The Allure Of the Unknown

Nerves built up inside me as I approached the tall glass building of Sky Industries. My first day as a secretary at one of the city's largest companies filled me with excitement and fear. I took a deep breath adjusted my blazer, and stepped into the sleek modern lobby. "Good morning. I'm Luna Alexis, the new secretary," I told the receptionist trying to keep my voice calm. She flashed a quick smile. "Oh, you're with Mr. Joe. Floor 12. His office is hard to miss." Mr. Joe, the CEO. People told me a lot about him brainy, prosperous, and icy. The thought of meeting him caused my gut to churn with concern. I reached his office, took a deep breath to calm myself, and knocked on the door. "Come in," a low voice said from inside. I stepped in, my pulse quickening. Simon Joe sat at a polished black desk focusing on his computer screen. His dark hair looked a bit untidy, and his tailored suit made him appear very dapper. He looked at me as he talked. "Luna, right?" His tone sounded smooth but aloof, as if he already felt bored. "Yes, sir." I nodded feeling small yet awed by his presence. He looked up, his blue eyes cutting through me. "Good. I want efficiency and discretion, Ms. Hitler. I have no room for errors." I gulped sensing the weight of what he expected. "Of course, Mr. Joe. I'll do my best." "Make sure you do," he said, his stare fixed. "You can go now." I left feeling uneasy about our talk. Simon Joe didn't just scare me he had an air of mystery something that made me tense and a bit intrigued. After a tiring day, I needed some time off. When Lily, my closest friend proposed we visit a hotel bar close by, I agreed. "Hey Luna, you've had a tough day," she joked as we took our seats at the bar. "You should unwind!" I chuckled easing up a bit. "Fine maybe just one drink," I said. The bar had dim lighting, with quiet music and a soft buzz of conversation around us. As I started to feel at ease, a man occupied the seat next to mine. I looked at him, and our eyes connected. His appearance caught my eye. Black hair framed his defined jaw. His clothes looked casual, yet he exuded self-assurance. His eyes stood out keen, powerful, and seemed to take me in. "Bad day?" he inquired, his voice rich and mellow. "You could put it that way," I answered, a bit. "Started a new job today. What about you?" He laughed. "Let's just say I know all about long days. I'm Simon." "Simon?" I repeated hit by an odd feeling of familiarity. But I pushed it aside. "I'm Luna." "Well, Luna how about we try to improve this evening?" he proposed, his eyes twinkling with mischief. In no time, we chatted and chuckled as if we had known each other for years. Time flew by, and his tales, his mirth, and the way he gazed at me as if I was the only one there captivated me. I felt a sense of freedom I hadn't experienced in a long while. Sunlight lit up the hotel room as I opened my eyes. I lay still for a bit trying to recall the events of the previous night. The joy, the cocktails, the feeling of being vibrant and unburdened then it hit me. Simon. My pulse quickened as I glanced at the other side of the bed. He had left, with just a small impression on the pillow where his head had rested. I chewed my lip experiencing a blend of thrill and self-consciousness. One-night stands weren't my usual thing, but last night seemed... special. I got out of bed dressed, and exited the room without a sound hoping to avoid detection as I snuck out. In the elevator, I glimpsed myself in the mirror and tried not to turn red at the thought of his grin, his caress. "Just a fun night," I said to myself trying to shake off the excitement that stuck with me. I didn't know that "fun night" would come back to bite me. At work again, I tried to push Simon out of my thoughts. A new day had started, and my job required me to learn a lot. But as I sat down at my desk, a message appeared on my computer screen. "Mr. Joe wants to see you in his office right away." My stomach sank. Had I already messed up? I collected my stuff trying to slow my pounding heart as I walked to his office. The idea of meeting Mr. Joe, the CEO who noticed me yesterday, made me nervous. I knocked and went in looking down. "You wanted to see me, Mr. Joe?" "Yes, Ms. Hitler," he said. I looked up and stopped. My heart paused, and countless thoughts rushed through my head. There, at the desk, with that same intense look, sat Simon. My one-night fling, my mystery man my boss. He looked at me with a spark of fun in his eyes, like he knew what I was thinking. "Good morning, Ms. ," he said. His voice was cool and in control, and it gave me goosebumps. My face got hot. "Mr. Joe I—I didn't know…" "Oh, I remember it well, Ms. Hitler," he said. His mouth curved up a bit. "Pretty funny how things work out, right?" I tried to say something, but I couldn't find the words. My heart beat fast, and my head was full of mixed-up feelings surprise, shock, and something else I didn't want to think about. "It's okay," he said, his eyes narrowing. "Just keep in mind that in this place, we maintain a professional atmosphere." His statement hurt a bit, though I couldn't pinpoint the reason. ", Mr. Joe. I'll remain professional." But the look in his eyes revealed that he too experienced something else a connection, an attraction something we both couldn't ignore. My face reddened as I said goodbye and exited his office, my thoughts racing with this new understanding. As I walked back to my desk, I felt my life had changed in an instant. I sensed his gaze on me from across the office. Every look we shared brought back memories of that night. Just before the workday ended, my screen lit up with a message. Mr. Joe had sent it. "Come to my office. Now." My heart raced as I walked there wondering about his thoughts what he remembered, or maybe wanted to forget. I entered his office, and he shut the door. His face gave nothing away. "Luna," he said, as his voice got quiet and almost scary, "I think we should talk about what happened last night. Don't you think so?" At that moment, while his intense eyes locked with mine, I realized that whatever came next would transform everything.