Tissues And Tension
362 Words
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Episode 2: Tissues and Tension
Aurora stood outside the CEO’s office, still clutching her half-empty coffee cup like a lifeline. Her fingers trembled. The sleek golden plaque on the door read:
Damian Wolfe, CEO
She took a deep breath, smoothed her blouse, and knocked twice.
“Enter.”
His voice came through like a blade slicing through silence.
Aurora pushed the door open. The office was massive, with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the city skyline. A black leather couch sat in the corner, and a glass table reflected the sunlight like a mirror. Damian Wolfe stood behind his desk, jacket off, shirt sleeves rolled, dabbing at the coffee stain on his crisp white shirt with a wet cloth.
“You brought the tissues, I assume?” he said dryly, without looking up.
Aurora blinked. “Oh… I thought you were joking.”
He finally looked at her, slowly, his eyes scanning her like she was an equation he didn’t like the solution to. “That’s strike two.”
“I— I’m really sorry, Mr. Wolfe. I swear I’m competent. This job means everything to me, and I didn’t mean to—”
“Save it,” he cut in. “You're not here to apologize. You're here to prove you're not a complete disaster.”
Aurora bit her lip. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
He walked to his desk and slid a folder across to her. “You’ll start with this. Ten client profiles. I want a summary report by 2 p.m. Clear, concise, no typos. Impress me.”
She took the folder. “Understood.”
As she turned to leave, he spoke again. “Miss Bennett.”
She paused, glancing back.
“If you spill anything else on me this week, I’ll have you transferred to the mailroom. Or Siberia. Whichever comes first.”
A smile threatened to twitch on her lips, but she smothered it. “No more coffee accidents. Got it.”
“Good. You have three hours.”
As the door closed behind her, Damian glanced at the stain again and chuckled under his breath.
“She’s either a disaster… or a spark.”
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- Writer
