THE CEO AND HIS SECRETARY

hel

suppress my anger. As i get back to my desk and finish up my task for the remainder of the day and I was so hungry that

can I get 1 big cola and a

ready in 5 mins"

ank

at and bring out my phone to text mom not t

up and see Noah, my former cours

ve you been? You just disappeared fro

o him smiling. Noah was the most handsome guy in my set, and he was smart

r that, is sh

at are you doing here" I ask as I try to sway

Pizza and I live ju

lly slap myself for askin

SIZED PIZZA AND ONE

l see you later?" I ask as I tu

ay,

the pizza and leave the c

usual hum of the kitchen fridge seemed strangely absent, as though the house itself was holding its breath. "Mom? Jil?" she called out, stepping into the dim entryway. Her voice echoed faintly in the stillness. The only light came from the moon outside, casting a pale glow across the fl

that the candles on the mantle were not lit as she walked past the living room. Her m

, her voice a little more un

nd her. She squinted as the lights showed a flurry of movement-figur

rpr

ndles in the center of the room, beaming from ear to ear. Beside her, with his

s?" before a fit of laughing replaced her horror. Her mother stepped forward to embrace her and gav

, and he blew it loudly. He exclaimed, obviou

ing it, "You guys are crazy." She looked at her favorite cake, chocolate. Above her head, a bunch of confetti balloo

g as she turned to face her family, "you

l, you deserve it. We wanted to let you know

ky smile. "Yes,

ce for her at that precise moment, and it was home. Taking a big breath, she mu

o" Jil sa

hocolate cak

e yesterday" I tell my mom while l

eyes and smiles "I'm glad you're

G! D

and goes to see it's a cha

nd

I'm so sorry I couldn't make it to yo

_____________

ch

surprise! Honestly, I had no idea wh

_____________

nd

without you catching on?? I thought you were

_____________

ch

t was like a scene from a horror movie-pitch dark and creepy. I thought maybe Mom was out and Jil was

_____________

nd

ed it. In addition, I'm delighted you had a good time

_____________

ch

r sweet-pun intended. 😉 For for five minutes, I just stared

_____________

nd

You must have looked adorable

_____________

ch

tand why you were unable to attend. I'm simply glad we

_____________

nd

wever, I swear that I will be the one organizing the surpri

_____________

ch

I'm ready to take

ch

the cake before Jil finishes t

rom my cake", I shout back to my brother as I

she tells her mom while h

, "so, you were going to eat only

mom, I

chocolate cake, I head back to my room for a night's sleep because today was both exciting

t it is past my bedtime; I must go to bed

XT

her phone screen as she checked her email one final time before beginning her day.

it slid to a stop on the next floor. She nodded quickly, without glancing at him, and went back to her phone. He was wear

ne that was surprisingly gentle for a ma

d up in a tiny smile

unpleasant stillness for a minute. Normally icy

exclaimed abruptly, t

linked. "Thanks, huh?" Her mind whirling

alted and ran a hand over his well-groomed hair. "I'd like to apologize

e of boss who hardly ever acknowledged people unless it was for work-related purposes, avoided small conversation, and never offered an apology. The fact

She wasn't sure how to respond. Did he mean to be sarcastic? N

eyes-a glimmer of weakness, perhaps, or simply an effort to appear human. The elevato

just transpired. He left the elevator without saying another word, an

, her thoughts still racing from the brief conver

ad hardly acknowledged her outside of work, had just wis

breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her expression was a mixture

ost weirdest day I have had" she says while she steps o

e easy to tick off, scheduled meetings and appointments that her bos

e get me a cup of c

sir,

r from her shock, he ha

with a look of bewilderment

s, as she grabs her notepad and walks over to the breakroom where the coffee machi

or, there's a faint come in, but she pus

e says while placing

Silver. Do I have

enterprises and you have an interv

day?" he asks while

that is al

Thank

on by 12 for 2 pe

k

be all, y

you look really beautiful

u a question?" I a

though it seems like h

you are treating me nicely? Because

uncomfortable, I just think I should

, "You should have done

s that?"

hing

w?" he asks with a

she smiles