Unexpected Questions
859 Words
By lunchtime, my brain felt like it had processed enough information to last an entire month.
Apparently, being a personal secretary involved far more than answering calls and scheduling meetings.
There were calendars to organize, emails to prioritize, documents to review before they ever reached Mr. Allen’s desk, and an alarming number of people who insisted their request was “urgent.”
Spoiler alert.
Most of them weren’t.
I had just finished sorting the afternoon schedule when Joe appeared beside my desk carrying two coffee cups.
“You look like you could use this.”
I looked up and smiled.
“Please tell me that’s for me.”
He handed me one.
“I’d never drink whatever they serve on the executive floor.”
I laughed.
“So this is contraband?”
“The best kind.”
I took a careful sip.
“…Okay.”
He looked pleased with himself.
“I knew you’d appreciate it.”
“I think I owe you lunch.”
“I’ll remember you said that.”
Before I could answer, a voice interrupted us.
“Joe.”
We both turned.
Mr. Allen stood a few feet away, a file tucked under one arm.
Joe straightened immediately.
“Morning, Mr. Allen.”
“I need the Henderson proposal before two.”
“I’ll have it ready.”
Mr. Allen nodded.
His attention shifted to me.
“Miss Carter.”
“Yes, Mr. Allen?”
“The board meeting has been moved to three.”
“I’ll update your schedule.”
“Thank you.”
He turned and walked away.
I watched him disappear into his office before looking back at Joe.
“Does he always appear out of nowhere?”
Joe laughed.
“Pretty much.”
“I’m starting to think he doesn’t make any sound when he walks.”
“He doesn’t.”
“That’s unsettling.”
“A little.”
We both laughed.
For the rest of the afternoon, I buried myself in work.
To my surprise…
I was actually enjoying it.
There was something satisfying about bringing order to chaos.
Even if that chaos came with a CEO who somehow knew exactly when I made the tiniest mistake.
Around four o’clock, I knocked on Mr. Allen’s office door.
“Come in.”
I stepped inside with a folder in my hands.
“The revised schedule.”
He accepted it without looking up immediately.
A few seconds passed.
Then he frowned.
“Miss Carter.”
My stomach dropped.
“Yes?”
“Tomorrow’s client meeting.”
I quickly looked at the schedule.
“What about it?”
“You scheduled thirty minutes.”
I nodded slowly.
“It requires forty-five.”
“Oh.”
Heat rushed to my face.
“I’m sorry. I’ll fix it right away.”
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then…
“It happens.”
I blinked.
“I expected a lecture.”
One corner of his mouth lifted.
“So did everyone else.”
That made me laugh before I could stop myself.
For a split second…
He smiled too.
A real one.
It disappeared almost immediately.
“I’ll correct it.”
“You already noticed it.”
“I did.”
“Then we’re done.”
I picked up the folder, still slightly confused.
Just as I reached the door, he spoke again.
“Miss Carter.”
I turned around.
“You don’t have to apologize for every mistake.”
I frowned.
“…I don’t?”
“No.”
His expression softened ever so slightly.
“Just don’t make the same one twice.”
For some reason…
Those words stayed with me long after I left his office.
⸻
The workday finally came to an end.
As I packed my bag, Joe leaned against my desk.
“So?”
“So?”
“Did you survive Day One?”
“Barely.”
He grinned.
“I’ll take that as a success.”
“I think Mr. Allen smiled twice today.”
Joe stared at me.
“…Twice?”
“I could be exaggerating.”
“No.”
He shook his head dramatically.
“I’m calling Adam.”
I laughed.
“Who’s Adam?”
Joe looked like he’d accidentally said too much.
“Just… someone who’s worked with Mr. Allen for a long time.”
Before I could ask another question, Joe’s phone buzzed.
“I’ve got to run.”
He waved as he headed toward the elevators.
“See you tomorrow, Anna.”
“See you.”
A few minutes later, I stepped outside Allen Holdings.
The evening air felt refreshing after spending the whole day indoors.
I started walking toward the subway station, completely unaware that another pair of eyes was following me.
Across the street, inside a parked black SUV…
Adam folded his arms.
“So that’s really her.”
Michael kept his eyes on Anna as she disappeared into the crowd.
“Yes.”
Adam sighed.
“You know this changes everything.”
Michael didn’t answer.
His grip tightened around the steering wheel.
After five years…
She was finally back.
The only problem…
She still had no idea who he was.
- Writer
