At dawn,a pale light filtered through the curtains.Nichole sat by the window, watching the city awaken;cars beginning to fill the roads, people hurrying to work.She sipped the tea Helena had ordered for them and sighed.She had urged Helena to be prepared as they will be needing to head to the office as soon as possible. The sun peeked through the morning mist, painting the city skyline in strokes of gold.Nichole stepped out of the cab with Helena,the early breeze brushing lightly against her face.She felt strangely renewed, though her body still ached from the long night before.Her dress was simple;a soft cream blouse paired with a black pencil skirt she had bought from the hotel's boutique that morning.Though it wasn't what she'd normally wear to work,but it was neat and professional enough.Helena had also changed into a pale blue shirt and navy trousers to match.The two women exchanged tired but knowing smiles as they approached the towering glass doors of Exxon Mobil Group.Luckily,they had made it before Martino Brown.
"Thank God," Helena murmured, clutching her bag.If he had beaten us here or should I say you,then you'd never hear the end of it." Nichole gave a faint chuckle.
"You make it sound like he enjoys my suffering." Helena shit her a look.
"Doesn't he?" Nichole didn't reply.She didn't want to think about him.Not after last night.But even as she walked into the office,her mind betrayed her,replaying the look on his face the previous day; that unreadable expression,a mixture of challenge and curiosity.She had pushed the thought aside.There was no time for that.Today,she had work to submit.
By 8:30a.m.,the company was filled with life again;phones buzzing,printers humming,voices blending in a low buzz. While Helena left for her stand which is the reception room,Nichole had taken the stairs to her office. She sat at her desk,the stack of completed reports neatly arranged in a black folder.She kept listening to even the least noise to be alerted of when she would hear the inevitable sound of his footsteps.Just as he arrived the company,the entire building seemed to fall silent.He entered;every bit the commanding figure he always was;tailored charcoal suit,expensive wristwatch gleaming under the lights,and that calm, intimidating air that made even the bravest staff hold their breath.He didn't look around;he didn't have to.Everyone felt his presence.He had picked up his cell phone and called Miss Lockwood as soon as possible.
"Miss Lockwood,toy office.Now." He had cut the call without a second thought.Quietly,Nichole had taken the heavy documents with her and had headed towards his office.The air in his office was cooler than outside,filled with the faint scent of leather and cologne.He had moved gently behind his large desk and sat,gesturing slightly for her to approach.She stepped forward,placing the folder neatly before him.
"The completed reports,Sir." He glanced at it,then at her.
"You finished them?"
"Yes Sir," she had said softly,her voice steady despite her nerves.Martino opened the folder and began to flip through the pages.For a long time,the only sound in the room was the soft rustle of paper.Nichole stood still,her palms clasped before her,her heartbeat loud in her ears.When he finally looked up,there was something different in his eyes.Surprise;quickly masked by indifference.
"You completed all of this last night?"
"Yes,Sir."
"Alone?"
She hesitated only a fraction of a second before nodding.
"Yes Sir."
His gaze lingered on her face, searching for cracks;any sign that she was lying.But Nichole held his stare.She had promised Helena she would not drag her into this.He had leaned back slowly in his chair.
"Impressive," he said finally,though his tone was clipped.
"I didn't think you'd make it halfway."
Nichole swallowed.
"I gave my word,Sir." He smirked faintly,a dry, humourless smile.
"So you did."
For a moment,silence stretched between them.Then,as if unwilling to concede her victory,he picked up one of the reports again,scanning the first page.
"There's a slight inconsistency here," he said,tapping the paper with his pen.
"Page six;the revenue distribution ratio."
Nichole frowned at the sound of that.
"I double checked that,Sir.It aligns with the updated figures from accounting."
Just then,he had looked up sharply.
"Are you correcting me,Miss Lockwood?"
Her throat tightened.
"No,Sir."
I just meant…"
He raised a hand, cutting her off.
"It's fine, I'll have it rechecked.I wouldn't expect you to understand all the company's internal adjustments anyway."
His words were calm,but they stung.Nichole felt the familiar heat of humiliation rise in her chest.Still,she kept her voice even.
"Understood,Sir."
"Better." He had chipped in.
Again,he had cleared his throat.
"Very well. You've proven your capability.But don't mistake hardwork for perfection.In this company,results matter more than effort."
Nichole nodded though her jaw tightened slightly.
"I understand,Sir."
"Good," he said slowly while standing.
"You may go."
She rose to her feet, gathering the folder.
But before she could reach the door,his voice stopped her again.
"Miss Lockwood?"
She turned,
"yes Sir?" He studied her for a long moment.
"You said you worked alone last night.Is that true?"
The question hung between them like a trap.Nichole met his gaze,her expression,calm.
"Yes, sir, it's true."
"Very well." Martino had nodded slowly.
Martino leaned back again, watching her closely. For a moment, he almost looked… thoughtful.
He couldn't deny it — she'd impressed him. No one else in the company would have managed to finish that mountain of work overnight. She had something he rarely saw in his employees: grit. Determination. The kind that refused to crumble even under pressure.
But his pride wouldn't let him say it. Not out loud.
Just then, Nichole had said to him,
"Can I be excused now?"
"Sure,why not." Martino replied bluntly.
She had turned and left,still wandering in her own thoughts like a lost child in a bush would. She was never gonna implicate Helena.
"HELL NOOOOO!!!
She had shut the door gently after her.