "I won't report this."

Bibi's entire face brightened. "Really?"

"But..." His expression hardened slightly. "Don't ever come in here again."

She nodded so enthusiastically her ponytail bounced.

"I won't."

"I mean it."

"I know."

"You could lose your job."

Bibi laughed awkwardly. "Well..." she started. "I'd rather not."

Charles stepped aside. "Off you go."

She hurried toward the door before suddenly stopping.

"Oh."

Charles looked up. She smiled brightly.

"...You have very nice eyes."

Charles blinked. "...Thank you?"

She beamed.

"My grandma says compliments make people kinder."

Then she disappeared into the hallway before he could respond.

Charles stood there for another few seconds.

"...What just happened?"

He looked around Vivian's office one last time.

Everything appeared untouched.

He quietly shut the office door before making his way toward the boardroom.

~Board Room~

The merger meeting had already begun.

Presentation slides glowed across the large screen while department heads discussed everything required for a seamless integration.

Vivian listened quietly even though her mind was somewhere else entirely.

Charles slipped back into his chair without drawing attention.

"...We'll combine both marketing departments over the next quarter," one executive explained.

Vivian nodded once. "Approved."

Another executive continued speaking but Oscar heard almost none of it.

Without meaning to, his gaze drifted beneath the conference table and toward Vivian's ankle.

It rested perfectly still beneath her chair and he didn't see any signs of the bandage from the sporting event.

Good.

His shoulders relaxed before he even realized they'd tensed.

Vivian looked up just then and their eyes met.

Oscar looked away almost immediately.

Vivian's brows arched, what's up with this man? He'd been acting like she didn't exist after that day.

Why… was he looking at her like that?

And why...why couldn't she stop thinking about what he'd said that day?

Do you think I'm doing this for others to see?

The words had replayed in her head far more times than she'd care to admit.

She still couldn't understand why he'd looked so...hurt.

She pushed the thought aside. It was no business of hers what he thought or felt. That was his problem.

The meeting continued and soon it drew to a close.

"...Then that concludes the financial integration update."

The Chief Financial Officer lowered his tablet before taking his seat.

Vivian closed the file in front of her before rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"Any objections?" she asked.

Around the table, heads shook.

Oscar leaned back in his chair.

"No."

“That concludes our meeting then.”

One by one, the executives began gathering their documents.

Chairs scraped against the polished wooden floor as quiet conversations resumed.

Someone joked about finally escaping the boardroom alive. Another complained about skipping lunch.

The serious atmosphere dissolved almost immediately.

Charles began arranging Oscar's files into neat piles while Cassandra collected Vivian's tablet.

"You have another meeting at two," she reminded quietly.

Vivian nodded. "I know."

Cassandra hesitated. "...Your ankle?"

Vivian glanced beneath the table before flexing it once.

"It's fine.”

Across the table, Oscar heard every word despite pretending to scroll through his phone.

Good.

He shouldn't have cared.

Yet...

His eyes still drifted toward her ankle without permission.

Vivian noticed this time.

And her gaze locked on his before he could look away.

Oscar calmly returned his attention to the screen in his hand as though nothing had happened.

Vivian frowned.

Goodness...

What exactly was wrong with this man?

A few days ago, he had practically scolded her for assuming he cared about appearances.

Today, he kept checking whether she was injured.

Make up your mind. Do you dislike me or not, Oscar Onyx?

She looked away first.

Her own thoughts were becoming exhausting.

Vivian gathered her papers in silence.

Oscar stood. "So we're done?"

Vivian looked up. "For today."

He inclined his head once.

"We'll see tomorrow."

"...Hopefully not on another obstacle course." She muttered under her breath

One corner of his mouth lifted. And soon after the smile disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared.

Vivian cleared her throat.

"I'll have Legal send over the amended documents."

Oscar nodded. "I'll review them tonight."

He turned toward the door.

Cassandra steps close after answering a phone call in the corner.

“Ms V.”

"What is it?"

Cassandra glanced at her phone and then back at her boss. "Someone is here to see you."

Vivian frowned. "Who?"

"He refused to book an appointment."

Oscar paused halfway toward the exit just as Charles looked over.

Vivian closed the folder in her hands.

"...Did he leave a name?"

Cassandra nodded slowly.

"He said..." she started. "...to tell you that Liam is here."

Vivian's eyes widened in surprise but Oscar's steps seemed to falter at the mention of that name.

His back remained turned but every muscle in his body went rigid.

That bastard….why the hell is he here?!