Forbidden Shadow

Chapter Two

MAYA’S POV

On getting to the office I met the cruel face of my angry boss Mr David

I don’t exactly know what I did so wrong that he sent me such a message in fury.

But I do know one thing Mr David is a very decent man, he doesn’t just get angry or speak to his employees harshly

“Something must be wrong,” I wondered.

I immediately reported to his office as he had commanded.

His back was facing the Door, he seemed to be engrossed in something he was searching for, while on the other hand, there was a glass of coffee he held tightly as if his life depended on it. He was tense but tried to maintain his cool. He looked too cute to be

“Where is it??! He Thunderd

“Wha…what sir” I stuttered

“Where are the files and documents?! I can’t find it

”Sir, I…I submitted the file on Friday,” I said carefully, trying to keep my voice steady.

Mr. David let out a dry humorless laugh

“Submitted?” He repeated. “To whom? The Wind?”

“I submitted them to your desk sir, you weren't in so I…”

“So you assumed that was enough?! He snapped, straightening up. His eyes were already hard now, locked on me.

“Do you have any idea what those files contain??”

I was already so lost at this point. My head was spinning in different angles. These are the files for the Kingston Proposal. I worked on it all week.

“ It can't be missing. No.” I muttered helplessly

Outside the office, a few employees are pretending to work but their ears

are clearly tuned in.

Kingstone Company was one of those quiet giants in New York City. powerful without needing to be loud. It is known for its high-end real estate and strategic investments, and it shaped skylines while staying just out of the spotlight. At the center of it all was its owner, David Reed, a billionaire who carried success with a calm, controlled presence. He wasn’t the type to chase attention instead, people came to him, drawn by his sharp mind, measured words, and the quiet authority he seemed to command without effort.

Mr David is noble and overly kind-hearted. After the death of his wife so many years ago, he changed entirely and became stern and reserved. People often said that he never smiled or listened to music. He was removed from social activities. He never got involved with any other woman and is not in any relationship either even though he was very handsome and cute.

Rumor also has it that he has a daughter and a son who is currently in college, and his daughter has not been home since their mother’s passing.

Mr David has been sober and seeing him in so much distress as this and it's because of me, it felt terrible to think I caused all this.

And I was busy galavanting on my birthday, I didn't know the huge mess I'd caused.

I was caught up in my own thoughts that I didn't hear him say

“That file was meant to be presented this morning,” he continued. “Do you understand what that means? Weeks of work. Client trust. Money. All hanging on something you were responsible for.”

I felt my throat tighten. “ I remember placing it there”

I gestured toward his desk.

***

NARATOR’S POV

Mr. David stopped pacing and looked at the spot she pointed to, as if expecting the file to magically appear.

“It’s not here now, is it?” he said coldly.

Silence……

Maya forced herself to breathe. Panicking wouldn’t help. “Let me check again. Maybe it was picked up by…

“Check?” he cut in. “You should have confirmed. Followed up. Sent an email. Something.” He shook his head. “This is basic responsibility, Maya. I expected more from you” He shook his head frustratedly

MAYA’S Pov

I quickly hurried toward his desk, scanning the scattered papers, and hoping almost desperately that I would find the missing files before his patience ran out. In my haste, my heel slipped. I was about to hit the hard floor. But I didn’t because he caught me halfway. “Jezz!” I blushed

A familiar, masculine scent filled my senses as I instinctively held onto him. For a moment, we just stared at each other. Up close, I noticed the sharp lines of his face, the quiet intensity in his eye, the fears he tries so much to hide.

The space between us tensed, almost too quiet.

He leaned slightly closer, and my breath caught. But instead, he steadied me and gently helped me back on my feet.

I blushed red and pulled back gently suddenly aware of how close we had been.

“Are you ok?? He asked his voice lower, controlled but not as unaffected as before.

I nodded shyly suddenly unable to meet his gaze for long “I’m okay, sir…Thank you”

“You should be more careful next time” he stated sternly his voice returning to the Usual firmness.

But something about the moment stayed.

“You shouldn’t stop looking for the file, it’s the only way we can close the proposal “

NARATOR’S POV

Maya nodded slowly. “Then give me one hour,” she said, her voice firmer now. “I’ll find it. Or I’ll recreate everything from scratch.”

Mr. David studied her.

“You have thirty minutes,” he replied.

Her heart dropped, but she didn’t argue.

“Yes, sir.”

Just then the office door opened revealing a lady, in her early thirties, who carried with quite confidence, her posture straight, her presence almost impossible to ignore. From her composed expression and appearance, she looked to be around twenty-six or twenty-eight. She realized it was the lady she had bumped into on her way to the office.

Maya didn't pay much attention to the lady, she simply excused herself and made her way out of the office, every eye in the room lifting to meet her. She ignored them, heading straight to her desk, her mind already racing. His eyes, the way he looked at her, his grip. For a moment she forgot about the issue of the file.

The file was there. She knew it.

Which meant

Someone had taken it.

Back inside the office, Mr. David stared at the space on his desk again, his expression unreadable now.

Then he reached for his phone.

“Cancel the meeting,” he said quietly. “For now.”

He hung up and leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.

Because if the file wasn’t lost…

…it was stolen. But by whom and for what reason?!