Elena's POV
"Maya?!" I called out her name, my voice coming out in an obvious surprise.
I stood there, trying to believe she was actually in front of me and not some trick my tired mind was playing.
"Maya!" I screamed again, this time rushing forward.
She laughed and opened her arms wide. "Elena!"
We crashed into each other, holding tight like we were trying to make up for all the time we had missed. I buried my face in her shoulder, laughing and almost tearing up at the same time.
"When did you get back?" I pulled away and asked, still holding her arms as she might disappear again.
She raised a brow playfully. "Won't you let me into the interrogation room before you start questioning me like a suspect?"
I rolled my eyes and quickly opened the door. "Come inside."
We went in together, and I shut the door behind us.
"Sit," I said, already moving toward the small fridge. "What do you want to drink?"
"Anything cold," she replied, dropping her bag and looking around like she was taking everything in again.
I handed her a drink and sat opposite her. And just like that, we started talking. We talked about everything.
About her trip, her work, the country she had been in, how she had come back to see her family, and planned to stay for a while even though we had been talking online, seeing her like this after four years felt different.
She told me about her building and how one of her neighbors talks to herself at night like she is arguing with invisible people. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.
"And don't even get me started on the one upstairs," she continued. "That one drags chairs every midnight like she's rearranging her life."
I shook my head, laughing. "You never change."
"And you look like life has been dealing with you," she shot back.
That made me pause.
She leaned forward slightly. "Seriously, Elena. Why did you look like that outside?"
I sighed without meaning to.
"Talk to me," she said, her tone softer now. "Don't hide anything."
I leaned back a little, my fingers playing with the edge of my dress. "Where do I even start?"
My mouth opened, but nothing came out immediately. Maya leaned forward even more, her eyes wide with anticipation, like she was already preparing herself for the gist.
"Just say it!" she snapped. "Your silence is killing me."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"My boss kissed me!"
The words came out in one rush.
Silence.
"What?!" Maya shot up slightly. "Wait, wait… hold on. You mean your new boss? As in Adrian Kingston?"
I didn't say anything.
She clutched her head. "The Adrian Kingston? The one that looks like God took extra time to create him? The one with that dangerous face and those lips that look like they should be illegal? The one every woman is ready to faint for just one glance, not to talk of a kiss?"
I opened one eye slowly and looked at her. "What is all this description?"
"Answer my question," she snapped.
"Yes," I said flatly.
She went quiet. I frowned and pushed a bottle of water toward her. "Drink this."
She took it slowly, still staring at me like I had just told her I met the president and slapped him.
After a moment, she exhaled. "Details girl. I need details. Don't skip anything."
So I told her.
Everything.
From the meeting to the party… to the moment the lights went off… to the kiss. Her mouth stayed open halfway through the story.
When I finished, she held her chest dramatically. "Wow."
Then suddenly, she squealed. "Girl! Adrian Kingston kissed you!"
"But he has a wife and a kid," I cut in.
That stopped her instantly.
Her brows pulled together. "He's married?"
"Yes!" I threw my hands up. "That's the problem! How can he kiss me when he has a wife? Do you know how mad I am? I was dragged into cheating without my consent!"
Maya's face changed immediately. "That's actually nonsense. How can he do that?"
She shook her head. "I'm removing my crush from him with immediate effect."
I folded my arms. "Good."
Then she looked at me again. "But wait… You didn't know he was married."
I frowned. "So?"
"So it's not cheating on your part. He's the one cheating, not you."
I blinked.
She suddenly smiled. "And besides, you should be happy. Do you know how many women are praying to even breathe the same air as that man? But you… You kissed him."
I grabbed a pillow and threw it at her. "Will you stop talking about that kiss!"
She dodged it, laughing. "You liked it!"
"I did not!"
She paused for a second, then a slow smile spread across her face. "Ah… what's with that reaction?" she teased, folding her arms. "You definitely liked it."
"I told you I don't," I replied quickly, my tone still defensive.
She picked up another pillow and tossed it at me. "You're lying."
"I'm not!"
We both ended up laughing again, throwing pillows back and forth, the tension slowly easing into something lighter.
As she bent to pick up another pillow, I muttered under my breath, so low it almost didn't leave my lips.
"Maybe… I did like it."
"What did you say?" Maya asked, straightening up.
Before I could respond, the door suddenly opened. Drake walked in, looking fresh like he had just come back from somewhere important. The moment he saw Maya, his face lit up.
"My wife!"
"My husband!" Maya shouted back.
They ran toward each other and hugged dramatically.
"I missed you, pretty lady," Drake said, holding her shoulders. "You left me alone with this ugly frog."
"Excuse me?" I grabbed a pillow and hit him.
Maya gasped playfully. "How dare you beat my man!"
She rushed to him. "Are you okay?"
Drake pouted. "You can see what I've been going through."
I rolled my eyes at them. "Maya, your husband has a girlfriend now."
She turned sharply to him. "Whoa. You're grown now. You have a girlfriend?"
Drake smiled like someone who had already lost his mind to love. "Yes. She's beautiful."
Then he added, "But don't worry, Maya. No one can take your place. You will always be number two."
"Number two?" she repeated, offended.
"Yes. After my babe."
Maya turned to me and said, "This one is gone. He's completely gone."
I scoffed. "That's what I get after raising him for ten years."
We kept talking, laughing, and arguing until I stood up to go to the kitchen and prepare dinner.
The next morning, I was already seated at my desk, going through today's schedule.
The elevator doors opened. I didn't need to look up to know it was him. I pushed my chair back and stood up immediately.
"Good morning, sir," I said.
But it didn't come out the way it usually did. There was no warmth in it. No polite smile. Instead, my brows pulled together slightly, and I looked away the moment the words left my lips, like I didn't even want to meet his eyes.
Like I was… upset.
I blinked, a little confused at myself.
Why did I just greet him like that?
I didn't even understand what I was feeling, but something in me refused to act normal around him.
I picked up the file again and fixed my eyes on it, pretending to be focused, even though I wasn't reading a single word.
I could feel his gaze on me, steady and knowing, as if he was trying to figure out what had just changed.
Maybe he had noticed.
And that was the problem, because if he chose to ask, I had no explanation ready, not even for myself.