Unexpected Forever

Maya walked along the sidewalk with a black bag slung over her left shoulder and her coat folded in the same hand. She stopped at Mariam Coffee Shop for her usual—a cup of coffee with a hint of vanilla. After taking a sip, she pulled her phone from her skirt pocket and checked her notifications. An email from her boss popped up: there would be a marketing meeting at the office, and as the marketing executive, she was expected to present. She sighed, took another sip, and leaned against a street pole. When the bus arrived, she boarded and took a window seat. As the city moved past her, she watched people going about their day, everyone wrapped in their own world. She became distracted by a group of three schoolgirls crossing the road hand-in-hand. The bus paused to let them pass. It reminded her of her school days with Angela and Lisa. The three of them had been inseparable—walking to school together, studying, sharing secrets. They even attended the same university. But after graduation, life pulled them in different directions. Jobs in different cities meant they had to relocate. It had been five years since they'd seen each other, though they still kept in touch. The bus stopped right in front of her office. Maya stepped down and entered the large building where she worked as a marketing executive in a major network firm. Her boss, Mr. Jaden Cliff, was known for his strictness and intolerance for lateness or mistakes. He fired staff after two infractions without question. His decisions were final, and he rarely listened to others. Maya had somehow managed to work under him for five years, which earned her a promotion and some level of respect within the company. As she walked through the hallway toward her office, junior colleagues greeted her with bows, a sign of respect mandated by Mr. Jaden himself—everyone was expected to honor senior staff regardless of age or experience. “Good day, ma’am,” one of her favorite cleaners greeted her warmly. “Good day, Mrs. Helen. How are you doing?” “I’m good, ma’am. And you?” “I’m doing great. Have a nice day,” Maya replied and entered her office. She dropped her coat on the sofa near her desk. Papers and documents were scattered all over—it was how she’d left things yesterday. She started organizing them, placing important files on the shelf and throwing away what she no longer needed. Once her desk was clear, she sat down, turned on her computer, and began working. Maya was fair-skinned with a soft, glowing complexion. Her sense of style was elegant and refined, favoring clean lines, soft fabrics, and neutral tones. Whether she wore a tailored dress or a simple blouse and skirt, she carried herself with effortless grace. There was a calmness in her silence, a peace she guarded fiercely. People often found her mysterious—not because she tried to be, but because she rarely revealed more than necessary. Men noticed her, of course. They admired her from a distance, but she never encouraged their attention. It wasn’t pride—it was pain. A past heartbreak still lingered, a wound not yet healed. It had taught her to be careful, to guard her heart behind quiet walls. So she remained reserved, polite, but distant—choosing solitude over the risk of being hurt again. Around noon, she received a call from her boss, who had arrived about an hour earlier. “Ms. Maya, I want you in my office this moment,” he said, his voice sharper than usual. “Yes, sir.” She stood up immediately and hurried to his office, just five doors down. She knocked once and entered. “Good day, sir,” she greeted, but he stood facing the window, ignoring her. “Ms. Maya, did you receive the email this morning about the meeting?” “Yes, I did, sir,” she replied, her head bowed. “Did you check the time and venue of the meeting?” Her heart sank. She hadn’t checked the time or venue, and the meeting had already passed. “Oh my God! I’m so sorry, sir,” she pleaded. “I don’t need your apology. Answer me!” He turned sharply, slamming his hand on the desk. She jumped, trembling. “No, I didn’t, sir,” she replied in a shaky voice. “Out of my office, Ms. Maya!” “I’m deeply sorry, sir,” she said, her voice cracking. “Get out of my office this moment!” She fled, tears streaming down her face. Panic overwhelmed her. Mr. Jaden was known to fire people on the spot. This job was her only source of income. Back in her office, she collapsed at her desk and wept. A knock came at the door. She wiped her face and told the person to come in. It was her colleague, Sam. “What happened, Maya? I saw you crying as you left the boss’s office.” “I’m fine. It’s nothing,” she replied, her voice still shaking. “You can talk to me, Maya. I know something went wrong.” “Fine. You want to know? I was supposed to present at the meeting today as the marketing executive. I got the email this morning but didn’t check the time or venue properly, so I missed it—I missed it!” She burst into tears again. “It’s okay, Maya. Everything’s going to be fine,” he said, gently tapping her back. But she pulled away, sobbing harder. “How is it going to be fine, Sam? How?! He could fire me any moment. I’m confused, frustrated—I just want to be left alone, please.” Sam stood up from where he’d been sitting on her desk. “Maya, take it easy, okay? He won’t fire you. Please stop crying. I hate seeing you like this.” “Sam, please leave.” “I will, Maya. If you need anything, I’m just a call away. Take care,” he said and left. She continued crying with her head on the desk. Sam liked Maya, but she had never entertained his interest. Still, he never gave up on her. They both worked in the marketing department. He’d been at the company for four years but hadn’t been promoted. Mr. Jaden felt he hadn’t proven himself yet. By 4 p.m., Maya was preparing to go home. She hadn’t received any message, call, or email from her boss. The silence worried her. Usually, if Mr. Jaden wanted to fire someone, the termination letter came almost immediately. But today, nothing. Sam appeared again, offering to take her out for dinner. She declined, leaving him standing alone in her office. On the bus home, she checked her email over and over, expecting a suspension or termination notice—but nothing came. She felt restless, unable to shake the anxiety. While having dinner, her phone buzzed. A new email. Her heart skipped a beat. She jumped from her seat and grabbed her phone off the study table. She was terrified. Was it bad news? Or something else? With trembling hands, she opened the email—and her jaw dropped.