Beneath the Same Sky

The elevator groaned as it climbed. Sophie Lane clutched her thin folder close to her chest and tried not to breathe too loudly. She stood in the back corner, surrounded by tall people in expensive suits who smelled like perfume and power. Her coat was too thin for the chilly April morning, and her shoes had a small hole on the side, hidden by black polish. Still, she stood tall, or at least she tried to. This was her first day at VossTech. And she already felt out of place. The 47th floor. Ding. Everyone began to step out. Sophie followed quietly, her heart thudding in her ears. The office was a world of glass and steel. Everything sparkled. The windows stretched from floor to ceiling, showing the entire Manhattan skyline. Her breath caught. She had never seen the city from this high up. “Miss Lane?” a sharp voice called. She turned to find a woman with red lipstick and pointed heels glaring at her. “I’m Carrie. HR. Follow me.” Sophie nodded quickly and followed her through a hallway that smelled like fresh paper and rich coffee. Her palms were already sweaty. “You’ll be filling in for Mr. Voss’s assistant today,” Carrie said without looking back. Sophie almost tripped. “Mr. Voss? The CEO?” “Yes,” Carrie replied shortly. “His assistant called in sick. Just do what he says. Don’t speak unless spoken to. Don’t ask personal questions. And don’t stare.” Sophie swallowed hard. “Okay.” They stopped outside a tall black door. Carrie knocked once, opened it halfway, and stepped inside. “Mr. Voss, this is Sophie Lane. Temp. Just for today.” A deep voice replied, low and firm. “Leave her there.” Carrie smirked at Sophie and shut the door behind her. Sophie turned slowly. The office was huge, quiet, and filled with sunlight. It looked more like a library than a workspace. A large desk sat by the window, and behind it, a man stood with his back to her, looking out over the city. He didn’t turn around. “I need the Preston files on my desk in five minutes,” he said. Sophie blinked. “Sir, I….I’m not sure where…..” He turned then. And Sophie’s voice died in her throat. Damian Voss looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine. Tall, dark suit, no tie. His shirt was rolled at the sleeves, showing strong forearms. His face was sharp, carved, cold. Like he hadn’t smiled in years. His eyes landed on her and for a second, just one second, they softened. “You’re not Carrie,” he said. “No. I mean, yes. I mean….I’m Sophie Lane. Temp. Just for today,” she said in a rush. He stared at her. Sophie tried not to fidget under his gaze. It was like being scanned by an X-ray machine. “Sit at the desk,” he said finally, pointing to the assistant’s desk by the door. “Phone rings. You answer. Mail arrives. You sort it. Anyone calls, you take a message.” Sophie nodded quickly and sat down, her heart pounding. For the next two hours, she barely moved. People came and went. She wrote down names and calls. She typed quickly, careful not to make typos. Damian didn’t speak to her again. He didn’t even look at her. But she looked at him. He worked like a machine calm, controlled, and cold. He didn’t joke, didn’t smile, didn’t frown. He just worked. And he was good at it. Everyone who entered his office left nervous and quiet. At lunchtime, Sophie reached into her bag for a sandwich and a small bottle of water. She took a few quiet bites, careful not to leave crumbs on the desk. Suddenly, her phone buzzed. A company-wide email just popped in. Her eyes widened. It was titled: “Company Culture Review: Speak Your Mind.” There was a short survey from HR. Sophie thought for a moment, chewed, and typed her thoughts honest but kind. She clicked send. But something was wrong. Instead of sending her message to just HR, she had replied to everyone. Her heart stopped. She read the screen again. Her stomach twisted. Her message read: “The CEO seems cold and intimidating. The office is beautiful, but no one talks. It’s like walking into a funeral home with Wi-Fi. Not sure how people survive here. But maybe it’s just me.” Sophie gasped. She clicked every button she could but it was too late. People were already reading it. And laughing. A few turned and stared at her. She looked up and Damian Voss was standing in his office doorway, staring straight at her. Oh no. Her face turned red. She stood, knocked over her water bottle, and made everything worse. He didn’t say a word. He just pointed at her. “Inside. Now.” Sophie grabbed her things and followed him into his office, cheeks burning. When the door closed, silence fell again. He stood with his arms crossed. “You sent a company-wide email.” She nodded. “Yes. I…..I didn’t mean to. It was supposed to go to HR only.” “You called my office a funeral home.” Sophie winced. “With Wi-Fi.” He stared at her. She braced for the shouting. The firing. The humiliation. But he didn’t shout. He walked to his desk, sat down, and looked at her. “Sit.” Sophie sat. “You’re not wrong,” he said finally. Her eyes widened. He smirked barely. “I like truth. Even when it’s awkward.” Sophie didn’t know what to say. “You’ll stay,” he said. “Sir?” “You’ll finish the week. Then we’ll see.” She blinked. “I thought I was fired.” “You made a mistake,” he said. “But I’d rather work with someone honest than someone fake.” She nodded slowly. Then, something changed in his expression. “You remind me of someone,” he murmured. “Who?” He didn’t answer. He turned back to his computer. “You’re dismissed.” Sophie left quickly, still shaking. The rest of the day went by in a blur. She couldn’t stop thinking about what he said. You remind me of someone. And why didn’t he fire her? Maybe he wasn’t as cold as he looked and there was more beneath that perfect suit and perfect face.