A Glimpse of Elegance
1034 Words
The mentor’s stare was sharp, unreadable.
The kind of stare that could cut through excuses.
Adam couldn’t move.
Richard Johnson leaned back slowly in his chair. For a moment, the only sound was the ticking of the clock on the office wall. Then, finally, the man spoke.
“You’ve done well today. Better than I expected.”
Adam let out the breath he had been holding. Relief washed over him, though he tried not to show it.
“Thank you, sir,” he said quietly.
Richard’s lips curved in a faint smile. “Work hard, and you’ll have a future here. I can see you’re hungry.”
The words stayed with Adam. Hungry. Yes, he was. For success. For recognition. For everything this company could give him.
But he didn’t know yet what else he was hungry for.
That evening, Richard invited Adam to his home.
“It’s important to know the people you work with,” Richard said. “You’ll join us for dinner.”
Adam nodded, though his chest tightened. Dinner at the boss’s house? It felt like a test. Another chance to prove himself. He polished his shoes twice before leaving the office.
The Johnson home was like a world of its own. Tall ceilings, art on every wall, light spilling through wide windows. Adam stood at the entrance, nervous, his tie too tight. A servant led him inside, and he tried to walk with confidence, though his heart pounded in his chest.
Then he saw her.
Emily.
She came down the stairs with a soft grace that made the air change. She wasn’t loud. She wasn’t dressed in glitter or gold. But somehow, she was the most striking person Adam had ever seen. A dress of pale silk flowed around her as she moved. Her hair fell loose, catching the light. And her eyes calm, steady, yet warm, found him across the room.
“Adam,” Richard said with pride in his voice. “This is my wife, Emily.”
Emily’s lips curved into a gentle smile. “Welcome,” she said, her voice smooth. “It’s good to finally meet you. My husband speaks highly of you already.”
Adam’s throat went dry. Highly? Richard spoke about him to her?
“It’s an honor, ma’am,” he said, his voice almost shaking.
Emily gave a soft laugh. “Just Emily. No need for formalities.”
Her laugh stayed in Adam’s ears even after she moved on to greet another guest. He tried to focus on the people, the dinner, the talk of business. But his eyes betrayed him again and again, sliding back to her. The way she poured wine with a steady hand. The way she touched her husband’s arm lightly as she passed him. The way she laughed at a story, head tilted, eyes glowing.
Adam hated himself for noticing. For caring. But he couldn’t stop.
At dinner, fate sat him across the table from her. Too close. Too dangerous. Richard spoke about the company’s growth, the future, the projects that would shape the year. Adam nodded, answered when asked, but his focus broke each time Emily shifted her gaze. Once, just once, her eyes met his. Only for a heartbeat. But it was enough to make Adam’s chest tighten like a fist.
He dropped his fork, muttering a quick apology. Emily’s lips curved again, just slightly, as if she had noticed more than she let on.
Later, after dessert, Adam excused himself to step outside for air. The garden was quiet, the night cool. He leaned on the railing, telling himself to breathe, to shake it off. She was his boss’s wife. Untouchable. Forbidden.
But as he turned back toward the house, he froze.
Emily stood in the doorway, her eyes on him, calm but unreadable.
And she did not look away.
- Writer
