Chapter 17 : Behind The Desk
467 Words
Adrian had attended hundreds of meetings. He knew boardrooms, negotiations, power plays. What he did not know was this version of Elara.
From his seat in the conference room, he could see the reception area through the glass walls. At first, he did not mean to watch her. It just… happened.
A man leaned over her desk, voice sharp. Elara remained calm.
A woman snapped her fingers at her for documents. Elara smiled and complied.
Her manager corrected her in front of others for something minor. Elara apologized.
Adrian frowned.
This was not the woman who talked back to him in a garage. This was someone carefully swallowing her pride in neat, professional portions.
During a break, he stepped out to take a call.
“Excuse me,” a staff member said to Elara, irritation clear. “You were supposed to print these in color.”
“They were not requested in color,” Elara replied politely.
“Well, do it again,” the woman snapped.
Adrian stopped walking.
Elara nodded. “Of course.”
When the woman left, Adrian approached the desk.
“Does everyone speak to you like that,” he asked quietly.
Elara did not look up. “Only people who think I am replaceable.”
He watched her fingers tremble slightly before steadying.
“You should report it,” he said.
She laughed under her breath. “To whom. The people who sign my paycheck.”
That answer stayed with him.
Back in the meeting, the numbers blurred. All he could see was Elara standing all day, absorbing disrespect like it was part of the job description.
At four pm, she shut down her computer. Relief flickered across her face.
“You are done,” Adrian said, surprised.
“Yes,” she replied. “I become human again at five.”
He almost smiled.
As she stood, her manager called out, “Tomorrow, come in earlier. We have visitors.”
Elara hesitated. “I already work full shifts.”
“It is not a request,” the manager said.
Adrian stood before Elara could respond.
“That will not be necessary,” he said calmly.
The room went still.
The manager turned. “Excuse me.”
“She works her scheduled hours,” Adrian continued. “If you need more support, hire more staff.”
Elara stared at him. “Adrian.”
He glanced at her. “You do not deserve that.”
The manager forced a smile. “Of course. We value our employees.”
After he walked away, Elara exhaled sharply. “You should not have done that.”
He met her gaze. “Someone had to.”
Enemy lines blurred. Not erased. But shaken.
And for the first time, Adrian realized something important.
Elara was not difficult.
She was surviving.
- Writer
