THE BOARDROOM
390 Words
Two days later, I walked into Vance Enterprises.
Head high.
Hands shaking.
New job.
New start.
Personal assistant to Mateo Vance.
The man I’d spent six years trying to forget.
HR’s memo last night:
`_Board Meeting, 9AM. You’ll be representing Mr. Vance’s office.`_
Simple enough.
Walk in. Take notes. Walk out.
Don’t make eye contact.
Don’t breathe too loud.
I thought I had it on lock.
I pushed the glass door open at 8:55AM.
The boardroom was full.
Twenty executives in suits.
Low voices.
And at the head of the table…
Mateo.
He looked up when I entered.
Dark suit. No smile.
Those eyes that used to memorize my face now scanned me like a stranger.
Which I was. To him.
“Ms. Delgado,” he said.
Flat. Professional.
“You’re late.”
“I’m not—”
The words died in my throat.
Because the seat to his right was occupied.
Noah.
The man from The Ember.
Navy suit. Laughing at something the CEO said.
When he saw me, his whole face lit up.
“Miss Olandria!
What a pleasant surprise.
I never thought I’d see you again…”
The room went silent.
Twenty pairs of eyes swung between me and Noah.
I felt the confusion in the air.
Mateo didn’t smile.
He just tapped his pen on the table.
Once.
Twice.
Noah stood. Pulled out the chair beside him.
“Sit here.”
I couldn’t concentrate the whole meeting.
Lost in my head.
What was Noah doing here?
“Ms. Delgado… Ms. Delgado…”
Mateo’s voice snapped me back.
“Meet me in my office.”
A command.
In his office, he slid files across the desk.
“Sit. Wait for my secretary. She’ll give you your memo.”
“Go get me coffee,” he ordered.
I stood.
His eyes followed me out the door.
So many questions.
No one to ask.
I walked out.
Ran straight into Noah.
He was all smiles. The safe kind.
“Watch where you’re going, baby girl.”
Baby girl???
I wasn’t supposed to think about it.
But I did.
What was he doing here?
How was he tied to Mateo?
My nerves spiked.
But I could do this.
“It’s just my first day,” I told myself.
I didn’t know yet.
This was the beginning of my dilemma.
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- Writer
