Our world collided

CHAPTER 4: In Plain Sight

Three months passed in a flash, and we were fast approaching Christmas. It still feels like barely a few days ago I had walked in this office, looking for directions from the receptionist. Now, there are so many thoughts and idealism going on as the new CEO has failed to make a formal appearance. “The news that he communicates with the board through audio calls and no videos at all, clearly. Says he doesn't want anyone to know him until he arrives. I bet he wants to make a statement” — I had one day chipped in between Tamara and another staff member of Alex's conversation, passively. After a pause she said “I think I like him already”. She walked away dismissively. They both turned and stared at her as she walked out of the lobby. To everyone, he was a good leader so far, but the silence from his appearance got deafening as each day passed, his absence began creating a void,. A nonchalant attitude to work became the hour of the day. You could hear voices, a dispute a little here and there. The once energetic morale faded, and the rushing whispers became louder.

“He’s just a figurehead,” Tamire spotted, during a lunch break. “No real leader stays away this long.”

Tamara added, “We need someone visible, someone whose authority will be reverted, not this ghost CEO or an audio one.”

Layla held her silence. She might not have shared in their skeptical analysis. However, anyway, the apathy was growing. Project delivery dates kept slamming in on them, missing targets became too many to account for, the entire work space spirit was uninspiring.

One night, Layla worked overtime again, and in-between working, she overheard the Ale, the cleaner humming as he emptied trash bins from one office to another. There was something grounding about his presence, an odd calmness in-between the company’s uproar, she took it like perhaps he wasn't around when CA was CA.

Layla arrived a bit behind resumption schedule today, solely because she had barely left the office the previous night, and she was greeted with a ping from her phone. She had just gotten a email. She sat at her desk, tired. The mail was marked with the company’s official seal and directed to her. Right after the letter, the head of the company got the subject of the mail; “Appointment as COO of Charms Advertising Group of Companies.”

Her heart skipped a bit, she felt perhaps the email had been addressed to her wrongly. She quickly clicked on it and the email clearly stated that she had been promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer at Charms Advertising. She read it over a thousand times, trying to add the position to her name. Again and again, she was left in so much disbelief.

“Layla!” Tamara shrieked when she heard the news. “You did it! You’re the COO!”

The office was filled with a thunderstorm of applause. She was flabbergasted. Immediately, the office arranged an impromptu celebration. Most felt she truly deserved the promotion, others were just indifferent.

“To Layla,” Tamire said, raising his glass of sparkling water. “She's always ensuring law and order. You earn it, Luna Arsenio.”

“To Layla!” the office staff chorused. For the first time in months, the staff were truly happy and smiling.

Layla was beaming with excitement all through the day, she felt truly accomplished. Her new responsibility was eating her out. She wasn't sure she could handle it. There was lingering doubt. She stayed back a bit in the office, as everyone left. She had secretly wanted to hear from a cleaner friend what he thought about this role. Was she deserving, and could she pull this offer? Most importantly, why her? She had barely been walking for a year.

She needed a quiet moment.

“Late night again?”

She turned to see Ale standing by the door, with a mop in his hand. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his arms, and his usual calm self.

“Yeah, well not like usual, I am, I just wanted to, you know what! What are you always doing here so late? Don't the security guys lock up?” Layla mumbled, she suddenly felt tension around him. “

Breathe, Layla, don't choke on me. I said, smiling widely. “Listen, yeah, I am a detailed guy, I love seeing things through, to the end.”

Layla chuckled softly and pointed to the empty chair across from her desk, with a nod. “You might as well sit. You’ve been cleaning up after me for weeks; let me at least offer some company.”

Ale wasn't sure he wanted to engage her, he took a moment to heave a sigh, then put down his mop stick and sat down. Today, Layla had him up close. She could see his blemished eyes, almost more perfect than the moon at his height. Forgive her thoughts, she had never written a poem for a day in her life, but with him, she felt her voice singing a symphony in her head for a moment before setting her mop aside and sitting down. Ale had so much more composure than anyone she'd met. She felt her pulse, all savory at this moment, like it was the last.

They talked about work, about life, and about dreams. Layla let him in on what she’d always thought of Charms Advertising in administration, way before she could finish from uni. And the late CEO’s story inspired her alot. Ale listened attentively, nodding at some point and chipping in thoughtful comments in-between the conversation.

