My Corporate Affair

Chapter Eighteen

Her voice cracked on the last sentence, and I couldn’t stop myself from standing up. I moved to her side of the desk without thinking. The walls she had carefully built around herself were breaking, and I wasn’t prepared for it. I didn’t know what to say, but I knew I couldn’t let her feel alone in this moment.

I gently placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. She didn’t pull away, but the way she looked up at me with those vulnerable eyes made my chest tighten.

“Tell me what’s going on,” I said softly, keeping my voice steady. I didn’t want to press her, but I needed to understand.

She hesitated for a moment, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to hide the tears that were threatening to spill. “It’s just… the other interns. I didn’t ask for this attention, but now, every day feels like a battle. And I don’t know how much longer I can keep pretending it doesn’t bother me.”

I let her speak, giving her the space to unload, to let everything out. I didn’t know how much she had been holding inside, but the weight of it was clear now.

“I’m sorry you’re going through this, Sophie,” I said quietly, my thumb gently rubbing her shoulder in a gesture that felt oddly personal.

She wiped her eyes again, her face flushed with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to break down like this. I just… I don’t know who to turn to.”

I moved back to my desk and sat down, giving her some space. “You don’t need to apologize. You’re not alone in this, Sophie. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that office politics can be ruthless. But I need you to understand something, what’s happening here, with the whispers and the jealousy, is nothing more than noise. Focus on the work you’ve been doing, the things that got you here. Don’t let anyone make you feel small.”

Her eyes met mine, and there was a flicker of hope in them, like she was actually hearing me for the first time.

“You’re better than they think, Sophie. You’ve got the skills, the ideas, and the heart. That’s why you’re here,” I added, my voice steady and sure.

She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure, and for the first time today, I saw a hint of her usual spark in her eyes.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ll try. I just don’t want to lose everything I’ve worked for.”

“You won’t. Not if you remember why you’re doing this,” I said, giving her a small but sincere smile. “You’ve got this.”

She stood up, finally wiping the last of the tears from her eyes. “I’ll do my best, sir. I promise.”

I watched her leave, feeling a strange sense of relief. I knew she wasn’t entirely okay, but maybe, just maybe, this conversation would help her see things differently.

Sophie....

It was late. The office was practically deserted, and the only sounds left were the faint hum of the overhead lights and the rustle of papers as I typed away at my desk. Most of the staff had gone home hours ago, and even the rest of the team had trickled out, leaving me behind to finish the last bits of work I needed to get done.

I glanced at the clock, well past ten, and sighed. I had been at it for hours, but there were still some things I needed to finalize. The team had already left, but they were good about covering their tasks. I just had a few more things to wrap up before I could head home.

When I finally finished everything, I gathered my things and prepared to leave. My shoulders ached from the long day, and I was ready to collapse into my bed. As I turned to head for the elevator, I caught sight of Elliot.

He was walking out of the executive elevator, his eyes focused on some papers in his hand. My first instinct was to freeze. I hadn’t expected him to still be here. It was late, and I figured he would’ve left hours ago, like everyone else.

He glanced up and met my eyes, his expression calm, but there was something different about him. He was still in work mode, that was for sure. I hesitated for a moment before asking, "Sir. You're still here?"

He gave me a small smile, like it was no big deal. "Yeah. Still got a few things to finish up."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "I didn’t think you’d still be here. The whole office is almost empty."

He shrugged, looking unfazed. "I get a lot done when it’s quiet."

I couldn't help but admire his dedication. I didn’t know how he did it, being the CEO, managing everything, and still staying this late. It was impressive. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel a little bad for him. Everyone needed to rest, right?

We stood there for a moment, the quiet of the empty office settling in around us.

“Are you heading out soon?” he asked, breaking the silence.

I nodded, but before I could bid him goodbye, he said, “Need a ride home?”

I hesitated for a moment, surprised by the offer. “Oh, no sir , it’s fine. I can manage. I’m just going to catch the bus,” I replied quickly, not wanting to trouble him.

He gave me a pointed look. “Are you sure? It’s really late, Sophie. You shouldn’t be out this late on your own.”

I frowned, about to refuse again, but his insistence made me pause. After a moment, I sighed and relented. “Okay Sir, thank you.”

Elliot smiled, pleased. “Good. Let’s go.”

We made our way through the dark hallways of the office and to the executive parking lot. As we walked, I couldn’t help but notice how quiet the place was. The night was still, and even the usual city noise outside was muted. When we reached his car, I couldn't help but glance at the sleek black vehicle. It was obvious he wasn’t short on luxury, but I couldn't help but wonder ` if he had a driver, why was he out here, doing this himself?

I asked the question before I could stop myself, my curiosity getting the better of me. “So… do you have a driver?”

Elliot chuckled, opening the car door for me. “Nope, I like to do things myself.”

I paused for a moment at his gesture, blush creeping onto my cheeks.

I frowned in confusion as I slid into the passenger seat. “Why? I mean, you’re the CEO. I thought you’d have someone do this for you.”

He closed the door and got into the driver’s seat, adjusting his mirror before turning to me. “I just don’t like it. I like doing things on my own, driving, thinking, being in control. It helps me clear my head.”

His response caught me off guard. I had assumed someone like him would have a driver to do all the hard work, but now I understood, he wanted to keep his independence. It was kind of refreshing, really.

“Hmm, I didn’t expect that,” I muttered, feeling a little more at ease.

He smiled as he started the car. “Most people don’t. But it’s my thing.”

As he pulled out of the parking lot, I relaxed back into the seat, letting the quiet of the drive settle over me. It was a strange mix of calm and curiosity, a feeling I hadn’t expected to experience with him. I wasn’t sure if it was the late hour, the exhaustion from a long day, or something else entirely, but for once, the quiet between us didn’t feel awkward. It just felt… natural.