Chapter 2
1145 Words
Natalie did not look back.
She walked fast, Too fast. Her hands shook as she pushed through the stairwell door and took the steps two at a time. Her chest burned. Her head spun.
Kevin!!.
Of all people. Of all places.
She reached the break room and leaned over the table, breathing hard. The room smelled like coffee and cheap perfume. Someone laughed behind her. Someone else complained about a meeting.
But Life went on.
Her phone rang, it an Unknown number.
She ignored it.
“Hey,” a voice said behind her. “Are you okay?”
Natalie straightened her face, A woman stood there, mid-thirties, eyes sharp, smile fake. The same woman who had snapped at her earlier.
“I’m fine,” Natalie said.
The woman glanced at Natalie’s badge. “You’re new.”
“Yes.”
“I’m Cynthia,” she said. “I run operations on this floor.”
Natalie nodded. “Nice to meet you.”
Cynthia’s eyes lingered. “You were on the executive floor.”
Natalie’s stomach dropped. “I’m sorry, I took a wrong turn.”
Cynthia smiled without warmth. “We don’t make mistakes here.”
“I’m sorry.”
Cynthia leaned closer. “Keep your head down. Do what you’re told. And don’t wander around.”
Natalie nodded again.
“Good,” Cynthia said. “Now take these files to the conference room And hurry.”
Natalie grabbed the stack of files and left.
Her phone rang again, the same Unknown number. But this time, the unknown number texted
She peeked at it.
UNKNOWN: Don’t run.
Her breath caught.
She shoved the phone into her pocket and kept walking.
The conference room was packed. People argued. Voices overlapped. Natalie placed the files on the table and turned to leave.
“Wait,” a man said. “Coffee.”
She froze.
“Yes,” Cynthia called from the doorway. “Get Coffee For everyone.”
Natalie bit her tongue and nodded.
The coffee machine jammed and She burned her finger. Someone complained the sugar was too much and Another asked for almond milk after she’d already poured.
By noon, her head throbbed.
She felt eyes on her again.
Kevin stood at the far end of the floor, speaking to a group of executives. His posture was relaxed. Confident. Like he owned the air around him.
He didn’t look at her.
That hurt more than it should have.
Her phone buzzed again.
UNKNOWN: You shouldn’t be here.
She deleted the message.
At lunch, she ate standing up. Half a sandwich it was Cold and Tasteless but she didn’t have a choice because that was what she could afford
“You don’t sit?” a girl asked nearby.
Natalie shook her head. “No time, I need to get back to work.”
The girl smirked. “You’ll learn.”
The afternoon was worse.
Cynthia sent her back and forth between floors. Someone spilled coffee and blamed her. Someone else accused her of misplacing files she never touched.
“Are you stupid?” a man snapped.
Natalie swallowed. “No, I’m sorry”
“Then act like it.”
She cleaned, She ran, She smiled when she wanted to scream.
By evening, her legs felt numb.
“Stay late,” Cynthia said. “We have an Executive meeting and we need for coffee.”
Natalie nodded.
The building emptied slowly. Lights dimmed. The air changed.
At eight, Natalie was sent to clean the executive conference room.
She pushed the door open.
Kevin was inside.
Alone.
He turned.
They stared at each other.
“Hi,” he said quietly.
She didn’t answer.
He gestured to the chair. “Sit.”
“No.”
“Natalie”, he callled out
“I said no,” she snapped.
He sighed. “You shouldn’t be doing this work.”
She laughed, bitter. “And you shouldn’t be pretending you don’t know me.”
His eyes darkened. “I wasn’t pretending.”
“Yes, you were.”
He stepped closer. “I didn’t know you worked here.”
“Well That’s convenient.”, she said.
He stopped a few feet away. “Why didn’t you tell me you were in New York?”
“You didn’t ask.”
“I tried to find you.” He said
“You didn’t try hard enough.”
Silence fell.
“You look tired,” he said.
She scoffed. “That’s what happens when you don’t have money.”
He clenched his jaw. “I can help.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“You always say that.”
“And you always ignore me.”
Their words pressed together, old wounds opening fast.
Footsteps echoed outside.
Kevin stepped back quickly.
Cynthia walked in. Her eyes flicked between them.
“Kevin,” she said sweetly. “The board is ready.”
Kevin nodded. “Give us a minute.”
Cynthia’s smile tightened. “We don’t have a minute.”
Kevin didn’t move.
Cynthia looked at Natalie. Her eyes turned sharp. Calculating what was going on.
“Leave,” Cynthia told her.
Natalie picked up the trash bag and walked out.
Her phone buzzed again the moment the door closed.
UNKNOWN: You think he can save you?
Her stomach twisted.
She rushed to the restroom and locked herself in a stall.
Another message.
UNKNOWN: You don’t belong in his world.
She typed back before she could stop herself.
NATALIE: Who is this?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Her phone rang.
Unknown number.
Her hands shook as she answered.
“Hello?”
The person on the phone was Breathing Slow and Controlled.
“You should quit,” a woman’s voice said softly.
Natalie’s blood ran cold. “Who are you?”
“Someone who’s been here longer than you,” the woman replied. “Someone who won’t lose what’s hers.”
The call ended.
Natalie stared at the screen.
She didn’t notice the restroom door open.
Didn’t hear the footsteps.
Not until a hand shoved her hard from behind.
She hit the sink, pain exploding through her shoulder.
“Watch yourself,” a voice hissed in her ear.
Natalie turned.
Cynthia smiled at her in the mirror.
“Accidents happen,” Cynthia said. “Especially to girls who don’t know their place.”
Natalie’s heart pounded.
Cynthia walked out like nothing happened.
Natalie stood there, shaking.
She left the building late.
The street was darker now. Quieter.
She walked fast, keys clenched between her fingers.
Her phone buzzed, it was Kevin
KEVIN: We need to talk. Tonight.
She stopped walking.
Typed back.
NATALIE: No.
She looked up.
A car idled across the street.
Engine running.
Lights off.
Her phone buzzed again.
KEVIN: Please.
The car’s engine revved.
Natalie took a step back.
The car lunged forward.
Straight at her.
Her scream ripped into the night.
- Writer