I am beginning to feel you know this building more than most,

" Layla blurted out.

“I spend my whole time here, Layla, so it's long enough to understand every heartbeat,” Ale said, giggling, his lips curving like a smile.

Layla laughed. “You’re an enigma, Ale. But I appreciate that.”

For the first time in forever, Layla had never experienced a connection like this. This was different, it was real. They didn't struggle to keep up the conversation, the moment was natural and really beautiful. She realized she hadn’t felt this connected to anyone in a long time. Ale was something else, has to be.

Weeks passed and Layla was finally into her new role. There was so much to do, she began having constant meetings with the CEO, she enforced his directives, and not one stone was left untouched. Company workflows were strategized, projects were all delivered on time, sometimes even before time, Layla was such an enforcer. She made sure there was a balanced view of work and staff morale, then kept the workflow boosted. In fact, everything and everyone truly felt the impact of her leadership. In all of this, she constantly turns to Ale for advice.

I hope I sound too ambitious?” she asked him one evening, showing him a draft of a proposal she was preparing.

Ale quickly went over it, nodded. “Ambition isn’t a bad thing, but make sure you have the resources to back it up. Otherwise, it’s just a dream.”

His words stirred a fire within her, she reflected on his words in all her decisions. For some reason, she trusted and valued his opinions. She found so much wisdom in his simplicity.

While all of this was going on, the vacancy for a project manager needed to be filled and after lots of applications were gathered, a new person was hired to fill in the shoes. His name was Stasin Garry. Stasin Garry was the new project manager. He resumed work on a bright Tuesday morning. He was a fine, tall, alluringly confident man, and could easily be spotted as a center of attention. He wore so much confidence as he walked in the office.

“Who is that?” Tamara whispered, tapping on Layla.

“Stasin Garry,” Layla said, handing her his profile, “he is to be the new project manager.”

“He’s gorgeous,” Tamara said, blushing. “I mean, look at him. It’s like he stepped out of a magazine.”

Layla rolled her eyes. “Focus, Tamara. We have work to do.”

But it wasn’t just Tamara who noticed Stasin’s good looks. The entire office seemed to gush whenever he made an appearance. His easy smile was his killer weapon and this won people over effortlessly.

Stasin's popularity had lots of whispers. The female staff couldn't get over him at this rate, at this length, his professionalism could be questioned.

Layla didn't buy any of that. She wasn't intrigued. She found Stasin's skills quite useful, and he was a man of many talents. She made sure their conversation was just work stuff.

“He seems to be sending signals your way, em girlfriend,” Tamire whispered.

“If wishes fly, aight,” Layla said, still busy with her laptop.

In her mind, Layla knew that Stasin's good looks would only drag and disrupt the company's efforts. This wasn't in a place where she had the luxury of being unfocused, especially with the CEO’s absence.

And then there again was Ale, the sweet cleaner who was too intelligent for his position. He understood her more than anyone else. He is genuine, and their relationship was based on honesty. She really admired his simplicity, with him, she could be herself, completely.

That evening, at the close of work, Stasin stood back. He had been troubled about the one girl who didn't hit on him in the office,“ it couldn't be because of her right position, because if that's it, she'd worn on some pride”, he thought to himself that evening.

He walked up to Layla’s desk with his usual smiling charms and asked, “would you mind grabbing dinner with me?, COO?” he asked casually.

Layla looked up, displeased by his inaccurate behavior. Before she could respond, Ale walked in through the doorway, with his usual mop in hand. She was relieved that Ale walked in, he was getting on her top nerves and that would be ugly in the aftermath.

“ Another time, Layla said, dismissively.

Stasin nodded his head in displeasure, trying to maintain composure. “Another time then.......”

He walked away, and Ale took the moment to get closer to Layla's desk. He looked at her intensely. “You handled that well.”

Layla smiled, “Thanks, Ale. Sometimes, less is more.”

Ale nodded, his eyes holding directly into hers for a moment longer than necessary. These little moments felt like years of staring, it suited all the emptiness she didn't know she had, words wouldn't explain this feeling, it was deep and intense. These moments cemented trust, honesty and mutual respect. Something charm and a billion dollar grin couldn't afford.

What she didn’t know was that Ale, the cleaner, she so much confided in, was more than he seemed.

Layla kept getting

Closer and closer to the truth of his identity.

Hopefully, that won't change everything for them.