THE BEAUTIFUL DEMON

The sun rose over the picturesque city of Osten, nestled in the heart of the beautiful country of Malli. Osten was a city that radiated success, where the streets were filled with an array of luxurious cars, motorcycles, and impeccably dressed people, each one seemingly more attractive than the last. The city itself was a marvel of modern design, with well-manicured parks, sleek glass buildings, and bustling avenues that reflected its inhabitants' prosperity. The year was 2016, a time when technology and human ambition intertwined seamlessly. In the midst of this urban splendor, a figure could be seen hurrying down the crowded streets. He was a man of striking appearance, his white shirt stark against the bright morning light as he moved with purpose through the throngs of people. His name was John, and he was a man who, despite his masculine features, possessed a certain androgynous beauty that often caused those around him to do a double take. With his jet-black hair perfectly styled and his lips a natural shade of pink, John stood at an impressive 5.6 feet tall, his presence both commanding and gentle. This morning, like every other, John was running late for his job as the assistant secretary at a prestigious company located in the heart of Osten. After weaving through the busy streets and navigating the familiar routes he knew so well, John finally arrived at the towering glass building where he worked. The entrance to the building was a rotating glass door that never stopped moving, and John skillfully timed his step to fit into one of the openings. The door spun him into the spacious lobby, where the polished marble floors reflected the overhead lights. The air was cool, the kind of cool that only a well-maintained, air-conditioned building could achieve. As he stood there for a moment, taking in the sight of the elevator doors opening and closing in quick succession, John adjusted his glasses and walked with a measured pace towards one of the elevators. He had just reached it when, to his surprise and delight, Iris—a colleague he admired greatly—stepped into the elevator just as the doors were about to close. John’s heart skipped a beat, and a wave of nervousness washed over him. Iris was everything John had ever wanted in a woman. She was not just beautiful, with her graceful demeanor and warm smile, but she was also intelligent, confident, and kind. The sight of her made John’s thoughts race and his stomach flutter with the nervous excitement that only she could provoke. As the elevator doors slid shut, the enclosed space suddenly felt smaller. John could feel his palms begin to sweat as he fumbled to press the button for their floor. But the nervous energy in him had distracted him, and he forgot to do so. It wasn’t until Iris, noticing his distraction, lightly touched his arm and asked, “Aren’t you going to press the button?” that John realized his mistake. “What? Oh…yes, of course,” he stammered, quickly adjusting his glasses once more before pressing the button. The elevator hummed to life, smoothly carrying them upwards. The silence in the elevator was almost palpable, filled with the unspoken words John desperately wanted to say. He glanced at Iris out of the corner of his eye, trying to muster the courage to speak to her beyond the usual pleasantries. “Are you okay?” Iris asked, her voice breaking the silence. “Yes, yes,” John replied a bit too quickly. “I’m good. My family is good. We’re all good.” He paused, realizing how ridiculous he sounded. “I mean, I hope you’re doing well too… Did you sleep well last night? Oh, I shouldn’t have asked that. It’s none of my business.” He looked away, his face turning red with embarrassment. Iris chuckled softly, a sound that made John’s heart soar. “It’s okay, John. It’s a free world; anyone can ask anything,” she said, her smile reassuring him. “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” John muttered, trying to calm his racing thoughts. “But some people get upset about these things. I just don’t want to bother anyone.” The elevator dinged, signaling their arrival on the 21st floor. As they stepped out, Iris began to speak about a new client who would be investing a significant amount of money with their company. John, still distracted by her presence, interrupted her to ask, “What’s the interest for the company? That’s what I want to know.” “Two hundred dollars a month,” Iris replied, her tone indicating that this was a substantial amount. “It’s a huge deal.” “That’s my main concern—the revenue we’re bringing in from clients,” John said, his mind momentarily shifting back to work. But as they approached the point where their paths diverged to their respective offices, John hesitated. He turned to look at Iris, removing his glasses as he did so. For a brief moment, they both stood there, gazing at each other in silence. In John’s mind, a whirlwind of emotions swirled. He wanted to tell Iris how much he loved her, how he had dreamt of this moment where they would be more than just colleagues—where they would be together. He imagined how it would feel to close the distance between them and kiss her, to hold her close and never let go. Meanwhile, Iris was lost in her own thoughts, taken by John’s handsome features and his charming, albeit awkward, demeanor. She wondered if he had any idea how much she admired him, how she had never felt this way about anyone before. The intensity of the moment was almost overwhelming. Their reverie was abruptly shattered by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Brian, a fellow coworker, had approached them, unaware of the charged atmosphere he had just interrupted. “What’s going on here?” he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity. “Did you guys get the boss’s message? We’re supposed to have a meeting right now.” John, irritated by the interruption, snapped back, “And what are you doing here? Did you lose your way to the boss’s office?” Brian rolled his eyes and retorted, “Oh, come on. Don’t be a jerk. I was looking for you guys. We’re about to start the meeting, and I noticed you weren’t there.” Before John could respond, Iris interjected, “Yes, we heard. We’re on our way now.” John, still frustrated, added, “What do you mean, ‘I’m on my way’? We’re going together. You should have said ‘we’!” Brian, sensing the tension, raised his hands in mock surrender. “Whoa, calm down. No need to get worked up.” With that, he turned and walked away, leaving John and Iris to exchange a final glance before heading to their respective offices. Once inside his office, John tried to focus on his work, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Iris. He found himself staring out of his office window, which conveniently offered a view of Iris’s office. He watched as she removed her jacket, her graceful movements captivating him all over again. Just as he was about to lose himself in his thoughts, another message from the boss appeared on his screen, reminding him of the meeting. John quickly grabbed his things and rushed out of his office, determined not to be late. When he arrived at the meeting room, he found that everyone else was already seated, waiting for the boss. The room was spacious, with a large oval table at its center. Eighteen chairs were arranged around the table, each one occupied by one of the company’s top employees. They were a diverse group, united by their shared goal of maintaining the company’s stellar reputation. The company’s primary business was securing valuable assets for wealthy clients—anything from large sums of money to important documents and priceless artifacts. John took his seat just as Iris entered the room. As she walked to her seat, John couldn’t help but notice the appreciative looks she received from the other men in the room. One young man in particular seemed to be particularly taken by her, his gaze lingering on her in a way that made John feel a pang of jealousy. Before John could dwell on it, Brian leaned over and whispered to the young man, “Man, what’s wrong with you? You’re looking at her like a lost puppy.” The youngest employee in the room, Hilliana, giggled softly at the exchange, but the light-hearted moment was cut short by the arrival of the boss. Ruben, the company’s CEO, was a man who commanded respect. As he entered the room, everyone stood up to greet him. Ruben acknowledged them with a nod before taking his seat at the head of the table. Once everyone was seated, Ruben began to address the room. “Good morning, everyone,” he said, his voice firm and authoritative. The employees responded with a chorus of greetings, though the variation in their responses seemed to amuse the boss. The last to respond was John, whose overly enthusiastic greeting—“Really, Boss, good morning from bed!”—earned him a few chuckles from his colleagues. Ruben, never one to miss an opportunity for humor, quipped, “John, did you have a nightmare about me last night?” “No, sir!” John quickly replied, waving his hands in the air to emphasize his innocence. The room erupted in laughter, with even Iris joining in. Once the laughter subsided, Ruben got down to business. “I’ve called this meeting to inform you all that we’ve secured a new contract. It’s a big one, and it’s going to require all hands on deck.”