Suit & Scars.

The Ride

Angela arrived at the office the next morning ten minutes early, dressed in a soft beige blouse tucked into a black pencil skirt, and her black kitten heels clicking lightly on the marble floor. She held her head high, but her chest felt a little tight—Mr. Argent’s scolding from yesterday still echoed in her head. She hated the way his words got to her, but even more, she hated that part of her craved his attention.

As she stepped into the elevator, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Laura:

Laura:“You better not let those jealous office barbies stress you, babe. Remember who you are 💅✨”*

Angela smiled a little and tucked the phone away.

When she reached the top floor, her newly assigned desk was just outside Kevin Argent’s office door. She barely sat down when the telecom rang.

"Angela, in my office," came his voice, low and clipped.

She entered carefully. Kevin was standing by the window, suit jacket off, sleeves rolled up. He turned, and his sharp eyes checked her out

he then cleared his throat and rested all the way back in his chair

“You’re late,” he said.

Angela blinked. “Sir, it’s 7:52.”

“You’re late for my expectations,” he said calmly, standing up from his desk. “You’ll learn that I value precision.”

She nodded silently.

He handed her another stack of documents. “Sort these by category, enter them into the internal database, and return them in the correct folders before lunch.”

Angela took the files and returned to her desk. She got to work immediately, focused and fast—she was determined not to disappoint.

Angela's fingers flew over the keyboard as she typed in the last batch of data. Her eyes scanned the files, double-checking every entry before slipping each document into its properly labeled folder.

Today, she didn’t let anything distract her. No checking emails, no zoning out — just focus.

At 12:50 PM sharp, she rose from her seat and approached Mr. Argent’s office, her heels silent on the polished floor.

She knocked twice.

“Come in,” his voice came, calm and unreadable.

Angela stepped in and walked over to his desk, her expression neutral but quietly confident.

“All documents sorted, filed, and uploaded into the system, sir,” she said, placing the stack in front of him.

Kevin glanced at the clock — 12:51.

His brow lifted slightly, but he didn’t say anything at first. He picked up the top folder, flipping through the pages quickly, scanning her work.

Then, without looking up, he said, “Efficient. Clean formatting. No errors.”

Angela’s lips curved in the slightest smile. “Thank you, sir.”

He finally looked up, his gaze pausing on her face. “That’s more like it, Miss Martins.”

There was something subtle in his voice — not quite praise, but not cold either. It was like he’d let a c***k show in the walls he kept up.

“You may take your lunch break,” he added, returning to his screen.

Angela turned to leave, heart a little lighter. But before she could step out:

“Angela.”

She looked back quickly.

“You’ve exceeded my expectations today,” he said, eyes still on his computer, but there was something in his tone — quieter, gentler.

“Thank you… Mr. Argent,” she replied, stunned but pleased.

As she exited, she couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips.

She walked into the cafeteria and spotted Cristiano at a corner table. He was waving her over with a sandwich in hand.

“About time, Miss Superstar,” he grinned. “Tell me everything.”

Angela sat, feeling like maybe… just maybe, she was starting to find her place here.

few hours later:

Mr Argent leaned back in his chair, eyes on the glowing screen in front of him, but attention... elsewhere.

Through the corner of his glass office, he could see her.

Angela Martins

Still at her desk.

It was almost 8:15 PM.

Everyone else had clocked out hours ago, but she remained — sleeves rolled, hair in a loose bun, completely immersed in her work.

She hadn’t noticed that he watched her sometimes. Quietly. Curiously.

Not many interns stayed late — especially not in the first week. But she wasn’t like the rest.

She didn’t try to impress with fake charm. She didn’t throw herself at him like some of the others. She worked. She focused. And she was always trying to do better.

Kevin turned away, resting his elbows on the desk. His jaw tensed for a moment.

She reminded him of himself… once. Before the titles. Before the chaos of board meetings and forced smiles.

He stood, picked up his coat, and turned off the lights in his office.

But when he stepped into the hallway, he paused.

She was still typing. Her fingers flying. A soft hum escaped her lips as she read through a document.

He found himself walking toward her desk, slowly.

Angela looked up, startled. “Mr. Argent—! I’m sorry, I didn’t realize the time, I was just—”

“You’re still here,” he said quietly, interrupting her apology.

Angela stood awkwardly. “I didn’t want to leave anything unfinished.”

His eyes scanned her face, then the organized stack of files, her notes, her perfectly arranged desktop.

“You didn’t have to stay this late,” he said, voice low.

She smiled lightly. “I know. But I wanted to.”

There was a beat of silence between them.

Kevin shifted, then glanced at the time on his watch.

“It’s late. You shouldn’t be walking alone.”

Angela blinked. “I’m fine, really.”

“I’ll have my driver drop you off.”

“But I—”

“That’s not a suggestion,” he said, already pulling out his phone to call the driver.

Angela stood stunned, unsure how to respond.

As Kevin walked away, she watched his retreating figure, her heart beating slightly faster than before.

Angela slipped into the back seat of the sleek black Mercedes, the interior smelling faintly of leather and cedarwood. Mr. Argent’s driver, a sharply dressed man who introduced himself as ‘Mr Cole’, gave her a polite nod through the rearview mirror.

“Miss Martins, Mr. Argent said to make sure you get home safe.”

Angela mumbled a soft “thank you” and glanced out the tinted window, her mind racing far faster than the traffic.

Why did he do that?

He could’ve just told her to go home.

But he didn’t.

He watched her. He noticed.

She shook the thought out of her head and pulled out her phone.

A new message lit up from Laura:

“Babe?? You didn’t text me after work. What’s up??”

Angela smiled faintly and typed back:

“Girl. Remind me to gist you. Mr Argent had his driver drop me off. I’m still in shock.”

Laura replied instantly:

“HUH??? Drop what?? DROP YOU OFF???”

“Is this a billionaire boss thing or is this a soft launch???”

Angela laughed under her breath, biting her lip to hide the smile forming on her face.

The driver glanced at her in the mirror, curious but professional.

She stared ahead.

Why did he really send his driver?

Was it just courtesy?

Or was he… watching?

Feeling her phone buzz again, she looked down.

*Boston*:

*“How was Day 1, superstar?”*

She grinned again, her chest warm.

Angela:

“Long. Intense. But worth it”

She sighed and leaned her head against the window, the soft hum of the car making her eyelids flutter.