Mistake at first sight
485 Words
Chapter 1- The proposal
Alice held her head high, chin up, breath shaky, her expression calm, far from empty. Behind that steady gaze lived a signal of feelings she couldn’t explain, the rush of emotions, love, doubt, and a quiet ache she refused to show.
To everyone, she was calm, steady, and reserved-unshaken even. In her eyes lies a different story, holding onto hope tailored with determination, she never dared to let go.
“Calm down, Alice!”
She mumbled; she felt her chest beating more than usual. That was a soothing call back home from her lost racing mind.
Today mattered.
Dressed in a red V-neck blouse and a slim, well-fitted skirt, Alice carried herself with effortless elegance. The outfit enhanced her shape most subtly, never crossing the boundary of modesty, her sleek ponytail edges gracefully laid and flawless, giving her an air of quiet sophistication and framing her face with a grace that matched the strength in her posture.
She feels calm after seeing how different she looked, overly ready to face whatever’s ahead of her.
Held tightly in her hands was the proposal she had spent weeks perfecting—sleepless nights, doubt-filled days, and a determination that never wavered.
Alice exhaled slowly, her hands very firm around the file as she stood in front of the well-structured, tall glass door of the Gulter Enterprise. The building itself is intimidating in silence, a reflection of the man who ran it.
Edwin Gulter.
A name of authority, power, influence, and order.
And if the rumors were anything to go by, indifference.
She swallowed lightly.
She murmured under her breath, shakily, “I can do this.”
She slowly exhaled, pushed the door open, and stepped in.
The air changed immediately.
Cool, Controlled, almost breathtaking.
The building stood tall, unlike anything she had seen. Inside felt welcoming, every step was calculated and controlled as if purpose ruled everything.
Employees moved fast but silently, speaking in low tones, eyes fixed ahead. No laughter. No distractions, no sentiment.
Alice paused, adjusting her grip on the file as she approached the receptionist.
“Good morning,”
Said aloud, even with the cringe hesitation, she composed herself.
“I have an appointment to submit my proposal”.
The receptionist glanced up briefly, her expression neutral.
“Name?”
“Alice clerk”.
Fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard, followed by a brief nod, expression firm and unreadable. “Top floor. Office to the left.”
“Th—thank you…”
Alice turned, shoulders slightly lowered, her heels clicking softly against the well-crafted floor, as she was heading to the elevator.
Racing heart beat, far from tension, anticipation, and determination.
Alice murmured,
So be it.
no turning back.
The elevator ride seemed to last forever, every second thick with waiting and unspoken tension.
When the doors finally opened, the silence on the top floor was almost deafening.
- Writer
